Customs question

We are flying to Barcelona next week out of the US with a plane change in
Madrid.

Does our luggage go through to Barcelona as it would in the US, or do we have
to claim it in Madrid, have it inspected, and then take it to the check-in for
SpanAir?

Thanks for any help.

Cam

cammum@ (Cammum) wrote in
news:20041021211921.11054.00002339@mb-m14.:

> We are flying to Barcelona next week out of the US with a plane change
> in Madrid.
>
> Does our luggage go through to Barcelona as it would in the US, or do
> we have to claim it in Madrid, have it inspected, and then take it to
> the check-in for SpanAir?
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> Cam
>
Actually you will clear immigration in Madrid, but the baggage will go
on to Barcelona. However, as you will find out on the return, that is
not the same as the US where you will have to claim your bags and take
them trough customs at your first US stop regardless of the final
destination.

"Cammum" <cammum@> wrote in message
news:20041021211921.11054.00002339@mb-m14....
> We are flying to Barcelona next week out of the US with a plane change in
> Madrid.
>
> Does our luggage go through to Barcelona as it would in the US]

Surely you mean as it *wouldn't* in the US? When you fly to the USA you have
to pick up your baggage yourself at your first destination and then put it
onto the onward flight.

> or do we have
> to claim it in Madrid, have it inspected, and then take it to the check-in
> for

No as long as you are flying on one ticket, unlike the USA they do things
sensibly in Europe and your baggage will travel onto Barcelona where you
will clear customs, you will clear immigration in Madrid.

Mark Hewitt wrote:

> "Cammum" <cammum@> wrote in message
> news:20041021211921.11054.00002339@mb-m14....
>
>>We are flying to Barcelona next week out of the US with a plane change in
>>Madrid.
>>
>>Does our luggage go through to Barcelona as it would in the US]
>
>
> Surely you mean as it *wouldn't* in the US? When you fly to the USA you have
> to pick up your baggage yourself at your first destination and then put it
> onto the onward flight.
>
>
>>or do we have
>>to claim it in Madrid, have it inspected, and then take it to the check-in
>>for
>
>
> No as long as you are flying on one ticket, unlike the USA they do things
> sensibly in Europe and your baggage will travel onto Barcelona where you
> will clear customs, you will clear immigration in Madrid.

I agree the European method is more "sensible" - however,
most European terminals are designed to handle both domestic
and international passengers - in the U.S., most airports
have only one or two terminal to deal with international
travellers. Terminals handling only domestic flights do not
have any facilities for customs inspections.

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <evgmsop@> wrote in message
news:clbvvq016ho@news3.newsguy.com...
>
> I agree the European method is more "sensible" - however, most European
> terminals are designed to handle both domestic and international
> passengers - in the U.S., most airports have only one or two terminal to
> deal with international travellers. Terminals handling only domestic
> flights do not have any facilities for customs inspections.

Yup. I know why they do it that way. There are such a large amount of
internal flights in the USA that the overheads probably aren't worthwhile.