United Airlines plane. Photo: United Airlines Saving previous time. United Airlines announced today (September 29, 2025) the launch of a new pilot program in collaboration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), allowing passengers on flights from Sydney, Australia, to San Francisco, California, to continue to their connecting destinations without having to collect and recheck their baggage.
The initiative, which comes shortly after the company announced free high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi on Boeing 737-800 flights, wishes to considerably simplify the transfer process, cut wait times, and lower the level of concern regarding connecting flights. Could we soon see this at JFK?
John F. Kennedy Airport - New York. Photo: ShutterstockSince the launch, more than 160 passengers on each Sydney to San Francisco flight have benefitted from the new process, saving up to 45 minutes.
This has been possible because, instead of having to collect their luggage after landing, which is the standard procedure, passengers only had to go through border control and security checks, and their bags were transferred directly to the connecting flight. Finally, they only collected their baggage once they arrived at the final destination.
United noted that, following the trial phase on the Sydney-San Francisco route, expansion to other destinations is planned in the coming months, in collaboration with CBP.
Jennifer Schwietzke, Vice President of Operations Strategy at United, explained they were "simplifying the international travel experience by removing unnecessary steps".