United Airlines' Tentative International Bag Policy Upgrade Could Be A Game Changer

International travelers know that exploring other countries can be life-changing. With new people to meet, landmarks to explore, and cities to discover, the possibilities are limitless. However, the airport journey is usually anything but inspiring. Long customs lines are a drag and tight connections can make traveling to a bucket list destination feel like a nightmare. Luckily, United Airlines is working on a new checked baggage policy that could change the game for travelers.

Usually, passengers on international flights arriving in the U.S. need to collect their checked luggage upon arrival and recheck it for any connecting flights. This can add stress to anyone's itinerary, especially those with less than two hours inbetween connecting flights. When you factor in customs, delayed flights, and the journey from gate to gate, rechecking bags is the last thing passengers want to worry about. However, United has started trials for the International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS). This initiative seeks to eliminate the friction of rechecking bags for international flights for passengers. Instead of having to collect luggage on arrival in the U.S., travelers flying from the Sydney Airport in Australia (SYD) to the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will be able to send their bags straight through to their final destination.

While this trial initiative is currently only being implemented on the flight from SYD to SFO, the plan is to ultimately extend the policy to all United flights if positive results are found. This could completely change the stress level of international flight connections, with United reporting that the passengers who have tested the policy have saved around 45 minutes during layovers. No longer will passengers need to stress about checking their bags on time; the airline will do it for them. The Sydney Airport CEO, Scott Charlton, praised the policy, 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."

This will ultimately benefit passengers by streamlining international bag checking policies. Travelers will check their bags at Sydney Airport, and when they arrive in San Francisco for their connecting flight, they will be directed to customs and screened by Customs and Borders Protection (CBP). Unless further inspection is required by CBP, passengers will head through TSA security and their bags will be sent to their final destination. United isn't the only airline making changes. Delta Air Lines is now enforcing a new, no-nonsense checked baggage policy, and Southwest's latest luggage policy change is causing a huge stir.