Originally Posted by
Often1
POISSON is confusing Customs (CBP) with TSA. The two have nothing to do with each other. It is also incorrect to suggest that one must recheck bags after Customs.
If you are connecting or are on separate tickets but your originating carrier is willing, your bags are checked through to their final destination. You need only drop them after Customs and need not wait at a desk to recheck.
The point here is that your bags are inspected somewhere. If you are connecting to STL, it would not matter so much, but the domestic carrier would have to separately tag and deliver arriving domestic and international bags and arriving passengers at STL would have to be sent to a CBP station. BOI doesn't have CBP, so it would not be a valid connection.
Bottom line is that it's apples and oranges to compare the UK, Schengen or almost any other nation for commercial air purposes.
I don''t think he's confusing CBP and TSA.
In other parts of the world, US>A>Z means you don't see or touch your checked bags until you arrive at Z.
But ...if you fly Z>USarr>USfinal, you have to pick up your bag(s) when you arrive, schlep it/them through customs, and drop the bag(s) off at the recheck baggage belt. Then you have to go pick up your bag(s) again when you arrive at your final destination. Bigger hassle.
There are reasons why it works that way, but there's no denying that it is a bigger hassle for the traveler.