I'm flying Delta from San Diego to Frankfurt and then
Lufthansa to Innsbruck. Can I check bags all the
way to INN? Do I clear customs in FRA or INN?
Thanks,
Larry

Yes, you can check your bags all the way to INN. Just be sure to tell the Delta check-in at SAN that is your final destination. Delta will hand off to Lufthansa in FRA and you won't see your bags until INN. You will pass through immigration in FRA, and customs at INN.

In reality, customs is nothing more than choosing which lane to walk out of. Green means nothing to declare - you just walk on out of baggage claim. Choose the red lane if you have something to declare. If you just follow the crowd you may not even recognized that you've passed through customs.

Did you buy one ticket or two?

If you bought from a TA or website one ticket then yes they will check through.

If you bought one ticket from Delta ato FRA and then bought a ticket on Lufthansa to INN I expect you will have to claim them.

In my experience even if you have separate tickets you can check your bags all the way through on different airlines.

The Delta agent at SAN will know how to do this.

J62, This is not always true. And the issue here is that DL and Luftansa are not "partners" so the agent can and may say NO. I have done this often with my mother and we have about a 50% success rate!

CarolA - You need to be more assertive. The agent can do it. They're just lazy!

BA is about the only airline that I have heard will consistently not allow you to "interline" luggage (have it transferred from one carrier to another). Otherwise, if you are going from one major carrier to another, you will usually have no problem doing it. Just bring a copy of the other itinerary.

BA won't forward luggage at LHR to other airlines. But at other stations, they should still do.

I fly every week. I am pretty good at dealing with airlines. I am sorry but they won't always do it. And sometimes they CAN NOT do it! They ahve to be able to see your reservation and....

Being "assertive" can't always change things!

I'm with <b>rkkwan</b> on this one. Most major airlines have interline agreements and it's not a problem, regardless if it's one or separate ticket.

BA will transfer baggage at LHR to their OW partners, but they do seem to have a problem doing it with other airlines. I had BA transfer my luggage to CX and AA, no problem.

At airport check-in desks, being assertive can change just about anything.