United Airlines has announced the launch of the International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS), an initiative by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that eliminates the need to re-check bags on international connecting flights. The program is already operational on the daily Sydney to San Francisco route for travelers with a final destination elsewhere in the United States.
Since its implementation, more than 160 passengers per flight have used this system, saving up to 45 minutes in the connection process and reducing the risk of missing onward flight connections.
How the New Process Works
- Check-in at Origin: The traveler checks their baggage at the standard check-in counter at Sydney Airport.
- Arrival in the U.S.: Upon arrival in San Francisco, passengers proceed directly through CBP’s customs, immigration, and agricultural inspection, and then head to the TSA security checkpoint. The system eliminates the need to collect baggage from the carousel and re-check it, except in cases requiring additional screening.
- Final Destination: The already-screened bags are automatically transferred to the connecting flights and await the passenger at the baggage carousel of their final destination.
According to Jennifer Schwierzke, Vice President of Customer Operations Strategy and Execution at United, “We are simplifying the international arrival process by eliminating unnecessary steps for travelers with connections. Together with CBP, we tested this process between Sydney and San Francisco, with plans to expand it to more international routes in the coming months.”
International Collaboration and Passenger Benefits
The project involves the participation of Sydney Airport, along with baggage solution providers BagCheck and Brock Solutions.
Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport, highlighted the importance of this initiative: “This is a win for passengers, who gain time, enjoy simpler connections, and benefit from the collaborative work between the airport and our airline partners.”
United’s Recent Innovations for Connecting Travelers
The IRBS adds to other measures the airline introduced this summer to improve connections at its U.S. hubs. The United mobile app now offers:
- A countdown to the next flight.
- Interactive maps with step-by-step directions and estimated walk times between gates.
- Real-time flight status information.
- Useful tips for longer layovers.
- Alerts if the ConnectionSaver technology is holding a plane to wait for a passenger.
Since their launch, over 3.5 million users have utilized these features, achieving a 95% success rate for connections made.
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