Why Must You Collect and Recheck Your Luggage for a Connecting International Flight in the USA?

After arriving in the U.S. from a delayed international flight, I retrieved my checked luggage and walked a short distance to the baggage recheck area, only to be informed that I was too close to my connecting flight’s departure. Consequently, my suitcase and I would have to catch the next available flight the following day. If I hadn’t needed to recheck my bag, making that connection wouldn’t have been an issue (another win for Team Carry-On Only).

It occurred to me that during my flights to Europe with a layover, I’m not required to recheck my luggage. In fact, in most international destinations I’ve traveled to, I can generally expect my bags to be checked through to the final stop. However, this does not apply when I arrive in the United States.

Despite the frustration and inconvenience faced by me and many other travelers in similar situations during layovers in the U.S. after arriving from abroad, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maintains that the rechecking process serves several important purposes. Here’s why you must collect and recheck your bags upon re-entering the United States after an international flight.

The necessity for international travelers to collect and recheck their luggage for U.S. connecting flights

The primary reason for rechecking your luggage after an international flight is security.

“This is part of our commitment to safeguarding the nation,” stated Tammy Melvin, a spokesperson for CBP, during her conversation with Dinogo.

This requirement is mandated by various federal laws and regulations, with the primary one referenced by CBP found in the Code of Federal Regulations (specifically Title 19, Chapter I, subsection 162.6), which asserts that “All persons, baggage, and merchandise entering the Customs territory of the United States from abroad are subject to inspection by a CBP officer.”

“Essentially, both travelers and their belongings (including luggage) are subject to inspection and search upon entering the U.S., and when luggage is selected for rechecking, it undergoes screening and inspection,” Melvin clarified.

After retrieving your luggage and before exiting the customs area, CBP officers may require you to go to a secondary area for additional screening of your baggage. If selected, an officer will examine your suitcase for items that are prohibited from entering the country. Having your luggage with you at that moment facilitates this process.

With that search authority, Customs officers have the power to confiscate any items they know or reasonably suspect violate laws enforced by Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as regulations from about 40 other government agencies. This includes stolen or smuggled goods, controlled substances, and items deemed unsafe for import (ranging from fresh produce that could carry pests or diseases to weapons and explosives), among other things.

CBP also contributes to enforcing import and export regulations. When travelers arrive in the U.S., they must declare certain items, such as gifts, duty-free purchases, or agricultural products. By requiring travelers to collect and recheck their bags, CBP helps ensure that all items are declared accurately, preventing the illegal importation of restricted goods and ensuring that travelers pay the necessary duties on their acquisitions. However, CBP must discover these items through inspection to enforce the regulations effectively.

Is it possible to avoid rechecking your luggage?

You can certainly sidestep rechecking by traveling with only carry-on luggage. However, the only way to bypass rechecking a checked bag for your connecting flight is to go through a preclearance facility before arriving in the U.S. CBP operates preclearance facilities at 15 locations across 6 countries worldwide, including:

• Aruba
• Bahamas (Nassau airport)
• Bermuda
• Canada (Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg airports)
• Ireland (Dublin and Shannon airports)
• United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi airport)
  

Once you pass through the preclearance facility, all subsequent flights function like domestic flights.

What occurs if you fail to collect your luggage?

The official statement from CBP is, “Baggage not collected after your international flight will not reach your final destination.”

It’s unclear whether this means not reaching your destination at all or just not traveling with you. If your bag was left behind or mistakenly placed on another flight and doesn’t appear on the conveyor belt, the airline will usually arrange to get it to your home (or at least to your home airport) as soon as possible, allowing you to continue your journey as intended.

If you forget to collect your bag (or claim to have forgotten it, possibly to catch a tight connection), the same situation may apply. Alternatively, it could be deemed abandoned, leaving its fate uncertain.