United Streamlines Baggage Recheck on Flights From Sydney to San Francisco

Updated: September 29, 2025, 8:38am CDT

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United To Streamline Baggage Recheck
Other Airlines Offer Similar Programs
Final Thoughts

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Today, United Airlines introduced a new program for connecting passengers on a popular international route, eliminating the need for rechecking bags before heading to their connecting flight.

“We’re streamlining the international arrival process by eliminating extra steps for travelers to pick up and recheck their bags on connecting flights,” said Jennifer Schwierzke, United’s vice president of customer operations strategy and execution.

Unfortunately, this program only applies to a single route right now, and it’s not quite as good as what Delta and American Airlines are offering in similar programs. Here’s what you need to know.

United To Streamline Baggage Recheck

United Airlines has rolled out a program to streamline the baggage recheck process on one of its most popular international routes, Sydney (SYD) to San Francisco (SFO).

Passengers can drop their bags off at SYD at the check-in counter and, once at SFO, they’ll clear customs and undergo Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security screening before heading to their connecting flights. They’ll then pick up their bags at their final destination.

Through the program, passengers won’t have to pick up their baggage at baggage claim and recheck it before a connecting flight.

United says it plans to expand the program to other international routes in the coming months.

Other Airlines Offer Similar Programs

While this is good news for United flyers, the airline is a bit late to the game.

Earlier this year, American Airlines introduced a similar program. Passengers arriving at Los Angeles (LAX) from Sydney (SYD) no longer have to claim their checked baggage and recheck it with the airline for their connecting flight.

American also recently rolled out a program allowing customers arriving at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) from London Heathrow (LHR) to avoid the arrivals hall entirely before a connecting flight. These passengers won’t claim luggage and will conduct passport control plane-side before heading to their gates.

US passport with customs declaration — Image Credit: Constantine Pankin via Shutterstock

And Delta Air Lines recently rolled out the same service on select Delta and Korean Air flights.

Customers flying from London Heathrow (LHR) to Atlanta (ATL) can avoid the arrivals hall, have their luggage transferred to their connecting flight, and conduct passport checks planeside. Additionally, those flying to Atlanta from Seoul Incheon (ICN) don’t need to recheck their bags, though they still have to go through passport control and customs as normal.

Bottom Line:

International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS), offered through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), is available for travelers connecting through SFO to their final destination. CBP launched the program in April to streamline the international travel process, reducing wait times, and improving the overall travel experience.

Final Thoughts

United is streamlining the baggage recheck process on international flights from Sydney, which is excellent news for customers flying from there to San Francisco en route to another destination. The airline says travelers can save up to 45 minutes, which, if you’re trying to catch a flight, can be a game-changer.

United is trying to catch up to what American and Delta are offering, though skipping the trek to passport control entirely is clearly a better option.