American Airlines and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are trying to improve the passenger experience by eliminating a step on arriving international flights – re-checking luggage in the United States.
American Airlines flyers arriving to the U.S. on one international flight will soon be able to skip grabbing their luggage between connections and head straight to the gate as part of a pilot program.
The carrier is launching International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a process that the airline says will make travel a lot more convenient for flyers.
IRBS Allows Screening Modernization, Reducing Flyer Steps
The new process will launch with a trial between American, CBP, and the Sydney Airport Authority in Australia. Flyers traveling from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will be the first to skip the baggage transfer process in the international arrival hall.
Normally, flyers would be required to collect their international checked baggage before leaving the CBP Customs Hall and re-check it with American for the domestic flight. Instead, flyers aboard the daily flight from Sydney to Los Angeles with a connection will be able to clear CBP Passport Control and go straight to the TSA checkpoint to get their next flight. Although the baggage screening will now be done remotely, it will not change any of the processes to ensure all luggage entering the country is safe.
“As part of our innovation efforts in air travel, CBP is leveraging technology to enhance baggage inspections to further secure and streamline travel,” acting executive assistant commissioner, office of field operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Diane J. Sabatino said in a statement. “The International Remote Baggage Screening initiative is a significant step forward in modernizing our processes and providing a secure and seamless experience for international travelers.”
If the pilot program is successful, it could spread to additional flights and airports. The move is part of the CBP’s Airport Modernization Plan, which the agency hopes will improve both security protocols and the passenger experience through technology.
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