Do you have to collect your bags on a connecting flight?

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 need to collect your bags depends on if your connection is domestic or international and the specific customs laws of the transit country. If you are flying domestically (e.g., New York to LA via Chicago) on a single ticket, your bags are almost always checked through to your final destination. However, if you are flying internationally into the United States, you must collect your checked bags at your first port of entry to clear Customs, even if you are connecting to another domestic flight. After clearing, you simply drop them back on a "baggage re-check" belt. In contrast, many international hubs like London Heathrow, Hong Kong, or Dubai allow "International-to-International" transit where your bags stay in the system and you never see them until your final stop. In 2026, always look for the "Through Checked" note on your luggage tag at the departure counter; if your bags are not checked through (common when booking separate "self-transfer" tickets on low-cost carriers), you will definitely have to collect and re-check them.

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If your flights were booked under one ticket, your bags will be checked through to your final destination. If your flights were booked under separate tickets, you will need to collect your bags and recheck them before your connecting flight.

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For connecting domestic flights, you almost never have to exit and reenter security, though there are some exceptions at airports where the terminals aren't all connected. For domestic-to-international connection, it's still pretty rare that you have to exit and reenter security, even if you're changing terminals.

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When entering the United States from overseas, you must obtain your luggage and bring them through Customs and Border Protection (CBP). You will need to check them back into the airlines to make your next flight. Baggage not obtained after your international flight will not get to your final destination.

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Most (but again, not all) airports connect international terminals airside. When you're connecting from an international flight to a domestic one, you'll always have to exit and reenter security as you'll need to go through customs and immigration (unless you have gone through preclearance aboard, which is rare).

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Your baggage If you've booked two flights separately, in most cases you'll need to pick up your checked bags and check-in for your connecting flight.

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A direct flight is identified by a unique flight number. A transit flight, with a connection, has two distinct flight numbers. A flight that is not direct, or connecting flight, involves a change of aircraft.

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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.

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In most cases, your baggage will be checked through to your final destination. No further action is required on your part.

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The recommended layover time for domestic flights is normally one hour. However, as previously stated, you may require longer if your flights are booked with two different airlines, if you are traveling to a very busy airport or if you require special assistance.

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Generally speaking, most airlines will make some kind of efforts to wait for delayed passengers on a connecting flight, though this is not necessarily guaranteed. In some cases, airlines may be able to hold a connecting flight for a period of time, but it is not something that is typically guaranteed by any airline.

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If your flights were booked under one ticket, your bags will be checked through to your final destination. If your flights were booked under separate tickets, you will need to collect your bags and recheck them before your connecting flight.

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However, the only time you have to get your checked bag and re-check it is when you have to go through customs and you have a connecting flight. You go through customs in the first country you land in.

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While skiplagging isn't illegal, American Airlines filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month against Skiplagged.com, accusing the company of unauthorized and deceptive ticketing practices and tricking customers into believing they've gained access to a secret loophole.

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If a delay in your first flight is the reason you're missing your connection, don't worry too much. Usually, most airlines will rebook you on the next flight, and that too for free. Although, you might have to fly on standby depending on seat availability.

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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.

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The customer will be advised by Qantas staff at check-in. If connecting from an international flight through to an Australian domestic flight, you will need to clear customs and collect your bags at the first international point.

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Passengers who will be transferred to the international lines, receive their baggage and pass through the security checkpoints to deliver their baggage to the airline they have their transferred flight. At this point, border security checks the baggage again in accordance with the rules of the transferred country.

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Connecting flights are also referred to as “connections.” For example, I recently flew from Mexico City to NYC, with a connection in Miami, FL. This means I took one flight from Mexico City to Miami, had a layover, and then continued to take a flight from Miami to NYC, thereby getting me to my home.

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During domestic layovers, you are free to leave the airport. If your domestic layover is longer than one hour, you should expect to receive two boarding permits. If you want to check out local points of interest, make sure you get your second boarding pass and print it out before you leave.

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