Flying from London to the US just got easier for these connecting travelers

Passengers flying from London Heathrow to the United States and connecting onward may now experience faster transfers under a new pilot program. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, in coordination with US authorities, have launched “One Stop Security” for select flights to Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta, removing key bottlenecks like baggage rechecking and secondary security checks.

The program currently applies to American Airlines Flight 51 from Heathrow to Dallas, and select Delta flights to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport. Travelers on these routes will no longer need to pick up and recheck their bags or pass through TSA screening again before their onward domestic flights.

For American Airlines, eligible passengers will remain within the secure area at gate level in Dallas. They will undergo a smaller passport control check and proceed directly to their next gate.


Delta’s process in Atlanta differs slightly. All passengers will be routed through a dedicated customs area. However, only those enrolled in Global Entry or using the Mobile Passport Control app — available to US citizens and lawful permanent residents — will be able to bypass TSA screening.

Delta said this new system can save up to 40 minutes during the connection process.

The Transportation Security Administration has not issued an official comment, but TSA Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News that more international airports would join the pilot “in the coming months.”

The program, which began earlier this year in the reverse direction — from Dallas-Fort Worth to London Heathrow for travelers connecting onward to non-UK destinations — is part of an effort to reduce friction in transatlantic travel. American Airlines confirmed that it is currently offered on five daily outbound flights from Dallas to Heathrow.

Both airlines have established dedicated customs zones for participating flights. While procedures vary, the goal is the same: make international-to-domestic transfers more seamless for eligible travelers.