Originally Posted by
knotseh
I've done this before without problem - not from SFO, but from YVR-YYZ-LGA. I simply didn't get on the last flight and ensured my bags were tagged to Toronto when I checked in.
In that case you would have had to pick up your bags in YYZ to go through US customs anyway even if checked through to LGA. Nothing says you were obliged to put those bags on the belt again at YYZ.