American Airlines is revolutionizing the international travel experience by becoming the first airline in the United States to offer seamless connections for travelers and their checked bags.
In partnership with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.K. Department for Transport (DfT), the new process allows customers traveling from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and connecting through the airline’s largest hub, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), to clear U.S. Customs right at the arrival gate.
Customers can then proceed directly to their connecting flight without reclaiming and rechecking their checked baggage or passing through TSA security. Checked bags are automatically transferred to the connecting flight, streamlining the experience while maintaining the highest security standards.
This first-of-its-kind program, known as One Stop Security (OSS), is expected to cut connection times — which typically include clearing U.S. Customs, claiming checked bags, rechecking bags and then clearing TSA security — by more than half, dramatically improving the customer journey. By leveraging advanced technology and working with vendor partners BagCheck and Brock Solutions, American is further enhancing safety, security and operational efficiency across the process.
“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, Chief Operating Officer at American.
“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.”
CBP’s and TSA’s commitment to enhancing the traveler experience, and the agencies’ innovative approach to maintaining the highest security standards, is on full display with OSS. This milestone would not have been possible without their leadership and collaboration at every level of these organizations.
DFW’s investment in the infrastructure and operational systems needed to support OSS was instrumental in making the program a reality. The airport’s role in enabling a secure, efficient handoff from international arrivals to connecting flights reinforces its position as a global leader in airport innovation.
The U.S. launch at DFW follows a successful pilot earlier this year at LHR, where OSS was introduced for travelers connecting to non-U.K. destinations. American is proud to be the first airline to implement OSS at a U.S. airport, working closely with officials in both countries to bring this groundbreaking initiative to life.
The airline plans to explore opportunities to expand OSS to additional flights and U.S. airports in the future, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and delivering a more efficient, customer-friendly global travel experience.
About American Airlines Group
As a leading global airline, American Airlines offers thousands of flights per day to more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. The airline is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members serve more than 900 destinations around the globe. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL.
Featured image credited to American Airlines
