Possible to book bags through on Delta?

Thought I'd ask a couple of questions here; given the VAA tie up with Delta, does this now mean that if I fly on a Delta segment (i.e. London to Atlanta) then fly on from Atlanta to Nashville which I have to do on/around Oct 17th and back on/around 23rd Oct that I can book my bags direct through from LHR to Nashville?

Also, will I be getting the miles and tier points for the trip (at all - and if yes at a similar level to a UK-US VAA flight?)?

Thanks.

You may be able to through-check the bags for the onward domestic flight, but you will still have to retrieve them at Atlanta and clear US Customs. (No way of avoiding this, that I know of).

I've done many a trip on AA through Chicago & they have a very efficient connections area right outside the Customs Hall where you can drop bags for their onward domestic flight. Delta doubtless have something similar in Atlanta.

I did similar thing (unfortunately before VS announced Atlanta) doing LHR-ATL-MCI. The answer is yes and no (assuming all flights are on one booking). I believe that with all international flights arriving into the US bags must be collected and then dropped off to your connecting flight. At Atlanta after immigration you just go to baggage reclaim, pickup your cases and then follow the sign for onward connections and drop them of at the Delta desks. (Very easy)

However on your return, at Nashville you can check your bags all the way through to LHR, just mention it when checking in to make sure. I was surprised to get the miles automatically awarded to my account without even having to ring up/claim online. The info on earning miles is on the VS website, but if you are in Economy then you get 100% of the miles.

NB On my return from MCI we were an hour late taking off resulting in me missing my onward connection from ATL-LHR. But being all under one booking its their responsibility to put you on the next available flight at no extra cost. (3hr wait for me )

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/fl ... lines.html

I have found Delta agents to be fairly helpful with through checking even when the flights are not on one reservation. They have twice through checked bags for me from a DL flight to a VS flight on a separate booking, and have also done so DL-DL and DL-AS.

Thanks for the replies. Final question is; if I fly VAA say to New York, then on to Nashville on Delta, can I check bags through to Nashville or again do I have to collect bags in JFK then clear customs then re-check them onto Delta (for Nashville)?

Thanks for the replies. Final question is; if I fly VAA say to New York, then on to Nashville on Delta, can I check bags through to Nashville or again do I have to collect bags in JFK then clear customs then re-check them onto Delta (for Nashville)?

Unfortunately the rule holds in all US airports. I've only recently had connections at LAX and ATL but it is nationwide so JFK would be no different, and to be honest I think ATL is a little user friendlier than JFK in terms of connections.


Also if you go ahead with the Atlanta connection remember that VS (from October 27) fly directly too.

I've pre-booked bags inbound from VS to DL to Nashville (via JFK) - theres a TR somewhere. You will have to collect and re-book - last Nov I had to use a VS desk for that, not a DL one... The systems are not yet 100% linked up. The DL people apologized for this..

Worked very well outbound and granted DL skyclub access having flown inbound on VS. If flying UC on the inbound they should be able to upgrade your domestic seat to economy comfort at least - asking nicely helps - do this not at the baggage recheck desk, but the "help me" point in the JFK domestic DL terminal.

I'd note DL tend to want you to pay for bags if you have any domestic routings, but the Nashville airport DL staff are very nice and have waived that for me a couple of times on asking.