TSA Tests Breakthrough for International Connecting Passengers

Travelers arriving in the U.S. from certain foreign airports will be exempt from re-screening by the TSA before boarding connecting flights under the One Stop Security (OSS) pilot program, which aims to simplify international travel.

The program actually launched in July for passengers on two flights from London Heathrow (LHR): an American Airlines flight to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and a Delta Air Lines service to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL).

If successful, the program will be expanded to other international airports and routes, “streamlining the passenger journey while also bolstering aviation security,” said TSA Acting Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl.

Skipping TSA re-screening

The Congressionally-authorized pilot is a collaboration between the U.S.’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the United Kingdom.

As a participating airport, Heathrow has met “certain standards deemed commensurate to TSA standards,” the TSA said in a statement, standards that other participating airports will also be held to.

Photo: Courtesy of TSA

Once travelers on eligible flights from Heathrow land in Dallas or Atlanta, they can proceed to the airport’s sterile area directly after passing through CBP, skipping the TSA re-screening that’s currently required for international arrivals boarding connecting flights.

Additionally, their checked baggage can be automatically transferred to their connecting flight without additional screening. Currently, travelers must claim their luggage and recheck it.

The program is expected to halve connection times for international arrivals, reducing airport stress, minimizing missed connections, and alleviating crowding at security checkpoints. It will also boost aviation security at foreign airports, TSA said.

“International air travel can often be a challenging and time-consuming process. It’s our goal to simplify this experience while maintaining the highest levels of security,” Stahl said. “We believe One Stop Security is an important step in that direction and helps us advance President Trump’s vision for a new Golden Age of American travel, while ensuring the homeland is safe and secure.

Photo: Courtesy of American Airlines

David Seymour, Chief Operating Officer at American, said in July: “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.”

OSS reportedly already expanded to Delta flights from Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) to Atlanta earlier this month—part of a global rollout.

Less comprehensive than pre-clearance airports

If you’re a globe-trotter, you might already be aware of a slightly different program that streamlines connections for international arrivals: pre-clearance airports.

At 15 airports worldwide, travelers can undergo immigration, customs, and agricultural inspections, as well as TSA-style screening, before boarding their flights, allowing them to land in the U.S. as domestic travelers.

The checks performed abroad are more extensive than those involved in the One Stop Security pilot, which is conducted by U.S. CBP staff stationed at those airports.

Pre-clearance airports include: