www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I am flying to Houston on Continental in a few days and connecting to another Continental flight to Pensacola in a smaller jet. I only have about one hour if the SJO to IAH plane is on time, and the connecting flight is the last flight of the day to my destination. I need to go thru immigration (sometimes a very long line), claim my bag (sometimes a very long wait), give customs my form (usually no delay), drop off my bag at the conveyer belt, go thru carryon metal detectors and screening, and then go from the international arrival gate to my smaller airplane departure gate. These gates are at opposite ends of Houston airport, a long hike and train ride. (Note: My bag is too large to carryon).

My question is: If time gets critical, can I not claim my one bag (which will have little of value in it) and go very fast and catch my connecting flight leaving my bag on the baggage carousel when it finally does show up? Will the computer flag the fact that I did not recheck the bag and prevent my being allowed to board the connecting flight? Is there anything illegal about doing it? Will customs eventually look at it and clear it and send it to me a day or two later? Will they check it and then put it in the trash?

I hate to have to spend the night in Houston because of a long wait for an inexpensive piece of luggage with little of value in it.

Does anyone know what the rules are? What should I do if I am in danger of missing my flight?

Thanks in advance.

By no means an expect but seems like it would work to me.
Im thinking it would be along the same lines as the person who actually makes a legit attempt to find their bag, cant, and makes a lost baggage claim.

Although, Im not sure how you would get thru customs with 1 checked bag on your card. Some places ask you, some dont.

Why not just cut stuff back and carry on? I avoid checking luggage anymore because of tight connections or delayed flights. I used to be a chronic over packer and bring more than I ever used. I learned to cut it back t what I need and just carry stuff on. Now I just grab my bag and cruise through customs.

_________________
[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

Bingo, carry on rules!...laundry may even be worth for a little longer trip!