‍DALLAS — American Airlines (AA) is now the first US airline to offer seamless connections for international travelers and their checked bags. 

In a press release today, AA stated that it has begun a new process that allows customers traveling from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and connecting through Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to clear U.S. Customs right at the arrival gate.

The program was planned in partnership with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the U.K. Department for Transport (DfT).

The primary benefit is that customers can now proceed directly to their connecting flight without reclaiming and rechecking their checked baggage or passing through TSA security again. Checked bags are automatically transferred to the connecting flight, streamlining the experience while maintaining the highest security standards.

One Stop Security

Known as One Stop Security (OSS), AA expects the program to cut connection times by more than half, dramatically improving the customer journey. By leveraging advanced technology and working with vendor partners BagCheck and Brock Solutions, the airline is enhancing safety, security, and operational efficiency across the process.

“One Stop Security is one of the most forward-thinking enhancements we can bring to international travel and to our customers as it delivers a level of convenience and time-savings that’s never been available before to customers connecting from international flights," said David Seymour, Chief Operating Officer at American. "With this game-changing program, our customers will spend significantly less time worrying about an onerous connection process and more time enjoying their travel journey.”

The airline says that DFW’s investment in the infrastructure and operational systems needed to support OSS was instrumental in making the program a reality. The U.S. launch at DFW follows a successful pilot earlier this year at LHR, where travelers connecting to non-U.K. destinations were introduced to OSS.

The airline plans to explore opportunities to expand OSS to additional flights and U.S. airports in the future, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and delivering a more efficient, customer-friendly global travel experience.