FlyerTalk Forums - Delta Interline Agreements

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Delta Interline Agreements

Hello!

I was wondering which airlines Delta has an interline agreement with so I can send my baggage all the way through to my final destination. Specifically looking into Aegean Air.

Quote:

Originally Posted by candicejankow912 (Post 36187265)

Hello!

I was wondering which airlines Delta has an interline agreement with so I can send my baggage all the way through to my final destination. Specifically looking into Aegean Air.

If you are booked on separate tickets, Delta policy is only to check bags through on select Delta partners listed on page below (which does not include Aegean Air). Just because they have an interline agreement, does not mean they will necessarily check through. If you are booked on one ticket, they should be able to check through luggage as they look to have an interline ticketing/luggage agreement with A3.

https://pro.delta.com/content/agency...e-policy-.html

DL preferred connectivity provider to Greek Islands is recently added partner SKY express - https://news.delta.com/delta-partner...-greek-islands

I attempted the same changing in Athens on Aegean to Thessaloniki but it wouldn't work since I couldn't book it on one ticket. Aegean is a Star Alliance partner with United

I think this has come up recently in another thread.
I'm flying ANA > Delta from Osaka > HND > ATL and haven't figured out if this will be possible.
It is a single ticket (006 stock), but....

While policy only has a few partners (nit even all ST are listed), in practice DL will check bags across tickets fir any airline they have interline agreements with. Aegean is one. I just did this DL to NZ, DL to AY, and DL to LH in last few months alone.

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).

Quote:

Originally Posted by gold23 (Post 36861809)

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)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gold23 (Post 36861809)

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyerCO (Post 36861923)

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.

Quote:

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

I think the document ATOBTTR is referring to is very old (2023) and Delta has just not gotten around to updating it. SAS is now part of SkyTeam and they also have a code-share agreement so checking bags through DL to SAS on separate tickets should be no issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATOBTTR (Post 36861957)

I know what policy is. As has been demonstrated here in this forum, DL agents will generally always check through. This isnt just a "me" experience.

Also note I use the word generally, specifically because there can also be some agent that doesn’t allow it. When it comes to DL the written policy isnt generally what is important, it is what agents generally do.

Bottom line, generally DL agents will check through to any carrier thry have interline with. Acting like all that matters is a policy that is generally ignored (if even know about by most agents) is doing a disservice to people asking gor advice.

Carriers that have recently (within last year) been tagged through to that i know of (experience of co-workers, family and me) include

AC AF AI AM AS AY AZ BA BR BT CI CM CX CZ ET FJ FM GA GF HA HV IB JL KE KL KQ LA LH LO LX LY MF MH MU NH NZ OS OZ QF RO SA SK SQ SV TG TN UA UX VN VS WS

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyerCO (Post 36862196)

Bottom line, generally DL agents will check through to any carrier thry have interline with. Acting like all that matters is a policy that is generally ignored (if even know about by most agents) is doing a disservice to people asking gor advice.

DL has interline agreements with a hundred and something airlines, give or take. I don't expect that DL will be checking your bag through on a separate ticket if you're connecting to UA or AS, both interline agreement carriers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Tickets (Post 36862191)

Quote:

Delta’s Through-Checked Baggage PolicyDelta will accept a customer’s checked bags between the ticketed origin and destination airports on a single ticket.
If a separate ticket is presented for travel, Delta will check the bag to the destination of the Delta ticket. Bags must be claimed at the Delta-ticketed destination and be re-checked by the customer for the next flight with the next operating carrier.

Exceptions

When more than one ticket is presented, Delta will continue to through-check bags from the origin to the destination under the following scenarios:

Delta ticket plus a ticket that includes flights operated by the following Delta partner airlines:
- Aeromexico
- Air France
- China Eastern
- KLM
- Korean Air
- LATAM
- Virgin Atlantic
- WestJet
Delta ticket plus a ticket that includes:
- A Delta charter flight
- An airline not listed above for active-duty military members who are traveling on orders

https://www.delta.com/us/en/baggage/...C60rR8Xqdzia6_

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyerCO (Post 36862196)

But for someone asking, paint the entire picture or else you're setting them up for potential failure unbeknownst to them, especially on an international ticket. Your post didn't acknowledge what policy is versus practice is. I agree that policy is often what's practiced versus what's written but again, all it takes an agent who is either a stickler for policy or less willing to go against policy and then in OPs case, they have no recourse - something they won't know until they show up at the airport that day and then it creates a major problem, especially if they haven't allotted enough time to otherwise complete the transfer with now having to claim bags and recheck. Knowing that detail could drive someone to say "I'll book a 4 hour layover instead of a 2 hour layover and hope bags are tagged through but if not, I have a more ample window to claim and recheck if I have to."

