I need some information regarding checked through baggage and customs.

My outbound leg is as follows:

DFW to EWR on CO – EWR to FCO on AZ – FCO to FLR on AZ.

The return leg is:

FLR to CDG on AF – CDG to IAH on AF – IAH to DFW on CO.

My real concern is on the outbound leg. CO (telephone agent) says I can check my baggage from DFW through to FLR. Assuming this is true, it has occurred to me that I will have to clear customs in Rome (FCO). In order to do this I will need my baggage. I assume I will retrieve my baggage, go through customs and then return it to AZ outside of customs as it will already be checked through to FLR. Hopefully this is the case as I would rather not drag it with me to AZ’s FCO domestic terminal.

Has anyone had any experience in doing this at FCO?

The return leg has the same problem (assuming a check through from FLR to DFW) but I can understand what is happening at IAH.

Because I am new at this I have posted this message in both the Airline and Airport form as well as Europe and Italy. If you see it more than once please excuse my ignorance.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I have never flown to FLR, but this is how customs is done in a US-Schengen-Schengen conncetion like yours:

You get off plane at FCO. You need to go through immigration/passport control to enter Schengen. Then you reclear security and go to your domestic gate for FCO-FLR.

You won't see your bags at FCO. They will be automatically forwarded to your flight into FLR. At FLR, after baggage claim, if there's stuff you need to declare, you can go to the customs office (or red line); otherwise, you just go exit through the green line.

rkkwan - thank you for your prompt response. Your answer was concise and clear. It made my day.

FYI - your answer is the same that was given on the Europe/Italy board.

Thanks again.

Hi jabarat, yes that is what I have happen when I fly from SFO to Venice via Amsterdam. My luggage is ticketed for Venice. I do not see my luggage in Amsterdam. I go through immigration, show my passport, go through security and take the plane to Venice. I retrieve my luggage at the Venice airport. Have a wonderful trip!!

Thought I would post an update on my checked through baggage experience.

Basically, all went as was suggested from DFW to Florence. CO checked them all the way to Florence and they all arrived. Did not have to deal with them in Rome. Was a little concerned about this as Rome to Florence was an internal flight. Thought it strange that all of the baggage on the Rome to Florence flight arrived at the same claim area. I assume there was a customs station in Florence but did not notice it.

On the return from FLR to DFW all again went as suggested (claiming bags and clearing customs in Houston, placing bags on conveyer outside of customs to be routed to onward flight) and all bags arrived at final destination.

Thanks for the help.