International travel - luggage

When traveling internationally through the US, it is required that you pick up your checked bags and take them through to the next checkpoint for your next flight - even on the same airline. They do make it pretty easy, but my next trip I will have several large bags and don't want to do this. Since my destination is not the US, I am wondering if I pick flights that go through other countries, i.e., Europe, South America, for example if I have to hassle with this in those countries. I know when I fly through Dubai I don't have to do this. Does anyone have any experience with this?

If you are traveling from Mexico thru the US you have to get your bags and take them thru customs at your first point of entry on US soil. After customs you hand your bags back over to the connecting airline.

When we fly from Toronto to Guadalajara and back again in the Spring on American Airlines, our bags are checked through. We don't have to retrieve them in Dallas where we change planes.

Very strange. I have flown from GDL to Vancouver about 20 times with every airline imaginable and always have to retrieve my bags for customs........

From Vancouver back I don't because you pre-clear US customs in the Vancouver airport.

I believe they are pre clearing US customs in Toronto as well.

desafinada wrote:I believe they are pre clearing US customs in Toronto as well.

Correct about pre-clearance in Toronto, but when we fly Guadalajara to Toronto.... no retrieving in Dallas.