Travel Game-Changer! United Airlines’ New Tech on Sydney-San Francisco Route Eliminates Worst Part of Connecting Flights
CHICAGO, USA — United Airlines is tackling one of the biggest headaches of international travel—reclaiming and re-checking luggage during a connection—by rolling out a significant travel innovation on its long-haul route from Sydney (SYD), Australia, to its San Francisco (SFO) hub.
The groundbreaking new system, known as International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS), is being launched in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). It effectively eliminates the need for connecting passengers with checked bags to handle their luggage in San Francisco.
Bye-Bye, Baggage Claim Stress
Historically, international passengers arriving in the U.S. with a connecting flight were forced to endure a time-consuming ritual: pick up their checked bags at the carousel, haul them through the CBP inspection area, and then drop them off again at a separate re-check counter before heading to their next gate. This often added significant time and stress, particularly for those with tight layovers.
United’s new IRBS process turns that frustrating routine on its head.
“We’re streamlining the international arrival process by eliminating extra steps for travelers to pick up and re-check their bags on connecting flights,” said Jennifer Schwierzke, United’s Vice President of Customer Operations Strategy and Execution.
How the New System Works
For travelers flying from Sydney to San Francisco with an onward connection to another U.S. city, the process is now incredibly simple:
- Check-in in Sydney (SYD): Passengers check their bags as usual at the United counter, and the bags are tagged directly to their final destination.
- Remote Screening: While the flight is in the air, United, CBP, and TSA coordinate to remotely screen the checked baggage.
- Arrival at San Francisco (SFO): Upon landing, connecting passengers proceed straight to CBP for customs, immigration, and agriculture inspections, and then move directly to the TSA security checkpoint. Crucially, they do not go to the baggage claim area.
- Seamless Transfer: The checked bags are seamlessly transferred from the arriving flight to the connecting flight’s cargo hold, unless CBP requires a follow-up inspection.
- Pick-up at Final Destination: Passengers simply collect their luggage at the final baggage claim of their journey.
United reports that this streamlined approach is already saving travelers an average of 45 minutes on their connection journey, greatly reducing the risk of missed flights.
Boosting the Customer Experience
This initial rollout on the high-demand Sydney-San Francisco route highlights United’s commitment to innovation and improving the end-to-end travel experience.
Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport, praised the initiative, stating it’s “a win for passengers – saving valuable time, making connections easier, and showing how Sydney Airport and our airline partners are working together to deliver smoother, more seamless journeys.”
United plans to expand this innovative process to additional international routes in the coming months, signaling a potential new standard for connecting travelers across its global network.
Conclusion
The introduction of IRBS on the Sydney-San Francisco route is a powerful step toward a more effortless international travel experience. By tackling the tedious and stressful process of baggage re-check, United Airlines is not only improving customer satisfaction but is also strengthening the efficiency of its major San Francisco hub. As the carrier works to expand this technology, the global aviation industry will be watching to see if this innovation truly marks the beginning of a new, seamless era for connecting international passengers.
Affiliate Disclosure
This news article provides factual information about a new airline and customs technology and does not contain any affiliate marketing links.
Disclaimer
The International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) process is a joint initiative with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and is currently in trial phase on the daily United Airlines service from Sydney (SYD) to San Francisco (SFO) with an onward connection. While bags are generally transferred automatically, passengers must still proceed through all necessary U.S. immigration, customs, and security checkpoints. Individual checked bags may still be selected by CBP for physical inspection.
