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Spain PLF Health form rechecking bags

Hi All,
Appreciate any help in advance. I have an upcoming trip where I will be traveling to Madrid airport switching Airlines then continuing on to Italy. Since I am switching airlines I will need to recheck my bags. I am struggling with the PLF form process. When I filled out the form I had to select that I am in transit to another country otherwise it forced me to enter an address where I am staying in Spain, which I am not. My concern is, don't I need to technically enter Spain and pass immigration to get my bags? Will they let me through to baggage with an in transit labeled QR code?

Posted by
247 posts

your PLF form question is interesting - I don't have an answer - but I am doing just that when coming back to US w/o checkin bag!)

the PLF is just that, a locator form, not immigration clearance. i don't suspect you will have a problem - if they ask, they might just want to see next ticket. I have seen immigration and airline employees not bother about details on PLF or make changes to PLF forms by hand and on the fly. worst case they may just ask you to fill a new one in online and tell you what to fill in. keep the SpTH app handy on your phone.

Posted by
7453 posts

By switching airlines, do you mean you purchased two different tickets at different times, one for Airline A, and another for Airline B?

If you don't mind, which Airlines are you referring to?

To your original question, just fill out the PLF as you were doing, as a transit passenger, since you are in transit.

For the record, you are entering Spain anyway, as Madrid is your first stop in the Schengen zone, (An Edit: This means you will go through immigration in Spain, not Italy) in fact to catch your Italy flight, you will pass from the International terminal into the domestic terminal, just if you did not have to worry about the bag, you would have stayed airside.

As for the "QR" code, immigration or anyone, will not scan it or request the form. You complete it, submit it, and that is it. It only is used if there is an exposure on your flight, then they use it to contact you.

A further Edit: In thinking about this more, make sure you are filling out the correct form. I do not believe Spain requires an EuPLF, but Italy does, and the form needs to be the one for Italy. There is a Spanish FCS Health Control form you must fill out though. And since your first Airline believes you will be staying in Spain, they will check your documents for any Spanish requirements. Your second airline will check documents for Italy.