Folks,

If you have not read my hunt report on my recent trip to Australia you don't know how stupid I can be. I let the Alaska Air counter person here in Las Vegas convince me that we would not have to gather our luggage upon entering Australia in Brisbane and recheck it to Darwin which was our final destination. After all she should know these things. Right? Not! I did question her but didn't get in her face about it which I should have. This caused some unnecessary angst and hassle in Brisbane that ultimately was my fault. It's not like I haven't been traveling internationally to hunt for about 25 years.

I guess the moral of the story is to make sure you understand regardless of what you are told that you will have to pick up your luggage wherever you enter a foreign country and recheck it to your final destination. This does not apply if you are stayin in transit as you might be if going to Zim via RSA but not technically entering RSA.

Mark

Mark, I was told the same thing by Delta. I was just tooling around in the airport waiting on the next flight and they called me over the intercom to come and claim my baggage. Sometimes there is nothing you can do.

On my last trip (first one accompanied by my wife) we flew from San Antonio to Houston on United and connected with Emirates through Dubai then on to Joberg. I was told unequivocally by the United agent in San Antonio that since United and Emirates are partners that all of our bags and gun case would be checked through to Joberg (NOT). Had to retrieve all bags in Houston and cart them across the airport to check in with Emirates. At this point in my life I always assume that I may have to claim and recheck bags at every connection and make sure I have enough time to do so.

Gentlemen,

Take the this to the bank, and never listen to anything else.

If you are flying to another country, and proceeding forward to another destination in the same country.

You first airport is your port of entry, and you must clear immigration and custom.

No two ways about it.

If you flying transit through a country, and your luggage is booked to your final destination - ie in another country, you have to make sure your second flight is an international flight.

Not an internal flight.

If it is an international flight to another country that is not within a eunion - like the EU, then you do not need to clear immigration and customs.

If the countries connecting flights are considered internal flights - again, like the EU, then you do.

I hope the above is not too confusing.

Bottom line is wherever you clear immigration, you clear customs.

I have learnt this the hard way, and now follow it religiously, regardless of what I am told.