New Baggage Rules Coming Jan 1st on Delta

[jmbklj]

For Multi Tickets……

(October 25, 2012) -- Effective for travel on or after January 15, 2013, Delta Air Lines policy will be to check a passenger’s baggage between the origin and destination points that are indicated on a single or conjuncted ticket exclusively. If a second ticket is presented for travel on another airline beyond the destination of the first ticket, the passenger will be advised that Delta will only check the bag to the destination on the first ticket(s). The passenger must collect the baggage at baggage claim for their first ticketed destination, and then re-check their baggage with the down-line carrier for the next flight.

Previously, in cases where a passenger presented more than one ticket to a Delta airport agent at the origination point, Delta would offer to check the baggage from the origin on one Delta ticket to the final destination on the second ticket, collecting both Delta’s and the other airline’s fees. This was done on a courtesy basis but has never been part of an official policy.

The policy update does not apply to interline itineraries, wherein the passenger has an entire journey on one ticket. In these situations, Delta will continue to check baggage through to the ticketed destination as normal policy.

This clarification of policy helps Delta ensure that checked baggage service is consistent for all customers.

Below are examples of a single-ticket and multi-ticket scenarios.

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 example:

Ticket 1 – ATL-LAX on a Delta flight
Ticket 2 – LAX-NRT on a different airline
Delta Policy: Delta will check the baggage for the ATL to LAX flight only. Upon the flight’s arrival at LAX, the passenger must 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.

Some on FlyerTalk are complaining about this "downgrade in service". This new policy will affect me for my Feb Hawaii trip. In Feb, I need to do CMH-LIH and KOA-CMH. Was looking for an award ticket but couldn't do the Hawaii part on Delta (no availability). Just this week I booked an award on Delta roundtrip CMH-HNL. The Delta agent told me I could book a separate ticket on HA (Hawaiian Airlines) but have my bags checked all the way through. HA is an airline partner of Delta where this was routinely done, but with this new policy effective Jan1st, I'll now need to collect my bag and recheck it, also forcing me to change to a later flight on HA.

[danielboldea]

They could have been more specific if the new rule applies to partner airlines as well. Hawaiian Airlines, I believe, is a Delta partner.

I wonder what prompted them to make this change... could it be trying to reduce liability for delayed/lost luggage that is not on one of their flights?

[LL_Travelfan]

jmbklj,
Good post. Now is this Delta specific, or does that affect all airlines yet? We used to fly JFK-CDG and then LH CDG-MUC. AA had an agreement with LH and they shipped our bags through to MUC without a problem.

[bonniejoy03]

OK....I am confused. If it is an affiliate, will you bags be checked through?? If is not an affiliate I would assume my bags wouldn't have been checked through. We do not use Delta too often however, we use AA/LAN/BA combo often. We also use US/Luft/AC. Wonder if this will change with them also. 2013 is not starting to be a good year for travel....

[jsattapr2]

This concept is exciting.

There are few things I enjoy more than claiming luggage and dashing to check-in again in hopes of making connecting flights.

Sounds like Delta management has taken a page out of the Spirit Airlines playbook!

[jmbklj]

I think it applies to partner airlines too, but it's not clear. The criteria is based on whether it's one ticket, or not. If your one ticket includes the partner airline, then your bags can be checked thru. If you have 2 separate tickets, even on a partner airline, you may need to get your bags, recheck them with the partner airline, going thru security again. Just what we need to help make the TSA security lines longer!

Usually buying two tickets for two non-partner airlines is normally less expensive than booking it all on one ticket, and when this was done, as a courtesy, most of the airlines would check the bag all the way to the final destination.

What's ironic is that this is due to new DOT regulations that were supposed to make things better for consumers. Simply put, consumers whined to the DOT about baggage fee surprises, thus the new regulations imposed on the airlines regarding baggage fee disclosures.

What will be interesting is to see if all the airlines interpret the regulations the same way in changing their procedures. DOT regulation does not say that Delta or any other airlines CANNOT choose to through check baggage on separate tickets, but that it doesn't have to. The regulations say the airline cannot deny through check-in on a single interlined ticket or conjuncted tickets. The announcement is in compliance with DOT. The regulations actually address baggage fees that could be different on another carrier. Understandably, the airlines don't want to risk the possibilities of incurring fees due to the new DOT regulations.

I'd be HAPPY to pay an extra fee if I don't have to get my bags, recheck them and go thru security again, also increasing my total travel time. This could be a new extra source of income for the airlines! Or maybe if we all whine again to the DOT, they'll change these new regulations to something that would allow the airlines to be more comfortable in checking bags thru as a courtesy.


New Airline Passenger Protections Take Effect This Week | Department of Transportation

DOT will give airlines more time on some new consumer rules - Air Travel News - Executive Travel

Actually Delta isn't the first airline to implement this policy. US Air did so earlier this year, and I just learned that Hawaiian Airlines made the same change, in July I think.

New baggage policy – interline through baggage check discontinued | Air Travel Forum | Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Stay tuned! This new policy may soon be a coming attraction in a neighborhood near you.

[jmbklj]

They could have been more specific if the new rule applies to partner airlines as well. Hawaiian Airlines, I believe, is a Delta partner.

I wonder what prompted them to make this change... could it be trying to reduce liability for delayed/lost luggage on a different that is not on one of their flights?

I'm with you; I think this may be one of the main reasons for the change - reducing customer complaints and liability about lost luggage involving other airlines, and the regulations were a perfect excuse/justifiction for doing so.

I can also see how the airlines could be held liable for mishandled bags where a passenger booked their second ticket and did not allow enough time for the bag transfer, especially since other airlines may be in a different terminal at the airport.

[LL_Travelfan]

Checking your bags, picking them up and go through customs in the US and re-checking them to your final US destination has always been true for international flights. There is no getting around it for international incoming flights, but for domestic flights, this seems excessive and surely will create more long lines at TSA Security. I wonder how this will affect our return flight from Tahiti end of January..

[[email protected]]

I am guessing that when you check your bags they would tell you if your bags are going all the way through - that would make sense but you never know these days!

[jmbklj]

The problem is that you will need to allow more time between flights to pick your bags up, go to the ticket counter of the second airline, and check your bag, and then go through the TSA line.

This is VERY different than for international travel where the process is all contained in one area. You don't have to "go downstairs" to the general baggage area, get your bag, "go back up" to the ticket counter to check your bag, and go through the general TSA security lines again.

Another problem will be the people who miss their connections because they were not aware of this change when they booked their connecting flights, without enough time to do everything.

Some FlyerTalk people are so upset over these airline policy changes due to the recent DOT regulations that they are writing their congressmen.