United Airlines – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has announced the launch of a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initiative – International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) – for connecting passengers with checked bags that eliminates re-checking bags on select international routes, making the connecting experience even easier and reducing potential missed connections. The new process is currently available for United customers traveling on its daily service from Sydney, Australia (SYD) to San Francisco, California (SFO) with a connecting flight to a final destination.
Since launching the initiative, more than 160 passengers on each flight have used the new process. These customers saved up to 45 minutes in their connection journey, relieving the stress of making their connecting flights to their final destinations.
Here’s how the process works for connecting passengers on the Sydney to San Francisco flights:
- Check bag at SYD – travellers drop off checked bags as usual with an agent at the check-in counter in the lobby.
- Arrive at SFO – passengers connecting on a flight to another destination go to CBP for customs, immigration and agriculture inspections and then head directly to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for security screening – removing the step for these travellers to pick-up checked bags at baggage claim and re-check them to their final destinations, unless specifically referred by CBP for further inspection. As the flight is heading to the United States from Sydney, United, CBP and TSA work together to screen checked bags and once the flight arrives, the bags are loaded onto connecting flights.
- Pick-up at final destination – travellers simply pick-up their baggage at baggage claim at their final destination and head on their way.
“We’re streamlining the international arrival process by eliminating extra steps for travellers to pick-up and re-check their bags on connecting flights,” said Jennifer Schwierzke, Vice President of Customer Operations Strategy and Execution, United Airlines. “Together with CBP, we’re testing this new process on routes between Sydney and San Francisco and plan to expand to additional international routes in the months ahead.”
United is partnering with Sydney Airport, BagCheck and Brock Solutions to launch this initiative, streamline the connecting experience for customers, and improve the efficiency of the bag inspection process. BagCheck and Brock Solutions are Strategic Partners of the FTE Baggage Innovation Working Group.
“It’s great to see United Airlines trialling bag re-check elimination on the Sydney-San Francisco route, one of our busiest long-haul services,” said Scott Charlton, CEO, Sydney Airport. “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.”
CBP’s IRBS is the latest way United is improving the connecting experience for travellers. Earlier this summer, United launched new, personalised mobile app features for customers with connecting flights at United’s U.S. hub airports. They can now access a special section of the app that includes a countdown to connecting flights, customised turn-by-turn directions to their connecting gate with estimated walk times, real-time flight status updates, tips for longer layovers and notifications if United’s ConnectionSaver technology has been activated to hold the plane for them. Since launching the features, more than 3.5 million customers have used the new features, achieving a 95% success rate making their connection.
Hear more from United Airlines at APEX FTE Asia Expo, taking place in Singapore on 11-12 November 2025. Jay Fulmer, Sr. Manager Solutions & Innovation, United Airlines, is participating in the free to attend Expo Floor Schedule in a session focused on ‘Innovative approaches to minimising the impact of disruption on passengers and the business’.
See our 12 reasons to attend APEX FTE Asia Expo 2025 >> Register for APEX FTE Asia Expo 2025 – free to attend >>
