How to handle checked baggage when transiting international to domestic at DEL?
There are a couple of questions on this forum that address international transfers at Delhi airport, and whether checked luggage has to be reclaimed in the process or not. This answer links to multiple reports of transfer desk staff taking care of the checked baggage, regardless of whether the two airlines have an interline agreement or not.
Is there a similar service if you are connecting from an international to a domestic flight or vice versa? As far as I know, all international passengers transferring to domestic have to go through customs at DEL (with all of their luggage). Is there some sort of "bag drop" counter after customs, like at US airports, which allows you to avoid going through the whole check-in process again for your connecting flight? If yes, when can you use it (e. g. do the two flights have to be on one booking, do you already have to have your boarding pass for the connecting flight etc.)?
On the other hand, if you are connecting from domestic to international, in my experience the baggage gets checked through to your final destination if all flights are on one booking. What happens if you have two separate bookings? Is there a similar "transfer desk" to those mentioned in reports like this one where people collect your luggage and re-check it for you while you just go through security and exit immigration?
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Do checked bags automatically get transferred connecting flight?
Unless the connecting flight takes place in a country that requires all passengers to go through Immigration and Customs, checked baggage will automatically be transferred to the next flight.Do I have to collect my baggage between connecting flights International?
If you're connecting in the U.S., they require everyone from international flights to re-check their baggage upon the first landing point.Do I need to change my luggage on a connecting flight?
If you have booked your connecting flights independently, the airline is under no obligation to transfer your baggage to your connecting flight. In this case, you will need to collect your baggage after your first flight and re-check your baggage before your connecting flight.Flying Alone for the First Time | Connecting Flight Procedure | How to Catch a Connecting Flight
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