Air France and Delta

I just went to the Delta app now. When you use the Delta app, it states clearly whether the flight is a Delta flight or a partner flight. On the Delta app, the flight # will have DL before the number like DL80. If it’s Air France, you will see AF before the number like AF1781.

When you are returning home and checking in for your flight, start with the Delta app 24 hours before your flight. You may be able to check in that way alone. It may tell you that you need to check in at an AF kiosk at CDG. When I have flown to JFK from Heathrow, there are times I’ve had to check in at a Virgin Atlantic kiosk even when I am on a Delta flight as VA is a Delta partner just like AF is a partner at CDG.

The operating airline is the airline actually operating the flight. If it says operated by Delta it's a Delta flight. If it says operated by Air France, it's an Air France flight. (If you are on the Delta website and it doesn't say who operates, it's a given that Delta operates it.

You check in with the airline operating the flight.

Airlines can sell tickets on other airlines. It's called a code share. It has a Delta flight number but is actually operated by Air France.

There is no set rule that flights from Seattle to Paris are on Delta planes and flights from Paris to Seattle are on Air France planes. A fter all those planes go round trip.

If you're still not sure tell us the flight numbers, dates and route and we can help.

In the parlance, "operated by..." means that you're flying on the operating airline's "metal." That means their plane, their flight crew and their baggage rules. It also means checking in with their airport crew.

Last summer I bought my RT Seattle to London ticket from American Airlines, but British Airways operated the flights both ways. I loved it because their baggage rules allowed me to use my current favorite rolling carry-on. It's a blue 2-wheeled Osprey Ozone Global bag with a capacity of 38 L. It measures 50x40x20 cm. (19.6x15.7x7.9 in inches) and weighs 4.7 lbs. It has a T-shaped (monopole) handle. As you can tell, it's shorter but wider and not as deep as the typical US 22x14x9 bag. It also has less capacity, but the square shape allowed me to pack more efficiently. And its light weight allowed me to stay below my 20 pound fully packed limit.

I've never flown Air France, so I don’t know about them, but sometimes the rules of the "operated by..." airline can work in your favor. Okay, I just couldn't control myself. Here's the link to Air France carry-on baggage rules: https://wwws.airfrance.us/information/bagages/bagage-cabine-soute

It’s DL 8402 operated by Air France from Seattle to Paris; and the other way, DL0081 operated by Delta.

Denny, that means your check in with AF leaving Seatle, and be subject to their rules. Leaving Paris you'll check in with DL and use their baggage rules.

The last half dozen times I’ve gone to Paris, I’ve always checked in with Delta. They may have changed it, there probably is a one line counter for Air France at SeaTac. I’ll go to Delta first and ascertain things.

I fly Delta from SEA to CDG or AMS at least twice a year. Check in at Delta.

Generally out of the US Delta will let you check in no matter who the carrier is... they kind of have to. Let's say I am flying Nashville to Atlanta to CDG. Trust me, Nashville does NOT have an AF counter :)

On my last flight out of CDG I was flying a Delta ticket booked on AF. I went to Delta, checked in, gave them my luggage and headed to immigration/security. Never even thought about going to AF.

Carol, your examples are both checking in with the operator of the first flight, regardless of codeshare, or who sold you the ticket. This is always the case, with all airlines, worldwide. SkyTeam does offer integrated check-in at some airports, one should always look for the desks/lines labeled for the operator of the first flight.

I typed it wrong

The plane said AirFrance on the outside..
I checked in at the Delta counter with absolutely no problem, they took my luggage and it arrived with me later that day in Atlanta.

The ticketing airline and the operating airline were not the same!

What do people mean when they say “carrier” anyway?