Delta, Northwest Align E-Tickets

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, still waiting for government approval of a proposed three-way codeshare and marketing pact including Continental, today announced the launch of electronic ticket interlining. It is the latest in a series of e-ticket links forged this year between major U.S. carriers, but thus far is only in effect for direct reservations from the two airlines.

E-ticket interlining allows customers to use a single e-ticket for itineraries that include multiple carriers and to switch flights between two participating carriers more easily in the event of flight delays or cancellations. The paperless functionality minimizes traveler inconveniences and also helps airlines streamline processes.

"E-ticketing with Delta Air Lines is another milestone in our pursuit of universal availability of electronic ticketing," said Al Lenza, Northwest vice president of distribution and e-commerce. Northwest, which also interlines e-tickets with American, Continental and United airlines, said e-tickets in November accounted for 88 percent of domestic tickets and 79 percent of worldwide tickets.

Delta said nearly 90 percent of its worldwide customers now use e-tickets. The carrier, which came late to e-ticket interlining, also links with United and "anticipates it will expand interline electronic ticketing technology with several other major U.S. carriers in early 2003." Delta also is working to expand interline e-ticket capabilities to travel agencies via the global distribution systems.

The Delta-Northwest agreement comes at the end of a year in which major carriers pushed ahead on interline agreements as e-tickets became a crucial aspect of overall cost savings. Other e-ticket interline links accomplished this year include American-United, American-Continental and United-US Airways. The first transoceanic e-ticket interlining agreement for a major U.S. carrier also came this year when American linked with Oneworld partner Finnair. Previous e-ticket interline agreements linked Continental with America West Airlines and United with Air Canada.