American Airlines improves baggage connection process at LAX, eyes security enhancements

"For us, it's huge," commented Gary Tomasulo, American's chief security officer, to TPG. This initiative follows similar conveniences granted to passengers at London's Heathrow, which reportedly saves travelers up to 45 minutes during connections.

Once implemented, the program will see passengers at DFW greeted by two CBP officers upon deplaning. "We're going to have two CBP officers at the gate," Tomasulo added. This simplified process involves passengers being divided into U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens, processed quickly with the help of facial comparison technology.

Delta Air Lines is also engaging with U.S. and U.K. officials to finalize similar protocols at Atlanta, in collaboration with Virgin Atlantic and British Airways among others.

One downside, as Tomasulo pointed out, is that there will be no expedited line for Global Entry, though the efficient process promises to save significant time otherwise spent in standard checks.

The program, a result of extensive collaboration among airlines and agencies, is poised for expansion. "If it works well as we expect it to work at DFW and Atlanta, it's going to expand to other locations in the U.S. — at least from Heathrow," Tomasulo predicted, emphasizing an eventual broader rollout.

Further expansion attempts are tied to TSA collaborations with up to six international partners. Former TSA Administrator David Pekoske explained that partnerships aim for seamless connections, leveraging countries with compatible security protocols.

United Airlines is in talks to implement similar solutions, showcasing a broad industry interest. These developments come amid a notable decline in international travel to the U.S.

The program’s evolution is ongoing, with expectations of further growth and adoption in the coming years.