flyerCO

Make sure they tag it ITI with the purple ITI tag at checkin. Otherwise it won't transfer. It'll still show on the bag belt, do not pick it up. Agents will pick it up off belt and put on to next flight.

tentseller

ITI bag transfers has been available at DTW for a few years. Just request it when you check in at te foreign check in. It is a purple tag with ITI on it that is preprinted and tagged with the string.

shimps1

Having never made a I-D connection before, what is the experience like? Closest thing i have done is DUB>EWR but that has Pre-Clearance so it doesn't really count.

I'm on NRT>DTW>DSM coming up, in D1 if that makes a difference. Will I have to collect my bags, then recheck, or what are the steps? 4 hr connection so time isn't a concern, just curious.

xliioper

Yes, as noted above, you need to collect bags and re-check them for onward domestic connections. Before you get your bags, you go through an Automated Passport Control kiosk, collect a receipt and then get in the immigrations line to see a CBP officer who will verify passport, ask you a few questions, collect your receipt, and finalize your re-entry into the US. There is a luggage re-check station after collecting your bags and exiting immigrations. You will also have to go through a TSA security check before going up an escalator and re-entering the terminal depatures level.

tentseller

4 hours connection at DTW? that is eternity.

Arrival

• CBP immigration
• Pick up checked bags
• Custom checkpoint
• Drop bags off for onward flights
• TSA (this is always the bottleneck as there is no TSA-pre nor SkyPriority).
• Head up escalator, Skyclub entrance is on your left just before you get into the main terminal gate area

Zorak

If desired you can always exit into the arrivals area and go up the escalators to the top level which has PreCheck and CLEAR. (IIRC there was a security checkpoint before the top level, but it didn't have PreCheck)

Obviously, whether this is worth it depends on how long the line is and your personal preferences regarding nude-o-scope vs. WTMD and leaving laptops/liquids in bags etc.

shimps1

I'll have SkyClub access even though DTW is the arrival airport? I thought you got in on departure only.

Zorak

You get access when connecting to or from an international D1 flight.

flyerCO

it's not your arrival airport. Its just a connection.

RumPatrol

Is it possible to not have it checked through all the way to YYZ? I'm doing the same thing (but from NRT) and I'm planning to just skip the final DTW-YYZ leg and just do DTW to my real final destination.

My original plan was to just do carry-ons so I didn't need to worry about my bags being checked through but if I can get them checked only to DTW and then claim them before customs and not drop them back off that would be way more convenient.

flyerCO

No you cant short check bags. Also the bags will be labeled to not return to customer within US. This is the surest way to get DL to audit/close your SM account. It provides clear evidence you never intended to fly to YYZ.

swizzlest

Just wanted to say thanks again, all. We are scheduled in a little tiny bit late, but no worries.

3Cforme

Short-checking is prohibited by DL rules but there is a loophole - if your connection is >4 hours you can check it to DTW - because, you know, you are going to get a shower and change of clothes while you kill time. This is covered in the international contract of carriage.

flyerCO

Actually its 6 hours.

RumPatrol

I'm aware of that, however some of the posts in this thread and others introduce a little confusion on whether or not this was an automatic process or if it had to be requested. I was trying to clarify if it were possible to *not* request it, claim my bags prior to customs as you would in the past and then just not drop them back off.

My scheduled layover is 5 hours and 51 minutes, which is why I asked this to begin with as I really would appreciate the shower and change of clothes. Even if I skipped DTW-YYZ, the layover for the other flight is the same. I don't suppose I could talk them into 9 minutes of leeway when checking in at NRT? I'll probably go the carry on route regardless but having some flexibility would be nice.

I do think it would be helpful if the various MCT wikis included information on how that airport handles baggage transfers as many of these policies are airport and airline specific. I think it would be especially helpful for DTW given the prevalence of cheap ex-YYZ TPAC fares via DTW that many US-based flyers are taking advantage of. I imagine there are quite a few US-based flyers, both experienced and inexperienced, who have never done an I to I via US connection before.