Policy for checking baggage all the way through international flights

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I was wondering if there's a definite policy to allow people with two or more reservations with different airlines to have their luggage sent directly to final destination, without having to recollect and check in at intermediate steps; does it depend on previous agreements between companies, on visa/nationality, etc.?

My case is Edmonton -> Montreal (Westjet) and Montreal -> Paris (KLM), with 2:05h layover, ITA nationality, but I guess one would like to know if, at least theoretically, just showing all the tickets at first check in is enough to get luggage tagged and shipped correctly.



Best Answer

There is, unfortunately, no universal rule on this. Each airline has different agreements with different airlines.

You would need to call WestJet to see if they have an Interline Agreement with KLM. If they do, then likely you can check them through. But as you have two separate tickets, it will ultimately be at the discretion of the check in agent on your first flight.




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Are bags checked all the way through on international flights?

If you're on an international trip and the country of the layover requires you to go through customs, you'll need to exit the plane, collect your luggage, go through customs, and then check in your luggage all over again.

Can I check my luggage all the way through?

The Basics Good news first: in principle, it is possible to have your luggage checked through to your final destination, even if you have two separate tickets. But all airlines that are involved in your trip must have some kind of cooperation. There are various forms of agreements between airlines.

Can I check my luggage through to my final destination?

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.

What are baggage restrictions for international flights?

International luggage size standards are mostly weight based. 50 pounds is the usual weight limit. The largest checked international luggage size allowed is 62 linear (total) inches. Typically, a standard checked luggage size wavers around 27 x 21 x 14 inches.



🛑AIRLINE BAGGAGE POLICY | 5 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW! Free Baggage, Prohibited Items, etc




More answers regarding policy for checking baggage all the way through international flights

Answer 2

Be sure to mention that you'd like your luggage to end up at your final destination and then double-check the baggage tags.

If we hadn't done that on our last international trip, my luggage would have arrived without re-checking it, but my husband's bags would have been left behind in another country although we were traveling together!

Luckily, we caught the slip at check-in, before our bags disappeared out of sight and the airline representative corrected her mistake.

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