Originally Posted by
Aliquot
I think making it easier to through ticket itineraries is more important than checking bags through. Especially since AI and AS still aren't punitive with there end-on-end ticketing restrictions like some airlines are. I have made use of the AS-AC interline many times because AC is much less restricted in this way than the US3.
Edit: After looking into this, it's a little bigger than just an interline agreement. AI will be pricing throughfares so this could end up being the best way to fly to India (and beyond) especially outside of BOM/DEL form many North American cities.
AFAIK, AI doesn’t need a partnership beyond a standard interline agreement to have through fares that allow AS metal. Such fares used to be completely common; it’s a relatively recent development that airlines have fares that heavily restrict which airlines can market or even operate the flights. All they need is an interline (ticketing) agreement. In fact, without a joint venture, AS and AI cannot coordinate pricing or fares.
IMHO, ticketing and through checking baggage go hand in hand. No good reason to have one without the other. It is sometimes nice to be able to through check bags with separate tickets, and it’s sometimes nice to have an interline ticket even if I’m not checking bags. (AFAIK, there’s no such thing as an interline ticket that doesn’t include through checking bags.)