My husband and I are having a seven hour layover at JFK during our trip to Rome in March - we did it purposely to visit family in NYC. Now I'm wondering if our luggage will be safe in Delta's control during that time! Will they send it on the next flight to Italy or wait till our flight, and if so, where will it be kept? Personally I'd feel safer taking it and then checking in again, but my husband doesn't want to do this. What do you guys think? Take it for the layover or trust the baggage handlers to do things correctly?

I took a flight from Orlando via New York where I had to change flights. My luggage was booked through but like you I wanted to be sure. I went to the airline check-in desk with my baggage tags and asked the lady to check if my bags had been transferred and on checking she was able to confirm that they were.
Even if you do collect the bags you will still have to trust the baggage handlers to put it back on the correct flight. You live in hope. I travelled via New York to Mobile first class and still my daughters bag was missing. Got it after 5 days.

I would think there's much more of a chance for error if you take your luggage and recheck it, because it will probably pass through more hands that way. It's a big waste of time to collect your bags, stand in line at the ticket counter, then go through security again when it's completely unnecessary. Sorry, but I agree with your husband.

Hi Postal,

Would you have the same concerns if
didn't go visit your family?

Ira, what worries me is the thought of the luggage just sitting around unattended. Several years ago my luggage was lost in Miami and we thought the person tagging it had tagged it for Miami instead of our final destination. Our vacation was over in one week and the luggage never made it. I went to the information desk for the airline in Miami on our way back and she gave me directions to the "lost luggage room." I opened that door (yes, it was unlocked) and there were THOUSANDS of suitcases in there, with mine right in the front! I took it and left, and no one ever questioned me. Naturally, I will never forget that experience, and it's probably the main reason I'm concerned about my luggage at JFK!