Luggage Transfers in Europe

[Vlgg731]

We are scheduled to take a Viking Cruise in June and from reading some of the conversations on these boards I have a question about luggage transfers.  If we fly into Heathrow and then onto Budapest, will the airline transfer our luggage or will that be our responsibility?

[BBWC]

The airline will transfer luggage as long as all the flights are on one ticket.

[Vlgg731]

33 minutes ago, BBWC said:

The airline will transfer luggage as long as all the flights are on one ticket.

Thank you.  I thought so.  I know domestically they do

 

[TayanaLorna]

18 hours ago, BBWC said:

The airline will transfer luggage as long as all the flights are on one ticket.

For peace of mind it helps to be sure the tags the airline puts on your luggage indicate your final destination city. 

 

And you do know that when returning to the US, you clear Customs & Immigration at the first arrival airport.  If you have a connection to another US city, you must claim your bags and transfer them yourself to the baggage drop off location for your connecting airline and go through Security before finding your connecting gate.

[Zach1213]

Yes, as long as it's one ticket, they will. Assuming you're on BA, you will clear security at Heathrow but you don't need to worry about your luggage or immigration (though they will check your passport, likely before security, to make sure you have the documents you need for Hungary...which is really just your passport if you're a US citizen since ETIAS keeps getting delayed). 

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, TayanaLorna said:

For peace of mind it helps to be sure the tags the airline puts on your luggage indicate your final destination city. Always a good idea any time you check bags.

 

And you do know that when returning to the US, you clear Customs & Immigration at the first arrival airport.  If you have a connection to another US city, you must claim your bags and transfer them yourself to the baggage drop off location for your connecting airline and go through Security before finding your connecting gate. True, in most cases. Be aware there are "preclearance" airports where you actually clear US Immigration and Customs outside of the US, and the procedures you mention don't apply...it is treated as a domestic flight. If the OP uses LHR coming home, that is not a preclearance airport.

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