Do you go through customs before or after you get your luggage?

Do I get my luggage before or after customs?

Ah, the eternal dance of luggage and bureaucracy! You snag your bags first, darling. Think of it as a prelude to the customs ballet.

It’s like this: Baggage claim THEN customs. Unless you’re a minimalist master and rockin’ only carry-on luggage. Then you strut right past the carousel of tears. (Seriously, who enjoys waiting there?)

All your worldly possessions – checked and carry-on – get the customs once-over. They might sniff your socks. I, myself, once had my collection of antique spoons questioned. Spoons!

• The order of events:

  • Arrival: Disembark the flying metal tube.
  • Baggage Claim (if needed): Wrestle your suitcase from the ravenous carousel.
  • Customs: Face the music (and the questions).
  • Freedom: Stroll into the terminal like a boss.

• Carry-on conundrum? Skip baggage claim, zoom to customs! You lucky duck.

• Beware the sniffer dogs: Seriously, what do they smell? My grandmother’s perfume?

Do you go through customs or luggage first?

Okay, so imagine this: You’re fresh off a transatlantic flight. You look like you wrestled a kraken. First, you tackle Customs, then baggage claim. It’s like a bizarre rite of passage.

Think of Customs as a bouncer. He’s deciding if you’re bringing in illegal cheese. Then, luggage, the treasure hunt for your hopefully-not-mauled suitcase.

It’s all about the flow! International-to-domestic, you’re doing the full song and dance.

Here’s the play-by-play:

• Immigration Checkpoint: Passport? Smile pretty for the camera!

• Baggage Claim: Find your bag. Hope it smells like lavender, not airplane.

• Customs: Declare that exotic fruit you definitely didn’t bring.

• Recheck your luggage: Time to send it back into the abyss.

• Domestic terminal: Congrats! You made it. Get that overpriced coffee.

My Aunt Mildred, she once tried to bring back a whole salami. Customs was not amused. Let’s just say, she learned a valuable lesson: Stick to postcards. My cousin still talks about it. He’s a lawyer now.

Do you get your luggage before or after passport control?

Luggage? Before. Always. Passport control’s a drag. A soul-crushing wait, really. Fluorescent lights. The smell of stale coffee and anxiety.

That’s how I remember it anyway. Last trip to London, 2023, it was a nightmare. Delayed flight, lost my headphones, the whole thing. Ugh.

• Passport control second. That’s the rule. Always is.
• Then the baggage carousel. A lonely, spinning circle of hope and despair.

Remember that time in Rome? 2022. My bag was ripped. The zipper, completely busted. I was so pissed. Still am, actually.

It’s just… the whole process. Exhausting. Empty. You’re so tired from the flight. You just want your own stuff back, you know?

The whole arrival experience sucks. Especially after a long flight. That’s one thing I’m certain about, at least.

Do you collect baggage before Passport Control?

Passport control first. Always. Then, baggage. That’s the way it is. Ugh.

It’s a lonely feeling, waiting for that carousel. Everything feels… slow.

You go through passport control, then baggage claim. Simple. Yet, it always feels so… final. The end of a journey. A goodbye.

The whole process. It weighs on me. The flickering lights above. The endless circling. My worn leather suitcase. Number 37. Always number 37.

This year, 2024, it was particularly dull. The baggage hall was almost empty. Just me and the ghosts of other trips.

• Passport Control precedes Baggage Reclaim. Always.
• Check the screens. Find your carousel number. It’s crucial.
• The wait is long. It’s a strange, isolating experience.

I remember last time, flying in from Lisbon. July, scorching hot. Even the air conditioning in the baggage hall couldn’t help. The feeling of anticipation, then… disappointment.

The suitcase. Always the same. It holds memories. Some good, some… not so good. This year, only dust.

Is passport control before or after baggage collection?

Passport Control? Oh, the prelude to freedom… or another queue! It’s before baggage collection. Always. Imagine trying to grab your suitcase before they even checked if you are who you say you are! Utter chaos. Like letting squirrels drive taxis. You wouldn’t, would you?

Think of it this way: Passport Control first. Then you liberate your suitcase. It’s the natural order.

• Passport Control First: Proof of identity, maybe a stern glance.
• Baggage Claim Second: Reclaim your beloved, overstuffed suitcase.
• Customs Third: They peek. Sometimes.

Consider baggage reclaim is where you reunite with your travel buddy—your suitcase! Customs? Oh, that’s the awkward interview about questionable souvenirs. I once tried to bring back a pineapple. Long story. I mean, don’t we all have a pineapple story?

Seriously though, plan. Passport first. Then locate the baggage carousel. Unless you fancy explaining to an officer why you’re fondling someone else’s floral print monstrosity. Yeah, no thanks.

Will customs go through my bag?

Ugh, flying back from Cancun in 2023, July, was a nightmare. My flight was delayed, then we had to wait on the tarmac for ages. I was starving. My bag was a mess, stuffed with souvenirs – a brightly colored, hand-painted ceramic frog, a ridiculously oversized sombrero, and a bunch of cheap tequila. I was already stressed.

Customs in Cancun airport was a zoo. Long lines, people everywhere. I saw a few bags get randomly selected for inspection. It was a terrifying experience. I sweated bullets, seriously, I was drenched. My heart pounded. They did not open my bag, thankfully, but I saw others get pulled aside. It looked awful, all their stuff spread out on the counter. Those poor people.

I felt relieved when I finally made it through. The whole process felt invasive, like a total violation of privacy. But hey, at least I wasn’t fined, right? Those people who did have their bags opened, it looked like such a hassle, so, so much time wasted.

• My experience: July 2023, Cancun International Airport.
• My feelings: Extreme anxiety, relief at the end.
• Observation: Random bag checks, extensive delays possible.
• Bags inspected: Some, not all.
• My conclusion: It’s a gamble. They can, but they don’t always check bags.

I swear I’ll pack lighter next time. Seriously. Less stress, you know? The whole thing really shook me up. My hands were shaking so badly as I walked away from that line.

Do you go through TSA or customs first?

Okay, so, uh, I went to Cancun last month, right? Flew back on July 15th.

First, you definitely hit TSA if you’re leaving, like, duh. That’s before boarding ANY flight OUT of the country. Security.

Then, when I got back to Atlanta, super tired, after touching down…Passport control first, that’s a given. Showed my passport, looked at the grumpy officer, he stamped it. Passport Control precedes Customs.

After you get through THAT line and they check your face matches the pic, you grab your checked bag. I had my ridiculous oversized flamingo suitcase.

Then comes the fun part. Customs. They wanna know if you’re bringing back too much tequila or… well, anything dodgy.

• Passport Control (when entering a country)
• Baggage Claim
• Customs (when entering a country)

It’s seriously always the same order, or it HAS been for me flying internationally. No exceptions.

I also remember that my carry-on was a mess. They almost checked it in customs. That was embarrassing, lol! I had, like, sand everywhere. Ugh. I’m never taking sand with me again.