How do I know if I have to collect my baggage between flights?

Do I Need to Collect My Baggage During a Connecting Flight?

When connecting between flights, it’s important to know whether you need to collect your checked baggage from the baggage claim area before continuing to your next flight. The answer depends on several factors:

1. Checked-Through Baggage:

In most cases, your baggage will be checked through to your final destination, meaning you won’t need to collect it during your connection. This is standard practice for connecting flights on the same airline or partner airlines.

2. Connecting Airport with Customs:

However, if your connecting airport requires you to clear customs, you will need to collect your baggage, pass through customs, and re-check it before your next flight. Customs is typically required when entering a new country.

3. Different Airlines and Luggage Transfer Services:

If you are connecting between flights on different airlines, or if you are using a luggage transfer service, you may need to collect your baggage and re-check it for your next flight.

How to Find Out:

The best way to determine if you need to collect your baggage during a connecting flight is to:

• Check your boarding pass: It will typically indicate whether baggage will be checked through to your final destination.
• Ask the airline: Contact your airline or ask at the check-in counter before your first flight.
• Observe the baggage tags: Look for tags on your checked baggage that indicate your final destination. If there is a tag for your final destination, your baggage will be checked through.

Example:

If you are flying from New York (JFK) to Munich (MUC) with a connection in Frankfurt (FRA), your baggage will likely be checked through to MUC and you won’t need to collect it in FRA. However, if you are flying from New York (JFK) to Mexico City (MEX) with a connection in Dallas (DFW), you will likely need to collect your baggage in DFW and clear customs before continuing to MEX.