Well, I think there's a slight misunderstanding in what I'm getting at. If I'm listed on a DL flight to connect to a NW flight (also listed) or vice versa, whether I have a paper ticket or not, with the reliance on computer check in, will the original ticketing agent (DL or NW) be able to check the bags thru to the final destination or just tag them to the connecting stop.

i.e....................I go from FSM-MEM-MSP on NW and then need to connect to MSP-SLC on DL. Will the NW gate agent be able to check the bags all the way through to SLC or will I need to retrieve them at MSP and then check in at DL?