When layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.

Whether you can collect your luggage during transit depends on the nature of your ticket and the customs regulations of the transit country. If you are flying on a single ticket (booked under one PNR) with the same airline or its partners, your bags are typically "checked through" to your final destination, and you generally cannot access them during a layover unless it is an overnight stop longer than 12-24 hours (depending on airline policy). However, if you are transiting through the United States or Canada from an international flight to a domestic one, you are legally required to collect your bags, clear customs, and then drop them back at a transfer desk. If you booked separate tickets on different airlines, you must always collect your bags at the layover city, exit the secure area, and re-check them for your next flight. If you have a long layover and specifically want your bags to freshen up, you must request "Short-Checking" at the original check-in counter, though many airlines now refuse this request to avoid security and logistical complications.