[1] Similar systems are also used at train stations served by companies that offer checked bags, such as Amtrak in the United States.
In the United States and Canada, and also in some airports in Asia, all arriving international passengers' baggage is reclaimed here and can be re-checked by the airline for connecting flights on the other side of customs (for connection from international to domestic flights in most countries, all passengers must reclaim their baggage).
This is required in American and some Canadian airports because international terminals are not enclosed (the only exit is through customs) and often serve domestic flights.
This means that passengers continuing onto the U.S. from other cities must retrieve their checked baggage first, then re-check them in after clearing U.S. Customs.
In most large airports in the United States and in some small ones as well, the domestic baggage reclaims are located on a different floor than the ticket counter, usually lower.