Originally Posted by
Tchiowa
When you check bags on an international flight with a domestic connection, you have to pick them up at your first port of entry in the US. At SFO your last step as you leave is just past baggage pickup. If you are connecting to a domestic flight you turn left. If you are going out, you turn right. There are several people standing there watching you. And they look at your bags. If your bag is tagged for a connection but you turn right, you will raise suspicion and they will stop you.
This is nonsensical for so many reasons: You could hide the tag by wrapping it around the handle. You could just tear off the part that says MRY. Or, since you're at your destination, you could just remove the tag altogether. But with an 8-hour connection, nobody will question your need for a shower and change of clothes! But to be frank, Customs won't care, and nobody at the airline will see the tag, anyway.