American Airlines Simplifies Baggage Claim Process on Some International Flights

American Airlines is looking to simplify the baggage claim process on some international flights this week. A new baggage screening process led by American Airlines will allow international passengers arriving in the US to bypass baggage claim in the Customs area and avoid rechecking their luggage for connecting flights. 

With this new baggage claim process, passengers can go straight from Passport Control to a TSA Checkpoint then to their respective connecting flights. 

Complicated Baggage Claim Process

Passengers arriving in the United States from an international flight typically need to bring all baggage, including their checked luggage, to the Customs and Border Protection checkpoint. Here, authorities will inspect the baggage, and only after the inspection is complete can travelers recheck their bags with the airline for their connecting flight.

According to the Customs and Border Protection website, “Failure to obtain your baggage after your international flight will result in it not arriving at your final destination.” Now, this makes travel complicated for international passengers. 

The new program is called International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS). American Airlines will implement it by the end of the week on its daily Sydney, Australia to Los Angeles flight.

The good news? American Airlines and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are rolling the program out in other cities soon.

Gary Tomasulo, American Airlines’ VP of global corporate security said, “By leveraging advanced technology and working with Sydney Airport and our vendor partners BagCheck and Brock Solutions, we are enhancing safety and security while streamlining the CBP baggage inspection process to make global travel smoother and more convenient for our customers.”

Streamlining International Arrivals Process

This effort by American can help streamline the arrival process for international passengers. Aside from simplifying the baggage claim process, American launched One Stop Security in February. The program removed the requirement for passengers arriving in the US on select international routes to undergo a second security screening before continuing to their connecting flight. American Airlines tested the One Stop Security on its London Heathrow to Dallas-Fort Worth route on February 4.