I’m flying to Venice with a layover in Rome from SFO. If I am checking baggage, do I need to get it from baggage claim and recheck it in Rome? Can someone explain to me what happens when you land for layovers there? Thanks.
As long as your itinerary is all on one ticket, you do not need to exit the secure area to
claim and recheck your bag in FCO. The airline should tag bags all the way to VCE in SFO,
but it never hurts to take a peek to be sure.
But if you are on two separate tickets, you do, unless you can convince the check-in counter
at SFO to tag the bag all the way through to VCE (which they are under no obligation to do).
Then the amount of time you have between flights becomes a factor since the first airline does
not know about the second flight and if you are delayed, the first airline will not protect you, and
the second airline will cancel your reservation if you are a no-show.
In Rome, you will clear immigration and enter the Schengen zone. When you arrive in Venice,
you will claim your bag and proceed through customs (pretty much a formality)