2 Airlines Are About to Make It EASIER to Fly

Flying is pretty challenging with all the variables you have to ensure don’t go wrong.

You’ve got to make sure everything is packed, that you didn’t accidentally put an entire liter of liquid in your carry-on that you forgot about, not to mention ensuring everyone in your group has enough snacks and entertainment to keep them occupied for the flight. And all that gets even tougher if you’re flying internationally. Here’s the good news, though — if you’re flying from the U.S. to Europe, things could get easier if you’re traveling with these TWO airlines!

According to The New York Times, if you’re flying to and from Europe and the U.S., specifically London, and you often have a connecting flight, your journey could get a lot easier.

©Miguel Martinez-The Atlanta Journal-Constitution-TNS

As it currently stands, lots of travelers race through customs, pick up their bags from baggage claim, only to re-check them moments later, THEN have to go through security again, all before boarding their next flight. That’s intense! Starting this month, though, travelers on certain flights from London to Dallas and Atlanta will “be able to bypass some of these steps and get to their connecting gates faster.”

The program is called One Stop Security and “will expand to select flights from Heathrow Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport operated by American Airlines and to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.” The pilot program began last week on Flight 51 from London to Dallas, and both American and Delta Airlines will offer dedicated customs areas for eligible flights, but the exact process will be different.

Here’s what you can expect from each airline and airport:

American Airlines passengers who are connecting to other flights from Dallas will “stay at gate level and go through a small passport control area before getting cleared to head to their next gate. They won’t need to claim their bags, recheck them, or go through Transportation Security Administration screening.“
The process for Delta passengers in Atlanta will differ depending on whether a traveler is registered in Global Entry, a trusted traveler program, or has the Mobile Passport Control app (which is available only to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents). “All travelers on those flights will be processed in a dedicated customs area separate from standard immigration and won’t have to claim and recheck their bags, but only Global Entry members or Mobile Passport Control app holders will be able to bypass T.S.A. screening.”

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