Originally Posted by
gold23
We are looking to book a DL flight to ATL, and then SAS to CPH. Will I need to pick up bags and re-check for SAS in ATL, or will Delta interline them even though my first ticket is DL and my second will be SAS? I can't book these flights through either SAS or DL as I want them (SAS allows me to book a DL flight into ATL, but with a 50 minute connection as opposed to the 2hr+ I'd be getting on my own, and which would allow my stress levels to normalize lol).
Originally Posted by
flyerCO
Yes, should be no issue. Just ask at checkin. DL generally will interline to any airline theu have agreement with. (EY, QR, EK being the main big ones they don't have agreement with). I do DL to AY frequently at JFK and LAX. (My checkin is normally at AUS/SAT)
This is always a YMMV situation but you always report this as a fact and you are possibly setting up other posters for failure if they don't get the same courtesy (favor) you are used to receiving. Per DL Policy, posted below, SAS is
**NOT** listed as one of the carriers DL will through-check baggage across separate tickets so while it is possible an agent may still tag the bags through as a favor or just because they aren't familiar with the specifics of the policy and just do it, OP should be prepared for the possibility of not having the bags tagged through and having to have to claim bags in ATL and re-check-in with SAS for the flight to CPH. And because of the policy spelled out below, if OP runs into an agent that refuses to tag it through across separate tickets, OP has no leg to stand on or pushback on. I've noted the the specific scenario that applies here in red text.
Delta's Through-Checked Baggage Policy Updated 12 December 2023
Delta will check a customer's baggage between the origin and destination airports that are issued on a single or conjuncted* ticket exclusively. When issued on one ticket, Delta will also continue to check baggage through to the ticketed destination for interline itineraries. If a second ticket is presented for travel, Delta will only check the bag to the destination of the Delta ticket(s). Baggage may be claimed at the Delta-ticketed destination, and then re-checked by the customer with the downline carrier for the next flight.
* A single ticket also means a conjuncted (i.e., conjunctive) ticket. Conjuncted tickets are sequential in number on same ticket stock. It is not possible to conjunct tickets from different airlines.
In cases as noted below, when more than one ticket is presented, Delta will continue to through-check baggage from the origin to the destination.
- An entire journey (itinerary) consisting of Delta-marketed / Delta-operated flights
- SkyMiles Award plus a ticket with Delta-marketed / Delta-operated flights
- Delta ticket plus a ticket that includes one of the following Delta partner airlines, as long as the flight is "operated" by that airline:
- Aeromexico (AM)
- Air France (AF)
- China Eastern (MU)
- ITA Airways (AZ)
- KLM (KL)
- Korean Air (KE)
- LATAM (LA)
- Virgin Atlantic (VS)
- WestJet (WS)
- Delta ticket plus a:
- Connection to a Delta charter flight
- Active duty military traveling on orders
...............
Single-ticket and Multi-ticket Examples
Single ticket example:- Ticket 1 - ATL-LAX on a Delta flight connecting to another airline operating LAX-NRT.
Delta Policy: Delta will check the baggage from ATL to LAX to NRT.
Multi-ticket examples:- Ticket 1 – ATL-BOG on a Delta flight
- Ticket 2 – BOG-SCL on LATAM (LA) Delta partner airline (see list above)
Delta Policy: Delta will check the baggage from ATL to BOG to SCL. Baggage allowance and fees will be calculated from ATL to SCL.
- Ticket 1 – ATL-LAX on a Delta flight
- Ticket 2 – LAX-NRT on a different airline (OAL)
Delta policy: Delta will check the baggage for the ATL to LAX flight only. Upon the flight’s arrival at LAX, the customer will then need to collect the baggage at the Delta baggage claim and then proceed to check it with the down-line carrier for the next flight LAX to NRT.
Delta's Through-Checked Baggage Policy