US Airlines Are Piloting Ways to Speed Up International Connections

If you’ve flown back to the U.S. after an international trip, you know the drill: Get off the plane, clear customs, grab your bag … and then, if you’re connecting onward, recheck your bag, go through security again … and then rush to your connecting flight.

It’s both exhausting and stressful – especially on tight layovers. But now, American Airlines is changing that – at least for some travelers. 

The airline just launched a new pilot at its Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) hub that streamlines international-to-domestic connections for travelers flying in from London-Heathrow (LHR). Dubbed One Stop Security, the system lets you skip the usual chaos: no baggage claim, no rechecking bags, and no second TSA screening.

Instead, after landing from London, you’ll clear U.S. Customs right at the gate. The specifics of that at-the-gate customs process are unclear. 

But rather than having to collect your baggage as normal, any checked bags will then be automatically routed to your next flight, meaning you can simply head to your connection – no extra lines or hassle. American claims this could slash connection times by more than half, offering a much smoother arrival experience for travelers.

For now, this perk is only available on American Airlines flights from Heathrow to Dallas. But if it expands, it could be a major win for travelers with short layovers – and a big step forward for international travel. And American isn’t alone in trying to make this a reality. 

Delta announced last year that the Atlanta-based airline was working on a similar solution for passengers crossing the Pacific. If (or when) enacted, it would allow luggage from Tokyo-Haneda (HND) to be checked through to travelers final U.S. destination, without the need to be re-collected at customs and re-checked, as is currently required.

“Anyone who has traveled and connected in the United States knows that it’s a difficult experience,” Jeff Moomaw, Delta’s vice president for the Asia Pacific region, said at the time. “We will soon be able to remove that part of the experience.”

He said Delta is also hoping to expand this program to allow travelers coming from London and Frankfurt (FRA) to have a similar experience, though no timeline has been announced. 

American’s new program is a rare collaboration between the airline, TSA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.K. government. It builds on a successful trial run at Heathrow earlier this year.

Bottom Line

American Airlines has launched a new “One Stop Security” process at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), allowing passengers flying in from London-Heathrow (LHR) to skip the usual customs chaos: no reclaiming checked bags, no rechecking, and no additional TSA screening. Instead, travelers clear U.S. Customs at the gate and head straight to their next flight, potentially cutting connection times in half.

While it’s currently limited to flights from London, American hopes to expand – and Delta is working on a similar system for international arrivals from Tokyo, London, and Frankfurt. If widely adopted, it could make international-to-domestic connections in the U.S. much smoother.