Hello fellow travellers.
I am setting off on my first long haul flight from Birmingham to Detroit on 11th November and wondered if anyone could help me with a query. I fly from Birmingham to Parish CDG and then on to Detroit. This being my first time I am naturally a little nervous mainly about the changeover in Paris. Can anyone tell me if my luggage goes straight to the next flight or do I have to collect it and then check in again? Any other tips to ensure a comfortable and stress free flight would be most welcome. Many thanks Angie Webb

Depends. Usually your luggage will be transferred from flight to flight without you having to reclaim it if you are using the same carrier for the entire series of flights and you have the same record locator number.

When you check in you can ASK the clerk what happens to your luggage.

Check your part of the bagage claim tag (the thing they usually stick to your boarding pass envelope) and see if your last stop is clearly printed on the slip. If your final stop and flight number is printed on your receipt you should be okay. It's okay to ask the clerk if it is checked all the way through to your final stop. It's their job to make you happy - it's good for business!

If you have different carriers (airlines) with different RECORD LOCATOR numbers you have to ask the clerk to have your luggage forwarded to you next carrier by also using the second record locator number for your final flights. Check the receipt to see if your final stop is printed on your slip.

I fly pretty often with mixed airlines, most of the time they will routinely transfer my bags without me having to claim them and re-check them. Rarely do they not do it for me. Most of the big airlines have mutual agreements to make their passengers happy.

Good luck.

Go cheap - go often!