AA Launches Program to Eliminate Baggage Rechecks on Some International Connections

A new partnership between American Airlines and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will allow certain international travelers to skip baggage re-checks during U.S. layovers.

The new initiative, called International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS), enables passengers arriving in the U.S. from select international airports to proceed directly from CBP passport control to TSA security—without reclaiming and rechecking luggage for their connecting flights.

The program launched this week, currently limited to American’s flights from Sydney (SYD) to Los Angeles (LAX). However, both American Airlines and CBP have confirmed plans to expand IRBS to additional routes and airports.

The initiative aims to reduce connection times and eliminate a common hassle for international travelers.

“This is a significant step forward in modernizing the travel process,” said Diane J. Sabatino, Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner of the CBP Office of Field Operations.

Earlier this year, American Airlines also introduced a related program at London Heathrow (LHR) called One Stop Security (OSS). That initiative allows travelers connecting through LHR from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to bypass a second round of security screening, streamlining international transit even further.