Checking Luggage to Final Destination
Jun 9, 2011 | 2:43 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Va Beach
Posts: 15
Checking Luggage to Final Destination
Flying back and forth to Africa I run into this issue:
When I am leaving the USA they check my baggage all the way to my final destination. However, when I am leaving Africa for the USA, they check my bag to the airport of entry. I collect it, clear customs and then must have it rebooked on the flight to my final destination.
Is there a way to have my bags ticketed to my final destination when I check-in in Africa without having to stop and have it rechecked to my final destination at the first airport I hit in the USA?
When I am leaving the USA they check my baggage all the way to my final destination. However, when I am leaving Africa for the USA, they check my bag to the airport of entry. I collect it, clear customs and then must have it rebooked on the flight to my final destination.
Is there a way to have my bags ticketed to my final destination when I check-in in Africa without having to stop and have it rechecked to my final destination at the first airport I hit in the USA?
Jun 9, 2011 | 3:35 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,810
It's because in the United States (and Canada) Customs and Immigration checks are handled by the same person. So when you land at your first point of entry you have to take care of Immigration (you) and Customs (your baggage) at the same time.
In other jurisdictions like Europe all they take care of when you land is immigration - Customs is taken care of at your final destination... So in that circumstance they can check your bag "all the way."
In other jurisdictions like Europe all they take care of when you land is immigration - Customs is taken care of at your final destination... So in that circumstance they can check your bag "all the way."
Jun 10, 2011 | 8:14 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Va Beach
Posts: 15
Thanks, I know I have to clear Customs, it's the second stop to have my bags re-ticketed to my final destination I am hoping to avoid.
I fly out of Africa on Ethiopian Airlines or Air France to some place in Europe - Rome, Frankfurt, Paris or London.
Then I fly to the US via United, US Airways, or Delta to Dulles, Philly or Atlanta.
So, it hasn't mattered where I landed or which airline... I have to go to the airline after Customs, show them my boarding pass for the next flight to ORF, and have them pull the current sticker off my luggage and ticket it to ORF. (Half the time it doesn't make it here anyway.)
I fly out of Africa on Ethiopian Airlines or Air France to some place in Europe - Rome, Frankfurt, Paris or London.
Then I fly to the US via United, US Airways, or Delta to Dulles, Philly or Atlanta.
So, it hasn't mattered where I landed or which airline... I have to go to the airline after Customs, show them my boarding pass for the next flight to ORF, and have them pull the current sticker off my luggage and ticket it to ORF. (Half the time it doesn't make it here anyway.)
Jun 10, 2011 | 8:34 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,456
Is there a way to have my bags ticketed to my final destination when I check-in in Africa without having to stop and have it rechecked to my final destination at the first airport I hit in the USA?
One way to manage the problem is to arrange flights so that you first land on US soil at your destination.
Eg if you start in Paris and end up in Los Angeles:
Fly Paris - London - Los Angeles
Insead of
Paris - New York - Los Angeles
Jun 10, 2011 | 9:17 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 11,078
Sometimes flying to US from smaller oversea outpost with local airlines you will get the bag only to entry point. This is due to the fact their tag computer/printing system is not set up for other US destinations.
We has a trip back to US into MSP where half of the team had to transfer to other airports in the mid-west. CZ in China could only print the tags as far as MSP. There was an offer to put a hand written tag on but I prefer the printed one with the barcodes at MSP transfer desk.
We has a trip back to US into MSP where half of the team had to transfer to other airports in the mid-west. CZ in China could only print the tags as far as MSP. There was an offer to put a hand written tag on but I prefer the printed one with the barcodes at MSP transfer desk.
Jun 10, 2011 | 11:45 am
#8
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
This has nothing to do with port of entry. There is no reason they can not check your bags to the final destination assuming it's the same airline or one they have an agreement with. It's done all the time.
When you arrive in the us you pick up your bags, clear customs, and drop them off already tagged for their final destination.
Give the flight and airline details and maybe we can come up with a reason, but it's done all the time, bags tagged all the way through, just picked up when you enter and dropped off after customs.
When you arrive in the us you pick up your bags, clear customs, and drop them off already tagged for their final destination.
Give the flight and airline details and maybe we can come up with a reason, but it's done all the time, bags tagged all the way through, just picked up when you enter and dropped off after customs.
Jun 10, 2011 | 11:54 am
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,253
Flying back and forth to Africa I run into this issue:
When I am leaving the USA they check my baggage all the way to my final destination. However, when I am leaving Africa for the USA, they check my bag to the airport of entry. I collect it, clear customs and then must have it rebooked on the flight to my final destination.
Is there a way to have my bags ticketed to my final destination when I check-in in Africa without having to stop and have it rechecked to my final destination at the first airport I hit in the USA?
When I am leaving the USA they check my baggage all the way to my final destination. However, when I am leaving Africa for the USA, they check my bag to the airport of entry. I collect it, clear customs and then must have it rebooked on the flight to my final destination.
Is there a way to have my bags ticketed to my final destination when I check-in in Africa without having to stop and have it rechecked to my final destination at the first airport I hit in the USA?
Jun 10, 2011 | 12:52 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: AA AC DL
Posts: 44
Checking Baggage to Final Destination
I recently flew from Belize City to Toronto, via Houston. In Houston we went through customs, waited in vain for the bags, then figured they had been checked through. They were to my surprise. Went to boarding gate. There was no inspection of bags. Picked them up in Toronto. I past trips from Mexico, when connecting through the US I had to pick up bags before going through customs.
Jun 10, 2011 | 12:59 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA, Mucci!
Posts: 16,601
I recently flew from Belize City to Toronto, via Houston. In Houston we went through customs, waited in vain for the bags, then figured they had been checked through. They were to my surprise. Went to boarding gate. There was no inspection of bags. Picked them up in Toronto. I past trips from Mexico, when connecting through the US I had to pick up bags before going through customs.
To the OP, are your tickets from Africa to the US booked as one ticket or is it one ticket from Africa to Europe and then another ticket Europe US? If it's two tickets, that may be why they aren't willing to tag your bags through to the final destination.