Delta, United Align E-Tix

Delta Air Lines today finally jumped into the electronic ticket interlining game, announcing a new agreement with United Airlines. Though the e-ticket link will be a first for Delta when it goes live Aug. 14, United already interlines e-tickets with Air Canada, American, Continental and Northwest airlines.

Interline e-tickets on the two carriers currently only can be issued by Delta's and United's own reservation channels, but the functionality will be expanded to travel agents during late 2002 and early 2003. The same timetable applies for Delta's plans to interline e-tickets with other major U.S. carriers. The carrier noted its worldwide e-ticket usage has reached 77 percent of all customers.

Bilateral e-ticket interline links between major domestic carriers are proliferating, however similar functionality between U.S. and foreign carriers has not yet been announced. Executives at both American and British Airways have hinted that e-ticket interlining soon will be available, but no specifics have been given.