Update: Delta to debut major airport time-saving program in Atlanta on Wednesday
Editor's Note
A big travel time-saver is expected to launch this week at the world's busiest airport.
Starting on Wednesday, July 30, Delta Air Lines expects to begin new security protocols for passengers flying in from London and then catching a connection at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
The changes would allow those connecting passengers to skip the time-consuming baggage and security recheck process typically required after an international trip.
It's part of a new pilot program airlines are launching in concert with the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, streamlining a cumbersome process that can last an hour (or more) for travelers.
Virgin Atlantic, Delta's SkyTeam alliance partner, is expected to soon begin "one-stop" protocols in Atlanta, too.
American Airlines just launched a similar program for passengers who board in London and then connect at its Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) hub.
Major travel headache eliminated
At both ATL and DFW, these changes eliminate one of the biggest hassles of international travel ... that is, for passengers whose trip started in London.
Currently, passengers catching a connection in the U.S. after a long flight from abroad face a frustrating and time-consuming series of steps:
- Clear passport control.
- Wait for their checked bag to arrive on the carousel.
- Recheck the bag.
- Go back through security.
The new pilot program eliminates many of those hurdles, allowing passengers to be processed right after stepping off the plane. Then, they can proceed to their connecting gate, and their bag gets transferred right to their new plane, just like on a domestic connection.
In Atlanta, Delta's new one-stop program will be available to all passengers, though they'll need to do one of two things to maximize the amount of time saved:
- Already be a Global Entry member
- Download and use CBP's free Mobile Passport Control app
Read more: Best credit cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
1-stop expansion expected
This new airport process is a significant milestone and time-saver for travelers. (I'm imagining many will spend a lot more time sitting in a lounge and a lot less time standing in lines.)
Still, a reality check: This is a pretty limited program, for now. By the end of July, it'll be available at a total of two U.S. airports — and only for passengers whose trip started in London.
However, all signs point to an expansion of the program, assuming all goes well.
Delta and American have each said that they hope to expand these simplified travel procedures to more U.S. hubs in the future.
TSA eyeing other countries for security agreements
Expect to see the U.S. strike cooperative security agreements with more countries in the near future, too. These could allow similarly streamlined processes for itineraries that start at other foreign airports (not just those in London).
TSA officials have specifically sought to partner with other countries that have comparable security protocols to the U.S., such as the U.K.
Last week, a top TSA official told Fox News that the agency hopes to reach one-stop security agreements with additional overseas airports in the coming months.
It's worth noting, American Airlines passengers flying to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) from Sydney already have their bags transferred to connecting flights, though, for now, those travelers do have to reclear TSA security before catching a connection.
Meanwhile, ATL and DFW passengers catching a connecting flight at London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) can already skip the second security check in London. That program launched last winter.
Bottom line
These changes come as the TSA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have been rethinking a variety of long-standing air travel security protocols.
Earlier this month, the TSA ended its policy requiring travelers to remove their shoes in the standard security lanes.
The agency has also acknowledged it's pondering what to do about the limits on carry-on liquids, gels and aerosols.
Specific to these new one-stop security protocols, the U.S. Travel Association called them a "long overdue step toward modernizing the travel experience" and in "eliminating redundant screening," especially as the U.S. prepares to host the World Cup in 2026 and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
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