Connecting without interline agreement

[750XL]

Hi all, hoping for a bit of advice.

Is it possible to book flights as a single ticket when there's no interline agreement between airlines.

For example, when searching the usual sites for London Heathrow - Kangerlusaaq (Greenland) it brings up no results.

Of course, it'd be possible to book two separate tickets (SAS then Air Greenland) but you then run the risk of missing the connection and all the money you've paid for your flight.

Is there any way to book such tickets as a single ticket, so in the event of the first flight being late/cancelled you're rebooked on another?

[ExXB]

An interline agreement includes the acceptance of each other's traffic documents (tickets, excess baggage, charges documents, etc). Without an interline agreement, the carrying airline will not accept the issuing carrier's paper.

Are you certain these two do not have an agreement? I'd be surprised if that is the case. Rather than depend on airlines booking engines, give a travel agent a call. They have access to the tools to issue an interline ticket. (Or give SK reservations a call, they can do much more than their website can).

Edited to add: It appears SK owns some, if not all, of Air Greenland. They should have an interline agreement.

[ExXB]

I just got ITA software ITA Software by Google to quote me a price SK to CPH connecting to Air Greenland to SJF. But I had to look at May/June - i.e. There are no flights now, or flights are full. It appears an interline ticket is possible, if/when there are flights.

Call SK.

[750XL]

Thanks for the reply ExXB

Sorry, LHR-SFJ was just an example (perhaps a bad one in this case!).

With something unusual like FAE (Faroe Islands) - KTT (Kittila), would the only option be to take the risk with two separate tickets (Atlantic Airways/Finnair).

Thanks

[ExXB]

Without an agreement to accept each other's paper, you are on your own. There is more than one form of interline agreements - the MITA (IATA's Multilateral Interline Agreement) or Bilateral agreements. Agreements can be 'one way' as well. i.e. One will accept the other's tickets but not vice-versa.

I found connections for FAE to KTT but that involved Atlantic/SK/AY. As long as the ticket issuing airline has agreements with all accepting airlines it is valid even if the accepting airlines do not agreements with each other. In this case, for example, Finnair may not have an agreement with Atlantic (and vv) but a through ticket can still be issued on SK as it has agreements with the other two.

I fear that MITA is going the way of the Dodo, to be replaced by exclusive alliance agreements. Life is going to become more difficult.

[750XL]

Thanks for explaining Did find FAE-KTT on Kayak via 'Skypicker', but for £1400+ one way Booking 2tickets would be about £400~

[supersani]

You might want to check the return price as its commonly cheaper than a single

[ExXB]

A through fare involving three airlines is likely going to be the "YY" (or IATA) fare. Hardly anyone actually uses these fares as sum of sector is often cheaper. However these fare do apply on any reasonable direct routing (ie within the MPM) involving any combination of participating airlines and do permit rebooking/rerouting without charge at any time. Some people are willing to pay the gobsmacking price for this flexibility.

Travel agents also use them to show their customers how much they are 'saving' them.

The ITA software I linked above is a great tool for finding flights/connections and fares. While they won't sell you a ticket they will give you the fare calculation code that you can give to your agent. E-bookers was happy to issue me a ticket based on their calculations. It isn't easy to use though. Here is a beginners guide: http://www.theflightdeal.com/2013/02...-ita-software/

[ExXB]

Originally Posted by 750XL

Booking 2tickets would be about £400~

Actually you likely can buy a single ticket involving these three airlines (and using their sector fares) provided the ticket issuing carrier has interline agreements with the accepting airlines. But this is not something you can do using most online booking tools. Call the airline, or use a travel agent. (Both of which may cost you additional fees).

[750XL]

Thank you so much, I'll give SAS a call and see if they'll do anything.

[geriatrix]

That ITA link is amazing, thanks for posting it. Endless wasted hours will result! :-)