I booked our flights with Delta. The plane leaving JFK has a DL reference as the flight number. However, it’s an Air France plane it says.
I’m concerned about our carryon. Mine fits the Delta planes, but I’ve read it’s considered too big for the European flights. Will I be able to use it? (22 x 14 x 9). TY
You have to go by the carry on rules of the airline operating the aircraft.
When flying a European carrier, it's best to compare sizes in metric (centimeters.)
Delta is 56 x 35 x 23
Air France is 55 x 35 x 25
1 cm=0.4 inches.
You decide if you think you want to risk it.
Just make sure the combined weight of your carry on and your personal item doesnt exceed 12kg or 26.4 lbs. You are limited to that otherwise you will have to check a bag.
Delta’s Codeshare policies. Scroll down for Air France notes. As Frank says, Air France rules are followed for practical air operation purposes.
You didn’t specify which cabin you booked, but I will tell you that if you are in business class, you probably can get away with it. If you’re in premium, you’ve got a 50-50 shot and if you’re in coach, it gets harder. Air France tends to have a class system about checking for luggage size in my experience.
1 cm=0.4 inches
Only if you round up. 1cm = .3937". That makes more than a 1/4" difference than .4" on a 55cm maximum suitcase. Will Air France be that picky? Probably not, But it means it may not fit in their luggage sizer.
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Well dang. I guess we”ll check our carry one (easy to move around with), but with things we’d be able to live without if they lose or are late with our luggage. I’ll buy a larger backpack than I usually use (as my carryon piece), and put my important things in it. (Ie alot of my clothing).
The bigger issue — as Frank noted above — with Air France is that they limit you to a total of 12 kg for the weight of your carryon suitcase and your personal item combined.
Be sure to take a look at that in their baggage description. I find that must harder to comply with than the size.
Kim, yes the weight would be an issue. I’m always at 30 pounds with both.
Im frustrated I didn’t catch that when booking. Personally I don’t think it’s right. If you book a flight with Delta leaving the U.S. it should be delta standards. When I was choosing flights, Air France had several choices, but I went with Delta.
I just need to find a decent back pack now that can hook over my luggage.
The Codeshares are to encourage travelers to book their preferred airlines, for example Delta, on a route that Delta does not actually fly. As examples of advantages resulting, travelers get their Delta FF points and status as applicable and Delta gets revenue without needing a larger fleet. The arrangement doesn't alter the fact that Air France is operating the plane and can impose their rules - which could be in place for any number of reasons not applicable on Delta metal.
I get that this situation can be irritating for the codeshare purchaser!!! I, personally, generally avoid code shares largely for the same reasons you are frustrated.
Here's a good explanation of codeshare ins and outs, advantages, disadvantages:
https://thepointsguy.com/airline/what-are-codeshare-flights-and-how-do-they-work/
I get the frustration, and I understand the official rules, but having flown both Air France and KLM codeshares with Delta, from the US to Europe, I would not be too alarmed.
From a pure logistics standpoint, when you check into your flight, it will be a Delta rep, the gate crew will be a Delta crew. Delta really does not have "scales" at the gates, and I do not even recall seeing those "sizing boxes" anymore. The point being, if it "looks" OK you will fly. They will not be measuring bags and tossing anything a cm out or a fraction of a kilo over. At 30 lbs though, I would encourage you to do a bit of triage and knock out 5 lbs or so, but for the sake of your back and ease of getting around Europe, rather than the airline.
Returning to the US though, whole different story if on a codeshare, then the Air France staff will apply Air France rules, so checking your bag on the way back might be a smart option.
The Codeshares are to encourage travelers to book their preferred airlines, for example Delta, on a route that Delta does not actually fly.
Except Delta flies tons of planes between Atlanta and CDG, so this doesn't apply for why those flights are sometimes Air France flights instead.
From a pure logistics standpoint, when you check into your flight, it will be a Delta rep, the gate crew will be a Delta crew.
Not necessarily. It depends on the airport. At JFK, Delta operates from Terminal 4. Air France operates from Terminal 1. They will not be Delta employees checking you in and working the gate for an Air France flight.
I don't know Delta's operations or where the OP originates, but I have flown multiple foreign airlines including Air France out of Chicago and other cities. Code share travelers check-in with the operating airline with the gate operations controlled by the operator. In other words, If I code share an American Airlines flight number operated by Air France, I check in at the Air France gate and the representatives are Air France employees.
Kim - I amend my thought that a carrier may not fly a particular route to "may not fly a route at all so it can offer the route via code share without adding planes to the fleet or may fly a route, but a code share can allow for additional flight times allowing the carrier to maintain a smaller fleet, while offering many flight options."
ORDTraveler--it depends on the route.
As an example, American and British Airways both fly numerous flights between NYC and LHR. They codeshare all of those flights.
WhY? Because they want to keep customers loyal to their alliance. After all, Delta, Jet Blue, United and Virgin Atlantic also fly the same route and would love to take the business away from AA/BA.
