Codeshare Flights – Benefits You Need to Know When Booking Tickets

Recently, when booking a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to the U.S., my family hit a snag with a codeshare flight that I think is worth sharing. It’ll help you know your rights and dodge pushy or shady ticket agents.

Spotting a Codeshare Flight

A codeshare flight is one where the flight number’s tied to one airline, but another airline operates it. Airlines team up through codeshare deals to whisk passengers to tons of destinations with the shortest layovers possible.

You’ll see codeshare flights on long-haul trips, like from Vietnam to the U.S. or places without direct flights from Vietnam. Check which airline’s flying the plane through your booking details.

Recognizing a Codeshare Flight

For example, if you book from RDU (Raleigh-Durham) to SGN (Ho Chi Minh City) on Korean Air’s site, you might spot a codeshare leg run by Delta Air Lines but listed as Korean Air flight KE3997. Matches what I said up top, right?

Benefits of Flying Codeshare

Baggage Handling

Your luggage goes straight from start to finish. On the RDU-to-SGN route, you check bags at RDU, switch flights at BOS (Boston) and ICN (Incheon), and don’t touch your stuff.

For U.S. domestic connections or your starting airport, double-check with the staff at the next leg to confirm your bags are “loaded” onto the plane.

Note: Baggage rules depend on the codeshare agreement between airlines, so allowances can differ. Dig into this yourself when booking and check with the airlines you’re eyeing.

Benefits of Flying Codeshare

Check-in for Connecting Flights

Usually, codeshare bookings nail the layover timing. Plus, you’ll get priority check-in over non-connecting passengers.

Airline Support for Cancellations or Delays

If an earlier flight gets canceled, delayed, or messed up by the airline, the next leg often comes with free support (case-by-case).

Note: If it’s your fault, though, no help for you.

Key Tips for Codeshare Flights

Check-in’s at the operating airline’s counter.

On codeshare flights, boarding and in-flight services come from the partner airline. That means counter closing times and other stuff follow their rules.

It’s a simple heads-up, but tons of folks miss it, wasting time at the wrong check-in spot during connections.

Special Services Vary

If you need something like a baby bassinet, like my family did, you’ll have to request it separately with each airline on your trip. Be ready—special services differ between them.

For example, Korean Air offers baby meals, but Delta Air Lines doesn’t. Got any special cases? Drop a comment below!