Thanks to a new program from American Airlines, international connection times will be cut in half for passengers on one popular route.
The carrier has officially launched its One Stop Security program, which allows connecting travelers on American’s route from London Heathrow (LHR) to Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW) to clear customs at their arrival gate. Connecting passengers will then be able to proceed directly to their next flight, without needing to reclaim and recheck their luggage or pass through an additional TSA checkpoint.
The new streamlined process, which is the first of its kind in the United States, is a joint initiative by TSA, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and the U.K. Department for Transport. The program uses advanced technology to make connections more efficient. Leveraging technology from BagCheck and Brock Solutions, passengers’ checked baggage will be transferred directly to their connecting flight, saving travelers a significant amount of time.
“One Stop Security is one of the most forward-thinking enhancements we can bring to international travel — and importantly, to our customers — as it delivers a level of convenience and time-savings that’s never been available before to customers connecting from international flights," said David Seymour, American’s chief operating officer. "With this game-changing program and thanks to our federal partners at CBP and TSA, along with DFW Airport, our customers will spend significantly less time worrying about an onerous connection process and more time enjoying their travel journey.”
American will look at ways to expand One Stop Security to additional routes and airports in the future.
The program’s launch comes as TSA and CBP have been making changes to streamline other airport processes in recent weeks. TSA recently nixed its shoes-off policy and rolled out a dedicated lane for family travelers. CBP also began deploying its new Seamless Border Entry technology, which replaces traditional passport checks with facial scans to expedite the arrivals process.
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