Delta Loyalists Are Getting Access to Eurostar — Here’s Why

The SkyTeam airline alliance just got its first non-airline partner.

By Alison Fox Alison Fox

Alison Fox is a Travel + Leisure contributor. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. When she’s not in New York City, she can be found at the beach or on the slopes. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on September 27, 2024

Close A Eurostar train waiting at the station platform in London. Photo:

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European rail company Eurostar is becoming the first non-airline partner of the SkyTeam Alliance, making it easier for its members to travel across Europe.

The partnership will eventually allow travelers to combine both long- and medium-haul flights with rail tickets under one reservation, according to the SkyTeam Alliance. The agreement between the two companies is expected to launch in the first half of 2025. 

“Working with Eurostar as our first non-airline partner underscores SkyTeam’s commitment to delivering a more integrated and responsible travel experience by incorporating intermodal travel,” Patrick Roux, the CEO of the SkyTeam Alliance, said in a statement. “One of the world’s most-loved train operators, with a reputation for customer service, Eurostar is a natural fit for SkyTeam.”

SkyTeam loyalty members who book a rail journey with their flights will also be able to access SkyTeam benefits along the way. It wasn’t immediately clear which benefits travelers would have available to them.

The new partnership is an extension of KLM’s current agreement with the rail company. SkyTeam said that agreement has led to a reduction in flights between Amsterdam and Brussels.

The SkyTeam Alliance consists of 20 international airlines, including Delta Air Lines in the United States as well as KLM, SAS, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, and more.

For its part, Eurostar offers high-speed rail connections between the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands with a fleet of 51 trains. With the company, travelers can venture everywhere from the French Alps to London through the famous Channel Tunnel.

Gwendoline Cazenave, the CEO of Eurostar, said in a statement the partnership will give travelers the option to “see Europe in the most sustainable and convenient way by rail.”

“We are creating a future where travellers can connect between Eurostar trains, domestic railways and long haul flying, opening up our services to new markets across the globe,” Cazenave said.