Airports That Require You to Reclaim Your Bags Between Flights

In certain countries, such as the USA, every airport requires all passengers to claim their baggage and clear customs before continuing to their connecting flight or exiting the airport. This rule is part of the country’s immigration process and affected 72.4 million arrivals in 2024. Similarly, airports like Santiago International Airport (SCL) and Incheon International Airport (ICN) require travelers arriving from abroad and connecting to a domestic flight to collect their bags before proceeding. Regardless of where a layover takes place, passengers should always research the airport’s baggage claim policies in advance to know whether they’ll need to retrieve their luggage.

Reasons Certain Airports Ask Passengers to Collect Their Luggage on a Layover

The main benefit of booking a two-leg flight with the same airline is that it usually eliminates the need to go through immigration and collect your bags only to repeat the process. While this is generally allowed, some airports have their own rules, and once on their soil, there’s little that can be done to change them.

For Security Reasons

Some airports have strict security policies that require incoming passengers to retrieve their luggage so it can be screened before their next flight.

How the Terminals Are Structured

Big hubs like London Heathrow (LHR) and Frankfurt (FRA) are designed to handle thousands of passengers efficiently, but smaller airports aren’t always equipped the same way. In these cases, you may need to pick up your bags because the airport can’t transfer them automatically.

Terminal Switches

At multi-terminal airports, collecting luggage may be necessary when switching between terminals. For instance, if you land in Terminal 1 but your next flight departs from Terminal 3, the airport may require you to get your bags before making the terminal transfer.

Passengers Need to Pass Through Customs Before Reaching Their Gates

A handful of airports require passengers to go through customs with their luggage before heading to the next gate, like those in the United States.

Connecting From an International Flight to a Domestic One

If you’re arriving on an international flight and connecting to a domestic one, you’ll likely need to clear immigration and customs before catching your next flight. Airlines ANA highlight this. They note that anyone arriving in Japan on an international flight and connecting domestically must collect their luggage before continuing.

Infographic showing four illustrated reasons why airports may require passengers to collect their luggage during layovers, including security checks, terminal structure, terminal switches, and customs requirements.

Some airports require passengers to reclaim luggage on layovers due to security policies, terminal layouts, customs procedures, or when switching terminals between flights © Kiwi.com

What Airports Make Passengers Collect Their Luggage?

All Airports in the USA

The United States has strict rules in place for travelers arriving internationally, which require them to go through immigration at their first port of entry, regardless of whether they have a connection or not. This means when landing in any airport in the country, you need to head straight to immigration before locating bags, which includes the following airports:

All Airports in Canada

Just as in the US, Canada has rules that may require passengers to collect their checked bags. The exact process can vary from airport to airport, but in most cases, like at Toronto Pearson International Airport , you’ll need to pick up your bags to clear customs. Once you’re through, you can drop them off at a connection belt, and they’ll be sent on to your next flight.

Here are some Canadian airports where you need to keep an eye on this:

Santiago International Airport (SCL)

If your itinerary takes you through Santiago and you’re catching a domestic flight, you must collect your luggage. This is especially important for people heading toward Patagonia, so plan a little extra time for baggage recheck when in this situation.

São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU)

São Paulo/Guarulhos is one of Brazil’s busiest airports, so chances are you’ll pass through here at some point if you’re traveling around the country. For domestic connections when coming from abroad, the procedure is simple: collect your luggage at arrivals and drop it off again at the recheck counter before continuing on.

New Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM)

Lima’s Jorge Chávez International is another key hub in Latin America. Travelers arriving on an international flight must pick up their baggage before proceeding to a domestic connection, as in São Paulo and Santiago.

Incheon International Airport (ICN)

Incheon is one of a handful of airports in Asia with this rule. Passengers connecting to a domestic flight must collect their bags to clear customs first. The only exception is flights to Busan, where luggage can sometimes be sent straight through without requiring pickup during a layover.

How to Know if Your Checked Bag Must Be Collected on a Layover

Having to grab your bags on a layover is one thing, but how do you know when it’s actually required, especially when the rules aren’t always clear? If you’re ever unsure, just follow these simple steps.

Consult the Airline When Checking In

Airlines will most likely know what’s required when you land at your destination (at least they should), so ask them. Oftentimes, the carrier you’re flying with will have all the details on their website, like Asiana does for passengers arriving in South Korea.

Look at the Airport’s Website

The vast majority of modern airports that handle a lot of layover passengers will already have the procedure listed on their website. If you’re ever unsure, do a quick search with the airport name and something like ’layover baggage policy,’ and you’ll usually find it.

Check Online Threads and Forums

If the details are vague and you can’t find a clear answer, my last resort is always to log on to recent threads published on websites such as Reddit or post in Facebook groups. These are great tools for learning about travelers’ recent experiences. Although the information isn’t always concrete, it can help verify some specific procedures that you’re unsure about.

Don’t Forget Your Luggage

Forgetting to reclaim your bags on a layover can happen to anyone, especially when you have no indication of when or if you need to pick them up. In the future, always check with the airline, even if you think you know the rules, just to cover yourself. You never know when a situation like this will apply to you.

FAQs About Baggage Collection on Connecting Flights

Are there any situations where I don’t have to pick up my bags on a connection?

Passengers flying on a route with one single ticket to their destination usually don’t have to pick up their bags, but it depends on the airport’s policies. If your two-leg trip is booked with Aer Lingus from John F. Kennedy International Airport to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, with a layover in Dublin Airport, they should send your bags directly through to Madrid. However, whenever you’re unsure, don’t be afraid to ask the check-in agent.

If I’m flying a two-leg domestic route, do I still need to collect my bags?

No, as long as both legs of your flight are booked with the same airline, you generally don’t need to worry about your bags. However, if the airport has its own rules for any reason, whether for security, customs, or other regulations, you’ll need to follow them. Make sure to stay up to date on the specific policies of each airport by checking their official websites.

What happens if I forget to claim my bags?

Consult a member of staff at the airline check-in desk straight away. They should be able to locate your luggage, as the baggage crew will have set it aside in a separate pile to be claimed. Always do your own research regarding layover baggage claim policies to avoid leaving your stuff behind.

If I’m on an extended international-to-international layover, can I get to my checked bags?

It depends on your destination. You must clear immigration and follow the country’s entry procedures before reaching the luggage belt. Picking up bags on long layovers is possible, but you’ll have to check the rules in advance.

Airports That Require You to Reclaim Your Bags Between Flights