How to retrieve checked-through luggage if I don't board a connecting flight?
Assume I have a flight ticket from A->B->C and at A I checked in luggage all the way to C. However after the first flight I don't board the second flight but decide to remain in B. As I understand procedures my luggage will need to be unloaded again from the plane in B when they notice I did not board the flight.
- How and when can I retrieve my luggage at B? (Or if not, what is the fate of my luggage?)
- Is there any way I can advise airport/airline staff in B to not load my luggage in the first place? (I understand that asking to do so when checking in in A would be declined / met with a fare recalculation)
This question is different from this one here in that I am looking for a general answer, whereas in that case B happened to be the port of entry to the US where you have to collect your luggage in any case. Also it is different from questions about hidden city ticketing in that I do want to check in luggage from A to B. Finally I am also aware that possible further legs of my trip would be cancelled. This question is asking essentially the same but was marked duplicate to the above two questions that do not answer my question.
Best Answer
As soon as you know that you have to do this, go immediately to a representative of the airline and explain your situation. Be prepared give explain in detail why you need to terminate your journey early. If this is a genuine emergency I would expect that they would make every effort to retrieve your baggage. If this is just you changing your mind on a whim, or it looks as if you intended to finish your journey early I would expect them to be much less cooperative.
There is a significant chance that your bags will be allowed to fly on to the final destination and then returned to you later - at least with a US domestic flight and if the transit time is short, or you simply fail to show at the gate for the second leg. US domestic flights do not always unload baggage if a passenger does not show. In any case it is unlikely that they will simply unload your baggage to the carousel for your arriving flight. You will need to contact the airline to retrieve your baggage. If the airline is forced to delay the second leg in order to unload your baggage, expect to be extremely unpopular both with the airline and the other passengers (although the passengers won't know its you, so you will be unpopular only in the abstract).
I've never heard of it happening, but in my opinion I can't see why, if your bags make it to the final destination, the airline shouldn't charge you to have them returned.
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How do I get my luggage if I miss a connecting flight?
In the event that you missed a connection, or got held up in security and your checked luggage has gone ahead without you, immediately find an airline representative. The airline may be able to track your bags and hold them for you until your arrival.Do I have to recheck my luggage on a connecting flight?
If your flights were booked under one ticket, your bags will be checked through to your final destination. If your flights were booked under separate tickets, you will need to collect your bags and recheck them before your connecting flight.Can I get my checked bag back?
The airline will reroute your checked bag to your destination (or wherever you ask them to) as best it can, and it will deliver the bag to you at no charge (although you may wait a day or two or even longer, depending upon how bad the delay is).Lost luggage: What happens to your baggage after check-in
More answers regarding how to retrieve checked-through luggage if I don't board a connecting flight?
Answer 2
How and when can I retrieve my luggage at B? (Or if not, what is the fate of my luggage?)
Definitely when overnighting in B. While sometimes the airport might be willing to hold your baggage overnight the opposite is the regular practice: if you overnight you not just can get back your baggage but most often you must collect your baggage. (If you want to do a hidden city ticketing using this then ITA Matrix has a minconnect option.)
Answer 3
I did this flying from London Heathrow to Calgary. I was supposed to fly on to Vancouver as part of my itinerary. Then, back to Calgary (home). At Heathrow I simply asked the checkin to short-tag my luggage to Calgary as I would not be taking the Vancouver flight. There was no issue at all and my luggage was taken off in Calgary. I was told you can not be made to board a connecting flight or any other flight you have purchased. It was different outbound. I had to Fly Calgary to Vancouver then back to Calgary and catch the same flight I would have in Calgary to Heathrow. So silly. You have to take the initial portion of your itinerary or it would be cancelled but not so for me on return. Hope this helps
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