Sorry for all the questions. We are older and because of health and stature, have to check our 22inch suitcases from San Diego going to Paris with a short stop in Boston where we catch the Paris flight. We will also have totes that we will hand carry.

Is there a chance they will check the bags all the way to Paris when we leave San Diego. How does this work..?..or would we have to go all the way to the baggage counter and then back??????

Thanks..hope this is clear.

Your bags will be checked through to Paris. Won't see them in Boston on the way out.

[Coming back is a different story - you claim your bags to go through customs; then drop them off after you get through.]

It depends on which airline you are flying to Boston. I couldn't remember which airline you were planning to use (looked through old threads and no luck).

If you are using one of the discount carriers (Southwest, ATA, etc) and not one of the legacy carriers (United, AA, NWA, etc), you will have to retrieve your luggage and check them back in for your flight to France. The discount carriers have no interline luggage agreements and will not check luggage through. However, if the entire journey is on one ticket, one airline, or one alliance, all checked luggage should be checked through to the final destination (always double-check tags). Even if the airlines are not affliated, most have interline luggage agreements and the ability to check all the way through. But you will need to specifically ask for this when you check in.
Doesn't always work though. I asked for this once but my luggage did not get tagged all the way through. This was 3 years ago, not too long after 9/11 - don't know if that had something to do with it.

Thanks for all the response and yes i should have said the airline. It's American. Of course, knowing me, I will worry about the luggage getting on the Paris plane but I am breathing easier.

You are all the very best.

Hello loisco, if your flight from San Diego to Boston and Boston to Paris is all on American Airlines you will not see your baggage from the time you check it in at the San Diego airport until you arrive at the Baggage area at the Paris airport. Just do make sure that you know the three letter symbol for the Paris airport and when the airport employee in San Diego puts the tag on your luggage do check it to make sure that the three letter initial is correct.

Coming home from Paris. You will go through immigration and customs at the first stop you make in the US where you will have to make a change to another plane to get you home to San Diego. You will pick up your luggage before you go through customs and then will check in your luggage for your flight to San Diego.

Have a beautiful trip....I know you have been planning this for so long and have prepared yourself so well. I look forward to a trip report after you are back home and settled in. Best wishes to you.

Loveitaly...thank you for good wishes.

I always check my suitcase. Just for convenience of being able to walk anywhere I want to! Bathroom, drink, snack - so much easier. And no worry if there will be room and I will I be able to pull it up without hurting my back.