New Delta Initiative Transforms Travel Experience With Remote Baggage Screening For Faster Connections In Atlanta

Published on August 16, 2025

Delta Air Lines has introduced a groundbreaking initiative to streamline the travel process for international passengers arriving in Atlanta. Through a collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, along with the governments of South Korea and the U.K., travelers on select flights from London Heathrow and Seoul Incheon can now bypass the traditional baggage collection and recheck process at U.S. customs. This new system not only saves valuable time—up to 25 minutes per passenger—but also extends the benefit to those connecting via Seoul, further enhancing the convenience for travelers. Additionally, Delta’s passengers connecting in Atlanta from Heathrow can soon benefit from expedited TSA screening, cutting wait times by as much as 45 minutes. These changes are part of a larger effort to improve airport efficiency and reduce delays, making air travel more seamless for customers.

Delta Air Lines has introduced an innovative international remote baggage screening system aimed at improving the travel experience for passengers arriving in Atlanta from select international airports. This new process affects flights arriving from London Heathrow and Seoul Incheon, making it easier for travelers to move seamlessly through U.S. customs procedures without the hassle of retrieving and rechecking their bags.

A collaboration between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the governments of South Korea and the United Kingdom allows Delta and Korean Air passengers traveling from Seoul to Atlanta, as well as those flying from London Heathrow to Atlanta, to skip the standard baggage claim and recheck procedures. These travelers can now continue on their journey without the need to interact with their luggage at U.S. customs, significantly improving efficiency and reducing wait times at the airport.

In addition to direct flights, the program extends to passengers departing from other cities in South Korea, who connect through Seoul Incheon before heading to Atlanta. This flexibility ensures that a broader range of travelers can benefit from the convenience of remote baggage screening, further enhancing the travel experience.

Delta has indicated that this new process will save passengers valuable time. The airline estimates that, on average, travelers can expect to save up to 25 minutes of their journey time, streamlining the entire process from the moment they step off the plane to the moment they exit the airport. This efficiency gain not only helps passengers but also alleviates congestion at key points in the airport, ensuring smoother operations overall.

Another key development is the introduction of expedited TSA screening for Delta customers connecting in Atlanta from London Heathrow. On select flights, passengers will now be able to bypass additional TSA checks and proceed directly to their connecting gate. This fast-track option is set to save travelers up to 45 minutes of time at the airport, which can be especially valuable for those with tight layovers. Delta has confirmed that this benefit will be rolled out across all Heathrow-to-Atlanta flights in the near future, making it widely available to passengers flying on this route.

This service has already been available for passengers traveling from Atlanta to Heathrow since February of the current year, but the recent expansion marks a significant enhancement to the airport experience for those traveling in the opposite direction. The decision to extend this benefit to a larger pool of flights underscores Delta’s commitment to making air travel more efficient and pleasant for its customers.

To take advantage of these expedited services, passengers must meet certain eligibility requirements. Delta customers need to be enrolled in Global Entry or use the Mobile Passport Control app to qualify for the bypassed TSA screening. These programs are designed to speed up the customs process for frequent international travelers, further reducing delays and making airport procedures more convenient.

This initiative is part of the broader One-Stop Security pilot program, which was officially launched by Congress in 2022. The program aims to streamline the airport experience for international travelers by providing faster and more efficient customs processing. This initiative is spearheaded by the TSA and CBP, with the first phase launching last month for American Airlines flights arriving from Heathrow to Dallas-Fort Worth. The success of this initial rollout has paved the way for further expansions, including Delta’s involvement in the program.

In addition to the U.S.-based trial, a related initiative for travelers arriving at Heathrow and then connecting onward to a third country began in February. This program allows eligible passengers who are flying from Dallas on American Airlines, or from Atlanta with Delta or Virgin Atlantic, to benefit from smoother transitions through customs. These pilots are part of a broader effort to simplify the travel process for international flyers and create more seamless connections between major airports.

Overall, the new baggage screening and expedited TSA procedures implemented by Delta represent a significant step forward in improving the air travel experience. By reducing wait times and minimizing the number of steps required for passengers to complete their journey, these innovations are designed to make travel more efficient, save time, and reduce the stress often associated with long layovers and complicated customs procedures. The continued expansion of these programs promises to benefit both travelers and airlines, contributing to a more streamlined and modern air travel system for the future.