United Airlines tests automatic bag transfer for international-to-domestic connections

Other major U.S. airlines have launched similar programs in 2025. American Airlines began offering a comparable bag-transfer service this spring for those flying from Sydney through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), while Delta Air Lines implemented a similar process for passengers arriving from Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

Additionally, American and Delta—along with partner airlines—have allowed certain travelers flying from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) via ATL and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to bypass the security recheck required after many international arrivals.

These efforts involve collaboration between airlines, the Transportation Security Administration, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They rely on technology that lets officers remotely review baggage images taken at foreign airports where screening protocols match those of the U.S., such as in Sydney, Seoul, and London.

The expansion of these programs signals an industry-wide move toward simplifying post-arrival procedures for international flyers connecting within the U.S.