Checked luggage logistics

No, you will go through immigration/passport control in JFK. After that you will pick up your checked luggage, carry it through US customs, immediately re-check it to RDU, then enter the generally lobby area, and finally go through the standard airport security check on the way to your RDU gate.

Thanks. I’ve almost never checked bags, and am rusty on travel in general…

The above reply is only partially correct. When you checked in at Milan verify that the luggage tag should say RDU. If your reservation is on one ticket then it should be checked to your final destination.

When you land in JFK you depart plane, go through customs and then retrieve your luggage from the baggage carousel outside customs. After you retrieve the bag you follow signs for in transit drop off area.

You don’t have to recheck your bag since it already has the tag for RDU.

You just need to just drop off the bag in the drop off in transit area.. Then you will go through security again and enter the general airport area.

Thank you, mboggs.

What is said here is very correct, and it is very easy. You go through immigration and then go to at the baggage carousel. Then you take your bag and walk out of that area and immediately there is a place to recheck your bag. There are people there to tell you. Recheck is simply dropping the same bag onto a cart or whatever they have. No paper work, nothing to do at all but drop it. Literally. Then it will go through to your destination.

Depending on the airline/airlines you may have to change terminals at JFK after dropping the bag post-customs.

Note that the Airtrain is out of service for terminal 1, if you arrive on ITA. I think there's a bus replacement?

The previous information is right and wrong. (Sorry, but Mboggs is mostly wrong.)

When you arrive at JFK, you will go through IIMMIGRATION.. Then you will pick up your bag and go through CUSTOMS. More than likely no one will even look at you at customs let alone stop you. (They only stop those they suspect of doing something wrong.)

As soon as you exit customs, there will be a bag recheck area where you will drop off your bag.

Then head towards security and departures.

So, to answer your question, you will have to get your bag at JFK and check it back in.

BTW, what airlines are you flying?

American Airlines. I’m increasingly tempted to just do carryon, but I do appreciate the explanations.

Frank II -- Thanks !!!! As usual, good accurate info.

Going we almost always do carry-on. On return we check everything except personal items. Less stuff to handle. Delayed luggage is not a problem when we are going home. And we need to remember that immigration and customs are two completely different functions.

I was about to post a similar question but in our case, we are flying Lufthansa from Bergen, Norway to Frankfort, Frankfort to Chicago O’Hare, then a 13 hour layover before flying to El Paso the following morning. So we booked a hotel by airport. Would we go through same process at Chicago, then recheck bag for next morning? If so, then we will just have what we need for overnight and next morning in carry in’s and not be taking checked bags out of terminal? Thanks!

@dpalmier - You would do well to start your own thread. Good general practice, plus, this one seems to have petered out.

@dpalmier Different airline and airport combinations have different rules for long layovers. Check with United to see if they'll let you recheck immediately and leave the luggage with them overnight. (Certainly the easier solution.)

Hey!

Can I chime in with yet another question? So after you go through the immigration officer, customs, and finally drop off your luggage for the further destination, where does it go exactly after that?

I was on my flight from Buenos Aires -> JFK (10 hours layover) -> Barcelona. In JFK I dropped off my 2 suitcases, saw them go down the conveyer belt, left the airport for several hours then came back and got on my flight.

Neither of my suitcases made it to Barcelona. It's been several days already and they can't find where they are.
So I started to wonder where they go exactly after the drop off? Is there yet another custom where they can be taken away? Or should they go directly to another flight?

If anyone knows, I'd really appreciate your wisdom!

Several things could have happened:

--they got misplaced somewhere in the baggage system;

--they were put on the wrong flight;

--the tags got torn off and they are sitting somewhere;

--they were taken by someone else.

--since you came from Buenos Aires, your bags could have been used to transport something illegal and baggage handlers in NY working with them took the bags. This has happened at JFK in the past and has been in the news.

If customs checked your bags and found something, they would have been waiting for you at your departure gate.

Hopefully, you have travel insurance to cover replacement of the lost items.