American Airlines has become the first U.S. carrier to pilot One Stop Security, a new program designed to streamline international travel by allowing passengers to clear U.S. Customs at the arrival gate.
In partnership with the TSA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.K. Department for Transport, the airline is testing the process on flights from London Heathrow (LHR) connecting through its Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) hub.
“One Stop Security is one of the most forward-thinking enhancements we can bring to international travel—and importantly, to our customers—as it delivers a level of convenience and time-savings that’s never been available before to customers connecting from international flights,” said David Seymour, Chief Operating Officer at American, in a media statement.
Customers can then proceed directly to their connecting flight without reclaiming and rechecking their checked baggage or passing through TSA security. Checked bags are automatically transferred to the connecting flight, streamlining the experience while maintaining the highest security standards.
The program is expected to cut connection times—which typically include clearing U.S. Customs, claiming checked bags, rechecking bags and then clearing TSA security—by more than half. American Airlines plans to explore opportunities to expand OSS to additional flights and U.S. airports in the future.
“With this game-changing program and thanks to our federal partners at CBP and TSA, along with DFW Airport, our customers will spend significantly less time worrying about an onerous connection process and more time enjoying their travel journey,” said Seymour.
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