Baggage is the most annoying part of separate tickets. With a single ticket, your suitcase travels on its own all the way to your destination. With two tickets, it doesn’t. Here’s what you need to know so you don’t get caught out.
Collecting, then re-checking your checked bag
Because the two tickets are independent, the bag you checked on the first flight will in general stop at the stopover airport. You have to:
- get off the plane and go through arrivals checks (police, customs);
- pick up your suitcase from the baggage carousel;
- head back out to the public area and find the second airline’s check-in desk;
- check your suitcase in, then go through security again and, depending on the country, departure control.
Every step can involve waiting. When you buy the tickets, ask yourself whether you’ll really have time to do it all with a safety margin. Check-in desks close before departure time, and the cut-off varies by airline and airport: check with the airline.
How much time should you allow?
There’s no universal figure. It depends on the size of the airport, the country (immigration can take more or less time), whether you have to change terminal or airport, and how late your first flight might be. A good approach:
- look up the second airline’s check-in closing times;
- add the time for immigration, collecting your bag and any trip between terminals;
- add a margin for delays on the first flight;
- if the total looks tight, choose a longer stopover or a night on the spot.
If the two flights leave from two different airports in the same city, you also need to plan the journey between them. The airport change tool gives you the distance and an estimated travel time.
Why cabin baggage changes everything
Travelling with just one cabin bag means no waiting at the carousel, no check-in, and no risk that your suitcase doesn’t follow you. You can go straight to check-in for the second flight (or even check in online, depending on the airline), and you have nothing to wait for.
A word of warning: low-cost airlines are often strict about the size and weight of what’s allowed in the cabin, and cabin baggage may cost extra or be limited depending on the fare. Check the rules of each airline before you buy, and weigh your bag.
Rules that differ from one airline to the next
With two airlines, you have two sets of rules to follow. For each ticket, check:
- the allowed size and weight of cabin baggage;
- whether a checked bag is included in your fare, or available as a paid option;
- the items that aren’t allowed in the cabin;
- the check-in deadline and whether you can check in online.
If the second airline is stricter than the first, its rules are the ones that count on the second part of the journey. A bag that was accepted on the first flight may have to be paid for, or refused, on the second.
Liquids and security checks to go through again
Since you leave the secure area to collect your bag, you then go through security again. The rules on liquids and items banned from the cabin may apply once more, and they vary from country to country. Keep your liquids in a bag made for the purpose, easy to take out, and don’t count on buying duty-free at the first airport: some purchases may be checked or refused at the next security check. If in doubt, ask the airport or the airline.
And if you do have checked bags after all?
It happens: a long stay, equipment, gifts. In that case, choose a stopover that’s long enough, or even a night on the spot, so you’re not rushing. Also ask yourself whether the extra cost of a checked bag on both tickets eats into the saving you were hoping for: add up the price of the two bags before you decide. If the saving disappears, the single ticket may be simpler.
When you arrive in the stopover country, get your bearings: follow the “exit” or “baggage” signs, and ask airport staff if you’re unsure. Airports are often big, and not knowing where to go wastes precious time.
A few good habits
- Put valuables, medication and documents in your hand luggage, never in the hold.
- Take a photo of your bag and of your check-in tag.
- Check the stopover visa with our stopover visa tool: you enter the country to collect your suitcase.
- Read our complete guide to separate tickets and the one on missed connections.
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Frequently asked questions
Can my bag be checked through to my final destination on separate tickets?
In general, no. Some airlines agree to do it in particular cases, for example when they have an agreement with each other, but it isn’t guaranteed. Ask the airline before you travel and don’t count on it.
What happens if my bag arrives late?
Report it at the airport’s baggage desk before you leave, and keep your receipt. The airline that carried the bag deals with it. If you travel with just the essentials in your cabin bag, this risk goes away.
Do I have to go through security again even if I don’t leave the airport?
With separate tickets, you generally have to leave the secure area to collect your bag or check in again, so you go through security again. Even with cabin baggage only, there may be another check depending on the airport. Check with the stopover airport.