[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

Of those on this board who do NOT identify themselves as connected with an airline, past or present, I think most would agree US-based airlines have a pattern of making financial moves which are questionable, at best, and, at worst, make no sense at all. Accordingly, I won't dismiss the possibility that Delta Air could have entered into an interline ticketing agreement with Sri Lankan, and perhaps other airlines, which requires payment TO Delta for the "privilege" of setting-up the agreement. Accordingly, I'll even go so far as to guess that such agreements may exist only for the purpose of allowing the "other" airline to connect THEIR passengers onto Delta flights. For Delta to essentially ignore such agreements, with respect to traffic in the other direction (Delta to "other carrier"), seems a bit of a stretch. In this scenario, how is Delta NOT shooting itself (financially) in the foot? With regard to your statement about Delta call centers selling only itineraries where all flights have the "DL" prefix, and no one else's: I suppose when Northwest's reservation system is fully merged into Delta's, the ability to book an itinerary to a European city, and have all flight segments showing the "KL" prefix, will cease to be. Or, will it?? Why would KL-Air France give a “oui” to this kind of demand??