United Airlines is Rolling Out a New Bag Policy

United is one of the most popular airlines in the world, so when they made changes, people take note. Each year, they fly 140 million people to more than 300 destinations across six continents in the world, according to the company.

"We are committed to excellence, meeting high standards and fostering a culture that creates pride for our people, customers, commercial partners, and communities, and are always looking to build upon our impactful work," United says on their official website.

United's story starts more than 90 years ago. As SFO Museum explains, "at the dawn of commercial aviation, four companies merged into a single airline that became a preeminent U.S. carrier. With this consolidation of Boeing Air Transport, Pacific Air Transport, National Air Transport, and Varney Air Lines by 1931, United Air Lines was formed."

New Bag Policy Change for United

Now, United is piloting a new program that would change the bag policy for some travelers. Let's face it: When traveling, dealing with bags and the bag check can be one of the most annoying parts of the trip. So, this new policy is in hopes of making travel a little more enjoyable for people.

"United Airlines just became the latest U.S. carrier to launch a major time-saving program for travelers flying into the U.S. and then making a connection," Sean Cudahy of The Points Guy says in a piece published on Sept. 29. "As part of the new setup, passengers who fly United from Sydney Airport (SYD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) won't have to recheck their bags before racing to their next gate."

Cudahy also said that the program, get this, could save travelers up to 45 minutes after a flight. That would be a definite welcomed change.

"We're streamlining the international arrival process by eliminating extra steps for travelers to pick up and re-check their bags on connecting flights," Jennifer Schwierzke, United vice president of customer operations strategy and execution, said in a statement from United announcing the news.

The statement adds that since starting the initiative, more than 160 passengers on each flight have tried out the new process. "These customers saved up to 45 minutes in their connection journey, relieving the stress of making their connecting flights to their final destinations," the statement adds. So, it appears to be a success.

Here's how the whole thing works, according to United. First, travelers check their bags as normal with an agent at the check-in counter in the lobby at SYD. Then, they arrive at SFO, and travelers connecting on a flight to another destination go to CBP for customs, immigration and agriculture inspections and go right to the Transportation Security Administration for security screening. That takes away the step for these travelers to pick-up checked bags at baggage claim and re-check them to their final destinations, unless, of course, CBP wants more inspection. Finally, at their final destination, travelers simply pick-up their baggage at baggage claim.

If this process is going as smoothly as United says that it is, then it should be a good change for international travelers in the future.