Unlike some other airlines, American Airlines requires passengers to collect their checked luggage on connecting international flights. This is because of the customs and immigration formalities that may need to be completed at the destination airport.
What happens to checked bags during international layover?
When layover flights are booked with the same airline, your baggage will be automatically transferred through to your final destination. However, if the two flights are with different airlines, you may have to claim and re-check your baggage during your layover.
Do I have to recheck bags on a connecting flight international?
What happens when you have an international connecting flight?
If you have booked international connecting flights, you will normally have to go through customs and immigration at the connecting airport. This is particularly true of the United States and Canada.
Do bags automatically go to Final Destination?
Airlines have what is known as a “through-check baggage” policy, which means that when you have a connecting itinerary with the same airline or with partner airlines, your checked bags will be automatically forwarded to your final destination.