All airlines exist to get people from one place to another—or at least ideally in today's chaotic travel climate—but the travel experience can differ significantly between them. Some grant access to pre-flight lounges or serve special food and beverage options onboard flights. Others help simplify the boarding process or use special systems to check baggage at the airport. Ultimately, these seemingly small gestures can be what wins over certain customers in the end. And now, Delta Air Lines has announced that passengers can use another ultra-convenient perk when traveling with the carrier. Read on to see how your next trip could be made even more accessible.
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Airlines will often allow travelers to bundle other bookings with their flights.
McLittle Stock / ShutterstockFor many travelers, settling on a flight itinerary and booking the tickets is usually the first move in planning a trip. But depending on where you're going, you might need more than just a way to get to your destination, whether it's a place to stay or a way to get around. That's why many carriers offer passengers the ability to book other travel elements such as hotel rooms and car rentals—or even entire vacation packages—along with their airfare.
Reserving a temporary ride or a place to stay at the same time as your flights can come with some serious perks. In some cases, booking through the airline can help earn you more rewards miles good for free travel with the company—or even allow you to redeem them for free nights at hotels or car rentals. But even besides loyalty programs, bundling the reservations can also streamline your travel planning process into one convenient transaction.
Delta just added an ultra-convenient new perk for passengers booking travel.
iStockStepping off a flight may be the end of the longest leg of your journey, but it's often not the last time you'll need to get around. Now, Delta is offering a way for some of its passengers to continue on their trip well after they leave the airport by significantly expanding its Air+Rail program, according to an Oct. 11 press release. The latest perk will allow travelers to certain European cities to connect to their final destination by booking train fares along with their plane tickets.
"Building more Air+Rail connections into our schedule provides a greater choice of destinations for our customers, including a number of these cities not currently served by Delta or our European partners, such as Bern, Rotterdam, and York," Alain Bellemare, president of international for Delta, said in a press release. "Expanding our footprint in Europe also makes it more convenient for customers to get to popular city center locations whether traveling for business or pleasure to make the most of their time away."
The program's expansion will allow travelers to connect to more than 20 cities.
iStock / den-belitskyThe latest changes to the program mark a major expansion for the carrier's travel bundling service. When Delta first introduced Air+Rail in August of 2021, it only provided service between Amsterdam and the Belgian cities of Antwerp and Brussels. Now, the service will grow to include 20 more destinations across the continent.
Travelers who land at Brussels Airport can continue their journey by train to Rotterdam and Breda in the Netherlands via operator SCNB. Meanwhile, those arriving at Manchester Airport will be able to ride the rails to seven cities throughout the U.K. with TransPennine Express, according to the press release. Passengers flying to Rome will have access to four major cities across Italy—including Bologna and Florence—via local train operator Trenitalia.
Delta passengers arriving in Zurich or Geneva also can connect to seven cities across Switzerland by riding with operator SBB, including Bern and Lausanne. However, the airline clarified in its press release that the Geneva service will begin in April 2023 when it launches its direct service to the city from New York JFK Airport.
The program can offer travelers some "peace of mind" as well as convenience.
ShutterstockWhile booking your own connecting travel to other cities is still an option, a few elements of the program can make a potentially hectic process much smoother. Delta says it's "working with leading rail operators in each country to provide onward train journeys via stations located at the airports," meaning travelers won't have to go through the hassle of finding their way to a city center to board their trains. And the airline also coordinates train departure bookings to ensure you have enough time to collect your baggage and make your way to your pre-assigned seat for your connecting rail leg.
Even if travel delays become an issue, the airline says the program offers passengers "peace of mind" by allowing them to move their train or flight reservations to the next available departure for up to 72 hours, USA Today reports. In addition, passengers who are traveling on the airline's Delta One business class cabin are also automatically booked first-class train tickets for their connection.
However, those who are in it for the rewards may be left a little disappointed: For now, travelers will only earn miles based on the air travel legs of the trip, according to The Points Guy.
