Re-dropping off claimed baggage after international flight layover at SFO
I'll be travelling to Austin from Surat (India) via San Francisco.
The itinerary is as follows
Ticket 1:
- Surat <--> New Delhi - Air India
- New Delhi <--> San Francisco - United
Ticket 2:
- San Francisco <--> Austin - United
I have a twelve-hour layover in San Francisco. I wanted to know whether I can drop/checkin the baggage I pick up after landing in SFO immediately for my next flight so I can venture out in the city - without being burdened with carrying the bags everywhere.
From these two questions on the forum, it seems like a "baggage drop-off" counter exists at the SFO international arrival, however, this would only be a possibility if the bags are already marked for Austin. Which I'm not sure they would be since I booked the two United flights separately.
So my questions finally are:
- Will my baggage already be marked for Austin. If not, can they be (since it's the same airline)?
- Where and how do I request for my bags to be marked for Austin so I can avail this immediate drop-off at SFO? In Surat? In Delhi?
If I cannot get my luggage forwarded to my next flight (after customs/immigration) I would probably need to use a cloakroom - since I understand, I cannot check-in baggage for my domestic flight more than 2-3 hours prior to departure. I was hoping I could circumvent that!
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Do you have to recheck luggage on connecting international flights?
If you're connecting in the U.S., they require everyone from international flights to re-check their baggage upon the first landing point.What happens to luggage on layover flights?
Normally, when layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.Do I have to collect my luggage on a connecting flight?
If your bag is tagged to your next or final destination, you may need to pick up your bags and place them on the connection drop-off belt. If it is not tagged to your next or final destination, then you will definitely need to pick up your bags and check them in for your next flight.What happens to checked baggage on connecting flights?
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.Lost Luggage Tips | What to Do When the Airline Loses Your Bag
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