Checking a bag from domestic to internstional flight

Ask Delta, perhaps by phone. They might transfer luggage to Aer Lingus.

Is it one ticket or did you book the flights separately?

If one ticket, the bag will be automatically transferred in Newark. Just make sure that the gate agent puts the right tag on the bag. (It should go all the way to Munich.)

If separate flights, only one needs to go but make sure that person has a valid boarding pass and ID so he can get through security.

Thank you. It's two tickets.....Delta to Newark then Aer Lingus from Newark to Dublin to Munich.

You could ask Delta if they could interline your bag to Aer Lingus but I doubt they will do it since the two airlines are not in the same alliance nor are you on one ticket. It means they take on responsibility for your luggage past Newark.

More than likely, one of you will have to physically get the bag and check it in to Aer Lingus. My suggestion is to check in online and print your boarding pass at home. This way, all your husband has to do is go to "bag drop" and not worry about checking in. If you don't do this, both of you will have to go check in.

If you are traveling with a near empty suitcase, I'd be tempted to squeeze everything in a carry-on and then buy a new suitcase in Europe for cheap for the return. That way you can stay in the secure area for a gate transfer and not worry about exiting for bag check-in. Just be sure to check in online for your transatlantic flight.

That said, I have been in your situation before and have had good luck with asking the check-in agent for the first flight to send my bags through to final destination - even with non-cooperating airlines and completely different tickets.

There's no reason both of you have to go out and check the bag.

You probably won't know for sure unless you ask someone in authority. Why wait until the gate agent has slapped a routing for Munich or Dublin on your bag? At the same time you could think about seat assignments in advance.

Delta will not interline the luggage any longer if you have two tickets.

They pretty much stopped a lot of that kind of activity a while back due to the issues with lost luggage and who has to pay. So someone will have to go out in Newark and get the luggage rechecked to Munich.

Only one person checks the bag in the first place so that person should be the one to claim it and recheck it in Newark, no need for both to go.

It was very easy. We are now at the gate in Newark awaiting our flight across the pond. Picked up our bag from the Delta carousel, went to the Aer Lingus drop off, got new boarding passes, went back through security and here we are....3 hours early! Took about 20 min total. Not terribly familiar with Newark Airport but both Airlines are at B terminal so that helped.

Thank you to all who responded!

Glad to hear that it worked out well.

Enjoy your trip!!