For those who travel once a year and look for the cheapest tickets, they are not the most important people to the airline. The airline wants the frequent fliers and business travelers who sit up front which is where they make the money. If American can offer you a flight on BA yet allow you to collect miles and increase status on American, you might go for that rather than another alliance. Its about loyalty.
No one should be “surprised” that their flight is a codeshare. On the Delta booking website, and most other airlines, codeshare flights will be identified as “operated by …….”. I assume the OP did not notice this when booking the Delta flight operated by Air France. And the check in and gate operation varies by airport and airline. When I flew a Delta operated flight out of AMS, the check in and gate operations were handled by KLM personnel.
Even if you booked thru Delta for a Delta operated flight, it can be changed to be Air France. For example, both Delta and Air France fly out of Seattle to Paris. I've booked a Delta operated flight just to end up with a flight change that put me on an Air France flight. Yesterday, when leaving Paris to return to Seattle, one of the individuals who was directing us to where to check in was thinking aloud, what day is this and will it be Delta or Air France today....
In 2023, the weather was so bad in NYC, they were redirecting our flights. They put us thru to Detroit and we would fly on Air France to Paris. No one checked our bags, but I thought that may be due to the rerouting.
So, I’m originating from Indiana to JFK, then on to Paris. Do you think we should attempt to use our carryon? If they did say “no” at the gate at JFK, don’t they just load them from there and there would be less chance of it getting lost (instead of checking them all the way thru from Indiana)?
When I have flown Delta with connecting flight on KLM or AF, it's at the first leg of the trip that we had to check our carry on bags based on the 2nd KLM/AF flight. If that 2nd flight was full, even if the 1st was not, the agent took our bags. But I fly Basic Economy, so it's the cheap ticket holders that are the 1st ones to be forced to give up their bags. Our bags were not sized, but when put on the conveyor belt, they were weighed. But I'm sure the agents can just glance at a bag and tell if it is within the correct dimensions, so probably no need to put it in the sizer unless the size is questionable. I try and stay within the weight limits, but sometimes put a couple of heavy things in my pocket because I have a fear my scale might not be 100% accurate. I've not had my bag weighed/sized or checked on the 2nd leg of a trip.
Regarding personal items, there is a size limit to that too, so make sure it's not too large. I'm yet to have my personal item weighed, but I have a small personal item that I just put heavy things in.
Lynn, ok just to verify, you’re saying they will basically do the weighing and measurement thing not from the point of origin (for me, Indiana), because I’m flying a delta jet. So, when we get to JFK, we will already be in the terminal waiting to depart for France. At that point the chances of having this done t the gate as I’m getting in the AF plane are minimal? We are economy main.
I haven't had it checked when connecting, but I'll let others who have traveled more than I have to chime in with their experience.
Ive stopped trying to guess what airline gate agents are going to do. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesnt.
You are aware that at JFK Delta and Air France operate out of different terminals. You will have to change terminals. That means taking the Airtrain from terminal 4 to terminal 1. It is landside so you will have to go through security again at Terminal 1.
The Airtrain from terminal to terminal is free. There was construction going on that affected the Terminal 1 Airtrain station. Not sure if it is open yet.
What they had people do is get off at Terminal 8, follow the signs, and take a bus over to Terminal 1.
I hope you have plenty of time between your flights.
Two years ago I flew Boise, Salt Lake, CDG on Delta. My final connection CDG to Barcelona was on Air France. My carryon was 3/4" larger than Air France allowance. I knew there was a chance that I would have to check it. (I was prepared to remove a few items , predetermined and in packing cubes to easily grabbed from carry on and put in my personal item bag.) Air France did say I had to check it, but they were just randomly picking people. Nothing was measured or weighed. I stepped out of line, transferred the items and boarded. My reasoning was that if I had to check, my luggage was already in Europe and closer to my destination if lost.
It wasn't lost.
Frank, that’s good to know! We actually have 4 hours and 14 minute layover at JFK, so should be good.
Geez, now I wonder if we should give it a try or not.
now I wonder if we should give it a try or not.
What's the worst that could happen? They make you check the bag?
Of course, if it would cost extra to check the bag at the gate then you might think differently.
One other thing about the Airtrain.....there are two services. Make sure you get on the one that goes to each terminal and not the one that goes to either Jamaica Station or Howard Beach.
There will be people there--in red vests--who can answer any question you might have and steer you in the right direction.
Frank,
The reasoning decision is the following. I typically take a “normal” carryon and a Rick Steve veloce bag that fits under the seat in front. If I have to check a bag, I will use a bigger RS backpack I bought and put all my clothes and shoes in it. It’s too big for a personal item.
So, I can’t take my carryon and that backpack both and try to get on the plane. I suppose I could try, but I doubt I could the backpack is 18” long
Paul,
I just reread your post. After reading how we have to get to terminal 1 via AirTram, and then a shuttle (and gave to retrieve our bags and go thru security again), I think I’m going to just take the chance with our carryon luggage. That way we don’t have to go get our luggage again.
If they make us check it at the gate, then so be it. What a hassle and I could just kind kick myself fir nit knowing or paying attention to all this. Maybe they will make a 3 or more hours change and I can rebook on another flight or something.
