US Airport Set to Change Baggage Check-In Rules for United, American and Frontier Airline Travelers This Fall

Written By: Debomita Dutta

Debomita Dutta

As a debater, researcher and writer I have always been passionate about making complex global developments accessible, accurate and impactful. It has always been my aim to combine a strong analytic approach with incredible storytelling - and here at Travel and Tour World I get to do just that! Bridging research, public discourse and meaningful communication through informed and engaging narratives.

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August 5, 2026 4:29 PM

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Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford International Airport is transitioning to a self-service baggage check-in approach for United, American and Frontier Airline customers. Details emerging around the project indicate that it is set to start from next month. Self-tagging has been added to an automated tote screening system to ease concourse queues and improve luggage capacity. Travelers departing from Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will get a change in how they get their luggage. United Airlines, American Airlines and Frontier Airlines passengers will soon enter a new workflow when it comes to the terminal, as they will check in on the self-service kiosks, print and attach their own baggage tags, and place their bags in the automated drop points without having to speak with a traditional counter agent. The change connects the customer controlled drop-off to an Individual Carrier System (ICS) – a dedicated conveyor system that includes totes and transports bags through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening at up to 1,000 bags per hour to aircraft loading zones.

How the New Self-Service Baggage Drop Works

When arriving at the terminal concourse, passengers will no longer stand in line for a ticket desk clerk to weigh and tag their suitcases. Instead, the check-in hall is transition-focused, requiring travelers to manage the drop-off sequence independently.

Step-by-Step Departure Walkthrough

1. Kiosk Check-In: Scan a mobile boarding pass or enter reservation details at the self-service touchscreen station.
2. Tag Generation: Print the adhesive baggage tag directly from the kiosk console.
3. Self-Tagging: Securely wrap and attach the barcoded tag around the top handle of each bag.
4. Induction & Weighing: Place the tagged item onto the automated drop scale. Optical sensors verify the barcode alignment while internal scales check baggage weight against airline thresholds.
5. System Entry: Once validated, the unit automatically transfers the bag into the internal screening system.

By turning initial tagging over to passengers, airport operations aim to relieve congestion in the ticketing hall during high-volume departure banks, such as early morning flights and holiday rushes.

The Technical Framework: Individual Carrier Systems (ICS)

While basic self-service bag tagging kiosks are becoming common across US terminals, the engineering deployed beneath the floor at GRR represents a distinct shift in domestic airport infrastructure. GRR is one of the first regional hubs in the nation to integrate passenger-managed self-drop units directly into an Individual Carrier System (ICS).

Totes vs. Traditional Conveyors

Standard baggage handling relies on continuous rubber belts where loose luggage can slide, snag, or jam at transfer points. The ICS framework changes this dynamic by isolating each bag inside its own dedicated carrier bin.

• Dedicated Bins: Every checked bag sits inside an individual plastic tote upon entering the system.
• RFID Routing: Totes feature embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking chips, broadcasting exact positioning as bags move through TSA inspection corridors and out to baggage handlers.
• Motorized Caster Tracks: Instead of heavy, continuously running motor belts, totes move along individually powered track sections. This design lowers mechanical friction and reduces operational energy consumption.
• Higher Throughput: The system expands processing limits from a previous cap of approximately 600 bags per hour to nearly 1,000 bags per hour.

Tote-based baggage systems have operated across major European hubs like London Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol for roughly 15 years, but domestic US deployment has remained rare due to legacy terminal designs and complex carrier lease structures.

Rollout Timeline Across Commercial Carriers

The transition is structured in two distinct phases to give flight crews and terminal coordinators room to monitor passenger adaptation.

Phase 1: September (Reportedly)

• United Airlines
• American Airlines
• Frontier Airlines

Phase 2: Expected Completion by Late 2027

• Delta Air Lines
• Allegiant Air
• Southwest Airlines
• Avelo Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines

Staggering carrier integration allows ground crews to assist travelers during the initial adjustment window before bringing the airport’s remaining five commercial partners onto the system.

Public Funding and Capital Improvement Context

The baggage system overhaul is a key component of GRR’s broader $700M+ ELEVATE infrastructure campaign, specifically tied to the $135 million Terminal Enhancement Project (TEP) that adds 175,000 square feet to the main facility.

According to public data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, financing draws from multiple public and local channels:

• FAA Infrastructure Grants: Federal funding designated for terminal modernizations, safety upgrades, and security integration.
• Airport Authority Revenue Bonds: Self-supporting bonds serviced through operational fees, landing charges, and facility concessions, requiring zero local property tax dollars.

These investments align with federal mandates to update baggage inspection systems to keep pace with growing regional passenger traffic, which exceeds 4 million travelers annually at GRR.

Passenger Travel Guidance: Navigating the Shift

To ensure a smooth transition under the automated system, travelers flying out of Grand Rapids should keep several operational tips in mind:

Check Weight Allowances in Advance

Because automated scales instantly weigh bags upon placement, overweight items will cause the system to pause processing. Confirm your airline’s standard baggage allowances (typically 50 lbs for standard economy) prior to leaving home to prevent delays.

Ensure Clear Tag Placement

Barcodes must remain flat and uncreased when attached to handles. Clean, visible tags allow optical sensors and RFID readers to scan items instantly without human intervention.

Non-Standard Baggage Handled Separately

Automated drop totes are sized for standard luggage shapes. Oversized gear—including golf bags, ski equipment, strollers, or special cargo—must still be processed at dedicated oversize baggage counters.

Operational Impact on Airport Employment

Automation in transportation hubs often prompts questions regarding workforce reductions. Airport leadership, including Director of Engineering and Planning Casey Ries, confirmed that the shift to self-service baggage drops will not cause job cuts.

Instead of staffing fixed counter desks to type in passport details and attach tags, customer service staff will be reallocated onto the floor of the ticketing hall. These roaming team members will assist first-time users, resolve scanning errors, help passengers with mobility needs, and keep queue traffic moving smoothly.

In conclusion, US airport infrastructure is making big strides this September. This autumn, United, American and Frontier Airlines will begin to change baggage check-in rules for travellers at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. The airport will do away with traditional ticketing desks replacing it with automated self-service drops and a new tote screening system. The upgrade is designed to reduce concourse congestion at peak times and raise handling capacity to about 1,000 bags per hour. As a passenger travelling with these three airlines, you will now be required to to print your own tags and load your suitcases yourself. Automated baggage handling is becoming more prevalent in modern air travel, which makes the departure process easier and faster.