Customs during an international layover - Do we have to recheck the luggage?

[aphex]

Flying tomorrow from Venice -> Zurich (layover) -> Miami

First time having an international layover.. Will we have to get the bags, go through customs, then recheck the bags again?

 

[Looney]

I believe you do. You have to grab your baggage and recheck them (i didn't realize i had to do that one time and almost missed my connecting flight).

 

[TheCrackedJack]

As long as it's on the same ticket and airline, I see no reason why you can just have it sent to your final destination.

 

[imported_Mike]

You should reheck them. I was told I would not have to reheck my luggage and that everything would be taken care of. When I returned to LAX, I learned my luggage was in London.

They overnighted it to me 27 hours later.

 

[kami333]

Depends on the airport, the airline and your flights. Check and double check when you check in. Most of the time you are not even allowed out of the waiting area if you aren't staying in that country. Though since it is Europe you can probably go out.

 

[The Stigenator]

well normally the checked in luggage will transfer from one aircraft to another just have to go with your handbaggage.. that's how i have done it in the past, even if i changed airlines. The only time you got to recheck the checked luggage is if you are changing airlines / crossing customs at some point. Otherwise you dont.

 

[FoBoT]

whatever you do, do NOT call your airline and ask them about this

post on some more boards and average out the answers

chubwallter, ars, newegg, dotslash, just keep asking on the internets

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
well normally the checked in luggage will transfer from one aircraft to another just have to go with your handbaggage.. that's how i have done it in the past, even if i changed airlines. The only time you got to recheck the checked luggage is if you are changing airlines / crossing customs at some point. Otherwise you dont.

He is 'crossing customs' because it's international.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
whatever you do, do NOT call your airline and ask them about this

post on some more boards and average out the answers

chubwallter, ars, newegg, dotslash, just keep asking on the internets

Calls are $1/minute on my cell here, I'll take my chances with the general consensus. BTW, thanks for the helpful response.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: kami333
Depends on the airport, the airline and your flights. Check and double check when you check in. Most of the time you are not even allowed out of the waiting area if you aren't staying in that country. Though since it is Europe you can probably go out.

Well, its Italy (EU) -> Switzerland -> US

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
whatever you do, do NOT call your airline and ask them about this

post on some more boards and average out the answers

chubwallter, ars, newegg, dotslash, just keep asking on the internets

rofl :laugh:

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: TheGoodGuy
well normally the checked in luggage will transfer from one aircraft to another just have to go with your handbaggage.. that's how i have done it in the past, even if i changed airlines. The only time you got to recheck the checked luggage is if you are changing airlines / crossing customs at some point. Otherwise you dont.

He is 'crossing customs' because it's international.

The international terminals of airports are treated a bit differently, depends on the country but it's not exactly the same as entering a country (think The Terminal)

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: kami333
Depends on the airport, the airline and your flights. Check and double check when you check in. Most of the time you are not even allowed out of the waiting area if you aren't staying in that country. Though since it is Europe you can probably go out.

Well, its Italy (EU) -> Switzerland -> US

i can't imagine your airline doesn't have a local number for italy.

if you're not leaving the terminal in Switzerland you probably won't have to recheck your luggage.

 

[Mill]

No, you will not have to recheck until you get to Miami -- unless Miami is your final destination. Inside Schengen areas you should not have to recheck on a layover. All passengers coming into the US must claim their baggage to go through Customs. If MIA is your final destination you will then clear Customs and exit the airport. If you are flying on to MCO or TPA you will have to recheck your bags after you clear Customs.

Hope this helps.

 

[LS20]

sometimes ive had to , sometimes i dont

 

[AndrewR]

Highly doubtful. The only time you have to do that is if you are transferring from an international flight to a domestic one. Last year, I flew from Kuwait City -> Amsterdam -> Chicago and didn't touch my bags until O'Hare, when I had to pick them up to recheck for the flight home to Ohio (ie., domestic). I just flew from Seoul -> Chicago -> Dayton and had to pick up the bags in Chicago for the same reason.

Come to think of it, we flew Hong Kong -> Taipei -> Okinawa, Japan and didn't touch our bags on that layover either.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
whatever you do, do NOT call your airline and ask them about this

post on some more boards and average out the answers

chubwallter, ars, newegg, dotslash, just keep asking on the internets

Darned right.