Interline

An agreement letting one airline handle passengers or baggage on another's flights within a single itinerary. This allows a traveller connecting between two different airlines to check baggage through to their final destination and be rebooked by either carrier if something goes wrong. Interline agreements are distinct from codeshares, which involve one airline selling seats on another's operated flight.

Interline agreements are the foundation of connecting journeys between different airlines. When a traveller's itinerary on a single ticket includes flights on two carriers with an interline agreement, their bags can be checked through to the final destination and the connection is protected: if the first flight is late, the airlines are responsible for rebooking the passenger onto the next available service. Most interline tickets today are issued electronically under interline e-ticketing agreements. Interline agreements also allow one airline to issue a ticket that includes flights operated by another, even when the two airlines do not codeshare.

The difference between interline and separately booked flights is important for business travellers. Some booking sites combine flights from airlines without any agreement between them — so-called self-transfer or virtual interlining. In that case, the traveller has to collect and recheck bags, and a missed connection is their own problem. Many low-cost carriers do not interline at all. For corporate trips, a protected connection on one ticket is usually worth more than a small saving. Checking this before booking is especially important on tight connections.

Tumodo helps travellers see the full picture before booking. Search results show connections and total travel time, fare conditions including baggage allowance are displayed for each option, and companies can limit the number of connections through their travel policy. If a connection is missed or plans change mid-journey, travellers can rely on Tumodo's 24/7 support team to help rebook and adjust the rest of the trip.