Will I need to pick up my baggage at the connecting airport?

Question

I will be travelling from the Los Angleles Intl. airport, then I will take a connecting flight at the Minneapolis Airport. From the Minneapolis Airport I will then be flying to Iceland. My question is, will my baggage be checked from Los Angeles all the way to Iceland? Or will I have to pick up my bags at the Minneapolis airport and then check them in again? I have only a hour and a half to catch my connecting flight, so I am concerned about having enough time to get my baggage as well as get to the terminal and take my connecting flight.

Answer 1

The answer depends.  Is this a through connection that's been booked?  Then the answer is probably that it will be checked through to Iceland.  Normally you only have to retrieve bags to clear customs or if you have separate reservations.  For instance, if you book to Minneapolis on Airline "A" in order to take advantage of some travel deal from there that's not available in your city.  At that point, you'll have to retrieve and recheck.  The simplest thing to confirm is call the airline.  They'll tell you if your bag will be checked through.  On the way back to L.A., you'll definitely have to get it to clear customs in the first U.S. city you arrive in.

Answer 2

When checking in at LA you tell them that you'll going to Iceland from Minneapolis, show them your ticket and they'll take care of your baggage to be transferred at Minneapolis.

Answer 3

Typically, unless you are doing an overnight layover, your luggage will be tagged to the final destination airport. Once you load it on it is the baggage carrier's responsibility to get in onto the correct flight. Good luck and enjoy Iceland.