Northwest Airlines today announced that it has launched å“interlineå” electronic ticketing capabilities with American Airlines, enabling Northwest customers to use a single e-ticket for travel on both carriers.
The expansion also makes it possible for travelers to use a single electronic ticket when flying on 4 of the nation’s 5 largest airlines. Beginning today, Northwest has interline e-ticketing with American, United and Continental, and expects to launch interline e-ticketing with the remaining major U.S. airlines by the end of 2002.

Interline e-ticketing with American also means that even more customers will be able to enjoy the convenience of self-service check-in for their flight over the Internet at nwa.com or through one of Northwest or Continental Airlines’ 900 E-Service centers nationwide. Already, 1 out of every 3 Northwest customers holding e-tickets chooses self-service check-in.

“Implementation of e-ticketing with American Airlines is another major step in reaching our goal of 100% availability of e-tickets,” said Al Lenza, vice president of distribution and e-commerce. “E-tickets serve as the foundation from which an array of customer conveniences have been built, such as Internet check-in at nwa.com and self-service check-in at many airports. By expanding the reach of electronic tickets through our interline capability with American, even more travelers will be able to take advantage of the many benefits that only an e-ticket can offer.”

Interline e-ticket technology allows customers to use a single e-ticket issued by Northwest for an itinerary that also includes travel on American. Previously, customers were required to obtain a separate e-ticket for each carrier. It also enables Northwest to accept American customers holding e-tickets on changed itineraries. Previously, holders of American tickets were required to obtain a paper ticket from American or purchase a new ticket on Northwest, if their reservations were changed from American to Northwest. If their reservations were changed from Northwest to American, they were required to obtain a paper ticket from Northwest or purchase a new ticket on American.

Northwest customers will also have the flexibility of reserving an American Airlines flight during irregular operational conditions, such as weather, without the additional step of obtaining a paper ticket.

Interline e-tickets for itineraries that include travel on both Northwest and American can be issued immediately by Northwest or American Airlines reservations representatives, or at either carriers’ airport or city ticket offices.

More of Northwest’s customers are choosing electronic ticketing. In March of 2002, a record 75% of the tickets used by its domestic customers, and 68% of the tickets used by its customers worldwide, were electronic.

Currently, more than 65 percent of American`s customers choose electronic tickets, which are available for all of its domestic and international destinations.

Northwest Airlines is the world`s fourth largest airline with hubs at Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, Tokyo and Amsterdam and more than 1,400 daily departures. With its travel partners, Northwest serves nearly 750 cities in almost 120 countries on six continents.

American Airlines, the world`s largest carrier, together with its regional affiliate American Eagle, serves more than 275 cities in more than 40 countries and territories with more than 4,100 daily flights.

For more information pertaining to Northwest, media inquiries can be directed to Northwest Media Relations at (612) 726-2331 or to Northwest’s Web site at www.nwa.com.

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