© National Safe Skies Alliance    -    Authored by InterVISTAS Consulting
Companion Guide
CBP Airport Technical Design Standard

Finding 5: Eliminate Baggage Recheck Areas

Baggage recheck is a function of enabling an international passenger connecting to another flight (domestic/international) to deposit their bag with an airline agent.  The space is typically immediately outside the FIS and can be fully closed to the public (e.g., DFW), or a semi-open area (e.g., SFO).  The elimination of baggage recheck is the subject of a separate ACRP study and can be reviewed in ACRP Report 61.  In the five years since this research report was written, substantial advances in technologies have enabled new options to be advanced.

Airport Applicability

-high proportion of connections -preclearance sites with transit capabilities -medium to high passenger volumes

References

ATDS (2012) -Section 5.6.3 identifies the baggage re- check area should be after customs egress ATDS (2016 - 90% Draft) -There is no specific mention of baggage re- check in the new version.
FINDINGS
© National Safe Skies Alliance Authored by InterVISTAS Consulting
Companion Guide
CBP Airport Technical Design Standard

Finding 5: Eliminate Baggage

Recheck Areas

Baggage recheck is a function of enabling an international passenger connecting to another flight (domestic/international) to deposit their bag to an airline agent.  The space is typically immediately outside the FIS and can be fully closed to the public (e.g., DFW), or a semi-open area (e.g., SFO).  The elimination of baggage recheck is the subject of a separate ACRP study and can be reviewed in ACRP Report 61.  In the five years since this research report was written, substantial advances in technologies have enabled new options to be advanced.
Conduct up line sortation of checked baggage for connections to ensure that the unit load device with transfer bags is first to be unloaded from the aircraft to enable expedited connections. 
Provide a room (or reserve space for future expansion) adjacent to the CBP area that has enough space to accommodate one or more checked baggage X-ray equipment lines. The concept of operations is not for an operator image-by-image review, but rather the use of auto-detect to be able to shortlist bags for further review. There must be the ability for the baggage handling systems to allow for retrieval of checked baggage to CBP Secondary.
Eliminate baggage recheck for connections.  The design guidance is to have a facility that is available in the short term, but easily convertible to other functions, such as a larger Global Entry office, retail/concessions for meeters/greeters, etc.  The facility should also make allowance for bags that have up line X-ray image transmission to CBP.  Countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Norway have incorporated the use of explosive detection system images to be used for border security purposes.