Clear customs at point of entry or final destination?
 

Flying SYD-FCO on CX and then on to CTA on Alitalia. I called CX and asked if I clear customs in FCO or CTA. Was told that one always goes through customs at point of entry (collect bags, clear, then recheck).

Called AA with the same question since Ms SeAAttle is meeting me in FCO (flying ORD-FCO on AA). AA tells me that one always goes through customs at the final destination within a country.

I know that the AA scenario has been the case on a couple of recent trips, including ORD-FCO-VCE. I doubt the procedure is airline specific.

Which is correct?

Thanks.

(Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but the questionable info came from CX agent.)

Where is CTA?

Catania - Sicily

You clear passport control in FCO, but customs (which will be a JOKE) in CTA. You DO NOT collect bags in FCO, so long as CX tags them through to CTA, which it is your responsibility to ensure that they do.

Thanks. That was my experience before and assumed it would be the same again. Yes, I will be sure to check bags through to CTA.

The AA person explained that one clears customs at the final destination when traveling to a "foreign" country. Upon return to one's home country, customs is cleared at the point of entry. Is that correct?

If so, I think the CX agent may have thought that I live in Italy.

They are both wrong. It just depends what country you're entering.

If you're entering the US or Canada, then you clear everything at point of entry.

If you're flying from a non-Schengen airport (like SYD or ORD) through a Schengen airport (like FCO in Italy) to another Schengen airport (like CTA in Italy), then you go through immigration at point of entry, but you claim bags and go through customs at final destination.

It has nothing to do with the travelers' home country or citizenship. An Australian, an American and an Italian will all go through the same procedure flying ORD-FCO-CTA or SYD-FCO-CTA.

Not necessarily. Norway and Sweden are both Schengen countries, Sweden is also an EU country, and in both countries customs clearance is done at point of entry to the country, when connecting to a domestic flight (similar to entering the US). So be sure to check for the particular country you are travelling to!

Thanks! Didn't know that before. Learn something new each day. :)

Could it be because the final destination airports are so small they don't have a customs officer, or any non-domestic flights to warrant having any?

Obviously, there are good reasons for confusion. Not concerned about immigration, but the issue is whether I have to collect bags in FCO, even if they are checked through to CTA. The last time we did something similar, it was very difficult to be certain of the correct answer, since it depended on who we asked. In fact, I think we were given the wrong information on the plane.

What is the most reliable way to check? I am not at all confident that airline personnel know the correct answer.

You already have your answer for your trip to Italy.

If your bags are tagged to CTA, then you will not claim your bags at FCO! You will not see your bags at FCO.

If you have someplace else you have in mind, then you can just ask on one of these forums.

I have an answer (yours), which matches what I was told by AA and is the opposite of what I was told by CX (the carrier I am using). I am not saying you are wrong, but your statement was not completely correct, as pointed out by ksu.

That was the real reason for my question. Yes, the appropriate airline board will certainly provide answers but as indicated above, they are sometimes not correct.

Please don't misunderstand my intent. I am not trying to pick a fight. Just trying to determine which airline personnel are (most) likely to give me the correct answer.

stevenshev has given you the answer before I did. I was just clarifying a bit, about it all depends on the country. ksu actually confirmed that it's based on the country, and he didn't contradict my answer for you about Italy.

If answers from the three of us are not enough to satisfy you, I suggest you call the Italian embassy closest to you.

I stand corrected. Had forgotten about his answer, which seems to be based on experience. But you have to admit that getting a clear answer on this topic for other countries is not so easy.

Thanks to everyone who helped.