Summary:
- Delta Air Lines enhances ground experience with seamless international connections, simplified bag drop, and touchless security.
- New Seamless Baggage Transfer programme eliminates baggage claim for connecting flights, saving passengers up to 25 minutes.
- TSA PreCheck Touchless ID and App Bag Drop streamline airport processes, while Delta’s Uber partnership reduces curb congestion.
Delta Air Lines is implementing new ground experience enhancements to remove friction from airport journeys with simpler international connections, fewer touchpoints at bag drop and security, and easier arrivals from curb to gate.
The airline is making international connections smoother and more predictable, thanks to trusted partnerships and innovative technology. Customers departing from Seoul (ICN) to Minneapolis (MSP) or Detroit (DTW) and onward to a Delta flight can now head straight to their connecting gate after clearing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and security with no need to reclaim and recheck bags, unless specifically referred by CBP for further inspection. This enhancement builds on the success of a programme called Seamless Baggage Transfer, first introduced in 2025 for ICN-ATL customers, bringing the same convenience to additional hubs. By expanding this offering, Delta is giving travellers back valuable time – up to 25 minutes on average – and making international connections seamless and more predictable.
Later this year, Seamless Baggage Transfer will be expanded to include flights from Incheon to Seattle Tacoma International Airport, operated by Delta and Korean Air, as well as Incheon to Los Angeles International Airport operated by Korean Air.
In addition, TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is now live at more than 60 airports including all Delta hubs, giving customers a faster, more intuitive way to verify their identity at bag drop and security, with fewer touchpoints and expedited wait times. The technology uses secure biometric verification to streamline and help customers move through the airport with confidence and ease. To be eligible for TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, each customer must be a SkyMiles member, enrol in TSA PreCheck and have a Known Traveler Number, and have a valid non-expired passport.
Meanwhile, App Bag Drop – now available across all hubs – rewards customers who check in through the Delta app before arriving at the airport, reducing friction at the start of the journey and creating a more seamless experience from curb to gate.
Delta and Uber continue deepening their partnership to deliver meaningful value to SkyMiles Members and solve real customer pain points. Since introducing Preferred Drop-Off at LaGuardia Airport and expanding to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport late last year, thousands of customers each week have saved time by using the experience. Delta x Uber Preferred Drop-Off helps reduce congestion at busy curbs and makes navigating arrival simpler.
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