Expert: K F. - 6/16/2009

Question
Hi there,

My girlfriend has a flight from Cape Town to Boston via Amsterdam and New York. She is planning to remain in Amsterdam, traveling back to London with me where she has booked a flight to return to Boston. Is this allowed and will she be able to retrieve her baggage in Amsterdam?

Urgently waiting

Kyal Cundall


Answer
If your flight is booked in a way that is all connections, then you can't retrieve your bags. Unless you are traveling on different airline companies on each leg.  In other words, when you are traveling on a international to a domestic flight, you WILL have to retrieve your bags for re screening and customs.  

You maybe able to retrieve your bag by canceling one of the flights. (in your case, Amsterdam to NYC.)  

Check with your airline company too. If she is a frequent traveler and she has a silver/gold status on Star Alliance, she may be exempt from charges...

Please let me know if you have further questions.  I will get back to you ASAP.  

Please also rate me too. :) thanks