You also don't acknowledge that status may play a factor too. You and others may be more likely to get this waiver/favor/courtesy as a DM/DL elite or SkyTeam elite member while the poster asking the question notes UA status but no DL/SkyTeam status.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gold23 (Post 36861809)

Try calling DL or SAS. You may be able to get it that way. Unfortunately the DL website doesn't always return all available options but sometimes an agent can find and/or build it.

What are your specific flights and dates and maybe someone here could build something. And perhaps while less ideal for other reasons, sometimes an OTA can generate the itinerary you're looking for and allow you to book it.

One nit about through check on separate tickets is that you are still required to have proper documents to enter connecting country (although you will probably stay in transit zone if everything goes as planned). Delta is not responsible for your connection and legally they only bring you to the connection point and will not let you board without visa / travel authorization / etc. if it’s required.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATOBTTR (Post 36862230)

This is also what reflects on delta.com under the Through-Check section as well, albeit without the examples as clearly spelled out:
(Of interesting note, while they list out baggage policies of other SkyTeam carriers, SAS is not listed, so the overall page hasn't been updated to list out SAS. That said, DL policy doesn't say they through-check to other SkyTeam carriers across separate tickets - they have a list of a subset of JV partners and close-partners that by policy they will through check to but it's not all of SkyTeam, at least by policy).

https://www.delta.com/us/en/baggage/...C60rR8Xqdzia6_

But for someone asking, paint the entire picture or else you're setting them up for potential failure unbeknownst to them, especially on an international ticket. Your post didn't acknowledge what policy is versus practice is. I agree that policy is often what's practiced versus what's written but again, all it takes an agent who is either a stickler for policy or less willing to go against policy and then in OPs case, they have no recourse - something they won't know until they show up at the airport that day and then it creates a major problem, especially if they haven't allotted enough time to otherwise complete the transfer with now having to claim bags and recheck. Knowing that detail could drive someone to say "I'll book a 4 hour layover instead of a 2 hour layover and hope bags are tagged through but if not, I have a more ample window to claim and recheck if I have to."

You also don't acknowledge that status may play a factor too. You and others may be more likely to get this waiver/favor/courtesy as a DM/DL elite or SkyTeam elite member while the poster asking the question notes UA status but no DL/SkyTeam status.

Try calling DL or SAS. You may be able to get it that way. Unfortunately the DL website doesn't always return all available options but sometimes an agent can find and/or build it.

What are your specific flights and dates and maybe someone here could build something. And perhaps while less ideal for other reasons, sometimes an OTA can generate the itinerary you're looking for and allow you to book it.

When i mention co-workers, most do not have status. As I hit upon, majority of agents do not even know there is a policy on this.

This forum, multiple Facebook pages, blogs, etc... have all brought to why I post what I do. In fact I've posted this multiple times, and this is the 1st time have gotten a response of this nature on this question.

This policy as written simply isn't enforced/even known by vast majority agents. If want to mention "well policy says this" i can get that. However getting upset that perfectly valid information based on actual IRL actions isn't helpful. Theres been multiple threads on this topic here, all with same response (not just from me) on what DL will do.

As one user posted one time "policy is what is done, not what is written." (Or something close to that) This is especially true with DL. If i had heard of even one user saying were denied (for OAL being outside written policy), I'd be much more hesitant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyerCO (Post 36862369)

I know it's not the first time you've been questioned on it because I've countered your posts on this subject before in the DL forum and others have responded to you as well advising that what you share is not in line with DL policy and advising caution to the person asking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyerCO (Post 36862369)

This policy as written simply isn't enforced/even known by vast majority agents. If want to mention "well policy says this" i can get that. However getting upset that perfectly valid information based on actual IRL actions isn't helpful. Theres been multiple threads on this topic here, all with same response (not just from me) on what DL will do.

So what is your response going to be to OP if they go through with this and then get the agent who does enforce it, especially since IME DL has become more strict in enforcing policy on things they usually used to turn a blind eye on not long ago, and that's even as a DM.
The facts are this:
1) DL policy says that in OP's scenario, DL won't through check the bags. The example is in provided on the DL Professional page regarding through check policy when through checking bags.
2) Many DL agents may choose not to enforce this policy or may not be aware of this so some passengers get away with it
3) Regardless of #2 being true in a not-known-number-of-scenarios, if OP happens to get an agent who follows and enforces policy, OP has no recourse. And OP is in big trouble if they didn't plan the "connection" accordingly and doesn't have time to claim and recheck bags and telling the agent "Somebody on FlyerTalk told me I could do this" isn't going to help out with an agent who stands behind policy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyerCO (Post 36862369)

As one user posted one time "policy is what is done, not what is written." (Or something close to that) This is especially true with DL. If i had heard of even one user saying were denied (for OAL being outside written policy), I'd be much more hesitant.

Yep - I wrote that..... Again, it's about painting the FULL picture to the OP so they can make a decision based on their own risk assessment and preferences. DL policy says "No." Many agents still do it. OP, having the full picture, can plan accordingly and knowingly - instead of unknowingly - take the risks.