From plane to train: Delta's expands Air+Rail program offering seamless travel to 20 European cities

Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY
·3 min read
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Delta Air Lines customers flying to Europe will now be able to hop on a train connection from the airport to their final destination in the airline's expanded Air+Rail program.

The program now offers over 20 destinations in Europe, according to a Tuesday news release, including 12 new cities in The Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and the U.K. To make travel seamless, one Delta booking is all that's needed for the entire journey.

"Building more Air+Rail connections into our schedule provides a greater choice of destinations for our customers, including a number of these cities not currently served by Delta or our European partners, such as Bern, Rotterdam and York," Alain Bellemare, Delta's president – International, said in the release.

"Expanding our footprint in Europe also makes it more convenient for customers to get to popular city centre locations whether traveling for business or pleasure to make the most of their time away."

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Delta Air Line customers going to Europe can book seamless travel through the Air+Rail program.
Delta Air Line customers going to Europe can book seamless travel through the Air+Rail program.

Where does the Air+Rail program go to?

The program initially launched in August of last year, connecting Amsterdam with Brussels and Antwerp. It has since expanded to include connections from Brussels, Manchester, Rome Fiumicino and Zurich airports.

Here are the Air+Rail program connections currently available:

  • Brussels Airport to Breda and Rotterdam in the Netherlands with operator SCNB.

  • Manchester Airport to seven cities in the U.K. with operator TransPennine Express.

  • Rome Airport to four Italian cities, including Bologna and Florence with operator Trenitalia.

  • Zurich/Geneva Airport to seven cities in Switzerland, including Bern and Lausanne with operator SBB.

Delta also said it will add the train service from Geneva once its New York-JFK nonstop flights to the Swiss city commence in April 2023.

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How does the program work?

In the release, the airline said it "is working with leading rail operators in each country to provide onward train journeys via stations located at the airports." If you're booking a flight to a destination that includes a train segment, an option to book a train ride will display. The platform will reserve a train time that works for your flight schedule. Your seat is automatically assigned when you check in for your train ride.

Customers will need to collect their bags from the airport before heading to the train station to catch their train. They can print their tickets in advance or collect them at the station.

For "peace of mind," Delta said that if a disruption occurs, customers will be able to get on the next available train or flight. According to the Delta website, if your flight is delayed, your ticket is still good for 72 hours after your train's scheduled departure time. A customer service representative can help you get a new ticket.

What if I am flying first class?

Those who are flying in Delta One automatically receive a first-class rail ticket as well.

Will my train ride earn me Delta SkyMiles?

Unfortunately, the miles are reserved for only the sky and you will not earn any on your train ride.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Delta's Air+Rail: Book plane and train tickets for 20 European cities