My daughter is leaving Friday for Italy. She goes from Kansas City to Philadelpha to Brussels to Bologna with short connections (unfortunately) in Brussels. We booked the ticket all at one time but she is on different airlines, USAirway, Brussels air. And on way back Lufthansa,(to Frankfurt), USairways and United. Can her luggage be booked from Kansas City to Italy without having to reclaim it in Brussels on the way there or at connection spot in US on way back? I've seen conflicting reports and am really hoping they don't have to mess with their luggage. Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5800 posts
Her luggage should be checked through to Bologna since she is on one ticket. Confirm this when she checks in. She will go through immigration (passport control) in Brussels since that is her entry point into the Schengen area. She will retrieve her luggage in Bologna. When she returns to the U.S., she will have to retrieve her luggage at her first point of entry to the U.S. She will pick it up after going through U.S. immigration. She will then walk through U.S. customs with her luggage. After she gets through customs, there will be a place for her to recheck her luggage. Regardless, she has a lot of connections. Make sure she carries on a change of clothes and any essentials like meds in case her bag is delayed.
Posted by
OP
Bartlesville, ok
10 posts
Thank you Laura! It is a lot of connections unfortunately. We're just hoping they all go smoothly since she and her friend are traveling by themselves to study abroad for the summer. So glad they don't have to worry about luggage until Bologna on the way there. I will definitely have her pack a few days clothing in her backpack! Thanks again! Anne
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4085 posts
All those airlines belong to the Star Alliance and should be accustomed to transferring luggage. She could collect frequent flyer points from all legs if she is enrolled in USAir, United or other partners.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Laura's post is correct. When she checks in at Kansas City, she should make sure that her checked bags are tagged BLQ (for Bologna Airport). As Southam said, these airlines are all members of the Star Alliance, so this should not be a problem. If her bags are tagged to BLQ, the airline will get them there; she only has to take her carry-ons through the other airports. She should make sure to have 2 days worth of clothes, as well as any essentials like medicines and any valuables like electronics, in her carry-on bags. Most delayed luggage is routed to its destination within 1-2 days, but she doesn't want to be stuck during that time. On the way back to the US, her bags should be tagged to MCI (Kansas City Airport). However, she will have to go through immigration at her first US airport, then pick up all her checked bags, then go through customs. Right after exiting customs, there should be a recheck desk; she just has to bring her bags there, and they will get put on her next flight. Remember that lots of others will be connecting at her airports, too, so she won't get too far off track just following the crowds. However, at any point if she is lost or confused, she should IMMEDIATELY ask for help from airport personnel. Some of her connection airports are large, but there are lots of knowledgeable people around. I've seen people waste lots of time because they were afraid to admit that they needed help.