Delta and Thalys Introduce Air+Rail Link in Europe
Service connects US flights at Amsterdam Schipol with high speed trains to Brussels and Antwerp
Delta Air Lines has partnered with train operator Thalys to launch a new Air+Rail service on the high speed Brussels-Antwerp-Amsterdam Schiphol route. The one-ticket booking process allows customers to transfer between plane and train at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Customers can book the Air+Rail segments through Delta’s website channels. The train segments are clearly identified, so travelers can select Brussels Midi/Zuid or Antwerp Central as the destination or origin, the same as when booking a regular flight.
The check-in process for the flight segment is the same as a normal flight as well. Customers can use the Delta ticket confirmation to check in on Accesrail.com to get their boarding pass, or can get their train tickets at the train station ticket window. The train ticket will show a reserved seat and the carriage of travel.
Inbound Delta passengers arriving at Schipol will go through customs as usual and collect their bags before connecting to the train. Travelers to Schipol via high speed rail to connect with their flights will collect their luggage from the train, then check in for their flight as they would normally.
The train station is located in Schiphol’s Central Plaza. Frequent services run to the center of Brussels and Antwerp with journey times of just over an hour – a distance by air of little more than 100 miles.
“This Air+Rail program 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,” said Alain Bellemare, Delta’s president – international. “For our European customers, this also provides a great way to travel to Amsterdam to catch flights to destinations throughout the United States.”
