For passengers flying abroad to the United States, the airport experience continues to ease stress, especially for travelers eager to catch up with the connected flight.
In recent months, we have seen the United States relax some of the safety protocols provided to passengers after an intercontinental flight. This is especially suitable for flights in the UK and Australia.
Next is the flight from South Korea.
Delta Airlines announced Wednesday that passengers flying from Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) no longer have to wait (and then collect) their luggage before heading to their connected flights.
The luggage of these passengers will now be transferred directly to the next plane, just as they would be in contact at home.
This may sound like a pretty small change, but Delta estimates that this shift can save 25 minutes on average. That was a valuable time during the stopover.
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Simplified safety rules after international flight
Usually, travelers flying to the United States have to go through a series of daunting steps before they can reach their connection door. They have to clear the passport controls, wait for the bag, recheck it, and then return to safety.
Over the past few months, airlines (along with the Transportation Safety Administration) have begun to reduce the demands of travelers flying to the United States with countries with similar security protocols.
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In fact, just two weeks ago, Delta (and Virgin Atlantic) removed the safety check requirements for passengers connected to the ATL after inbound flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
American Airlines recently conducted a similar “one-stop safety” trial for passengers connected to Dallas Worth International Airport (DFW) after an LHR flight.
Seoul – Mainland connections are simplified
Now, the concept is being expanded (although more limited capacity) for Delta passengers flying from Seoul to Atlanta and then connecting to another flight.
Those travelers still have to be safe again, but their luggage will be transferred immediately.
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Why TSA says it’s safe
Through partnership, South Korean security officials sent TSA X-ray images to TSA X-ray images on the ground at the ICN checkpoint.
TSA agents can check these images while passengers are flying, eliminating the need to recheck after flight.
“By leveraging advanced technology and enhancing processes, we are driving innovation in air travel, adding a layer of security while simplifying the entry process for international travel,” Diane Sabatino, acting executive assistant business assistant commissioner at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said in a statement Wednesday.
The new one-stop deal also extends to passengers flying in South Korea, Delta’s Aerial Alliance partner, which also operates flights between Seoul and Atlanta.
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Which airports have one-stop security?
While many passengers will cheer for less troublesome safety rules, this does mean fair agreements from one airport to another are less consistent.
As of August 13, here is a quick breakdown of all the one-stop programs that have been formulated now:
- If you fly from London to Atlanta or Dallas, you can skip the bag and security check and head straight to the Connect flight.
- If you fly from Seoul to Atlanta on Delta, your luggage will be transferred directly to your connected flight, but you still need to be safe and secure again.
- If you fly from Sydney to Los Angeles on American Airlines, your luggage will be transferred directly to your connected flight, but you will still need to be safe and secure again.
Also, if you fly from Atlanta or Dallas to London and connect on the LHR, you can skip the security check there (the bag has been transferred to the connection).
Bottom line
The U.S. government said it hopes to add partnerships with more countries to these simplified security protocols. This should help save passengers time at airports in the United States and overseas.
Delta told TPG it hopes to eliminate safety check requirements for passengers from Seoul and connected in Atlanta in the near future.
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