Delta Air Lines is launching a new Air + Rail programme in partnership with Thalys to provide rapid rail links between Amsterdam and the Belgian cities of Brussels and Antwerp.
The new agreement enables customers to seamlessly transfer between plane and train at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with one ticket booking. From the train station, located in Schiphol’s Central Plaza, there is convenient access and frequent service to the heart of Brussels and Antwerp with journey times of just over an hour. Thalys high-speed trains offer a comfortable travel experience with power outlets at each seat as well as wi-fi on every train.
“This Air+Rail programme with Thalys is just the beginning, as we look to offer our customers complete peace of mind with fast and convenient train service to a number of destinations throughout Europe. For our European customers, this also provides a great way to travel to Amsterdam to catch flights to destinations throughout the United States,” said Alain Bellemare, Delta’s President – International. “We have learned from our partner airlines, Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines who offer similar programs, and with the rail infrastructure already in place in Europe we are able to provide our customers with increased choice as well as convenient travel options.”
The booking process through Delta’s self-service channels could not be easier. The train segments are clearly identified throughout when selecting Brussels Midi/Zuid or Antwerp Central as the destination or origin, in the same way you book a flight. The travel process is also convenient: Customers who have booked the Air+Rail package can check in for their flight as normal. The only difference is that for the rail segment:
- Customers can either check in on Accesrail.com to get their boarding pass, using the Delta ticket confirmation, or can obtain the train ticket at the train station ticket window. The train ticket will clearly show the seat and carriage of travel.
- On the day of travel, customers arriving in Amsterdam from a flight will go through customs as normal and collect their bags before connecting on the train.
- For those travelling on the train to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the same check-in process applies. Customers will collect their bags from the train before checking for their flight as normal.
At the Bruxelles-Midi station, the train ticket must be taken at the Air France KLM terminal of the station, which is located at the end of the “South” passenger corridor located opposite the large central hall and Thalys counters. At Antwerp Central Station, go to the international counter. In the Netherlands, this is done at the NS counter at Schiphol while in Paris, you have to go to the Air France counter at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport station.
Delta is thus aligning itself with the already present offers of certain members of the Sky Team alliance, in which we find Air France, KLM, China Airlines, Korean Air and many others. For Thalys, this makes it possible to capture additional travellers and to dismantle any misconceptions that airline customers may have about the train. Especially those who are used to short connecting flights. For Delta, this shows another face in a difficult societal context for aviation.
