I don't travel by air often, but I am going on my first overseas flight. Leaving Charleston, SC to Dulles. Dulles to Munich. And then from Munich to Barcelona. And the reverse coming back home. All Flights are United/Lufthansa. My question is what is the luggage process as far as customs/immigration at the various airports that I will have to go through. When would I have to retrieve it and re-check it? Thanks for any info
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Don't worry too much about it. It is all tightly controlled. You will go through immigration/customs on Munich and ( THINK will recheck luggage to Barcelona but could be wrong snce we only have carry on.
Unfortunately Dulles is not a good entry point for the US. You will be subjected to additional and pretty unpolite screening in Munich because you are gong to Dulles. I personally avoid all connections through Dulles. You will go through immigrations, get your luggage, go through customs, and recheck your luggage.
Posted by
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
705 posts
First o/s trip how exciting. I wouldn't worry too much either. If your flights are booked through United or Lufthansa as a code share you will be able to check your bags all the way through to Barcelona (or should be able to). You will go through as a transit passenger in Munich and just go through security checks for hand luggage etc. If the flights are not code share and you actually have to change planes/airlines you MAY have to get your bags in Munich and then recheck them after customs. However when I fly to Genoa I go code share with Qantas/Cathay Pacific to Rome and then get a domestic Alitalia flight to Genoa. My bags are checked straight through to Genoa from Melbourne. I'd ask at checkin at SC.
Posted by
Bend, OR, United States
1167 posts
As long as you are not stopping over in Munich, i.e., just connecting there, you should be able to check your luggage all the way through from Charleston to Barcelona.