Who might cause trouble to my checked-in bags during a layover?
Recently I booked a connecting flight with two different carriers (same PNR). There is an 8.5-hour layover in Kuala Lumpur International Airport. I didn't want to recheck-in my baggage so I confirmed with the airline of the originating flight that they would give me baggage tags to the final destination.
She said yes but warned me that there could be some trouble with your baggage as it would be on the ground for more than 8 hours, so it is better you collect them and check-in again. I was perplexed about what she meant by that. I asked her why she said that and who was going to cause trouble to my bags. She did not answer my question and just repeated the same warning.
In the end, I said, it's okay I'll take the risk.
Are there really any risks in keeping check-in bags "on the ground" for a long layover (i.e. not collecting them and rechecking-in)?
Best Answer
The problem with baggage handling during long layovers is misplacement rather than theft at most airports. Whether the airport has a modern, fully automated baggage handling system or a fully manual one (yes tehre are still small airports doing this), the process is largely always the same.
- The arriving luggage is sorted and forwarded to target (baggage retrieval or next flight).
- The baggage for the next is collected in a defined location.
- The airport may have the collection area ready only x hours before that flight departs.
- Exceptions to the process are handled manually with all such luggage stored in "room for exception".
- Humans make errors.
You can minimize the impact and the risk of theft by making sure all important stuff is in your backpack (you are a smart traveller and use a backpack, do you?).
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What happens to checked baggage during layover?
What happens with checked luggage on a layover? For domestic layovers, your checked luggage will be tagged to your final destination, so there's nothing for you to do while on your layover. Your bags will get taken off the first flight and loaded onto the second flight.Can the airport hold your luggage during a layover?
If you have an extremely long layover, you might want to ditch the airport and go explore the city, but dragging luggage along with you can make for a cumbersome exploration. Luckily, most airports have a left luggage service where for a fee bags can be stored at the airport and retrieved before a flight.Who is responsible for baggage handling?
The Transportation Security Administration is responsible for providing the equipment and personnel to screen passengers and baggage at every airport, and responding to increases in passenger load Airports work with local TSA officials to improve security checkpoints.Why do I have to recheck baggage during a layover?
The main purpose of rechecking luggage is for the customs to make sure that you're not bringing in anything illegal from another country, like perishable foods, or plants. If your destination is in the same country, there's no need for it.Lost luggage: What happens to your baggage after check-in
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