Delta One Stop Security Expands to Seoul, Faster ATL Links

Published on Aug 13, 2025, 2:54 pm CDT

5 min read

Delta Air Lines has extended its One Stop Security to inbound flights from Incheon International Airport (ICN), speeding connections at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Checked bags from ICN now move directly to onward flights, removing the reclaim and recheck step at customs. Delta says the change can save up to 25 minutes on connections. The airline also confirmed wider rollouts for its App Bag Drop and TSA PreCheck Touchless ID programs, promising faster handoffs at baggage drop and the checkpoint this year.

Key Points

Why it matters: Faster Atlanta connections for travelers arriving from ICN, with no bag reclaim or recheck.
Travel impact: Delta estimates up to 25 minutes saved when connecting through ATL.
What's next: Security bypass applies on select London Heathrow connections, with broader expansion planned.
Touchless ID and App Bag Drop are slated for all Delta hubs by year end.
Korean Air customers on ICN to ATL also get the no-reclaim bag transfer benefit.

Snapshot

Travelers flying Delta or Korean Air from ICN to ATL can proceed to their next gate without collecting checked luggage. Bags receive remote screening and are routed to the onward aircraft inside the secure system, cutting one of the longest steps in a U.S. connection. Delta pegs the average time savings at up to 25 minutes. The carrier's security-bypass feature remains tied to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) arrivals into ATL on select flights, where eligible travelers with Global Entry or Mobile Passport Control can skip the second TSA screening. App Bag Drop and TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, which use the Fly Delta app and facial matching, are expanding across the network.

Background

One Stop Security is a joint effort among U.S. and foreign regulators, airlines, and airports to eliminate duplicate screening during international connections. American Airlines first deployed the U.S. arrival version in July on its London Heathrow to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) route. Delta introduced the London to ATL option soon after, with the eastbound ATL to LHR version live since February. For broader program context, see our prior coverage, One Stop Security Debuts on American, Delta Flights From Heathrow. Delta is also accelerating biometrics in the U.S., including an eight to ten second Touchless ID checkpoint flow, which we recently covered in Denver Adds TSA PreCheck Touchless ID Lanes.

Latest Developments

Delta extends baggage-through to ATL from Seoul

Delta and partner Korean Air now offer through-checked baggage on ICN to ATL arrivals, removing the reclaim and recheck step before domestic connections. The airline says this saves up to 25 minutes, depending on terminal flows and time of day. Travelers still clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection as usual, then proceed directly to their gates. Security-bypass is not included on the ICN to ATL flow at this stage. Delta framed the move as part of a larger push to simplify international links at the world's busiest airport.

Security bypass grows on London arrivals, eligibility defined

On select LHR to ATL arrivals, eligible Delta customers can bypass the second TSA screening and head straight to their next gate. To qualify, you must have Global Entry or use Mobile Passport Control. Delta says the LHR to ATL security-bypass feature will expand to more flights in the coming weeks. The eastbound version, ATL to LHR, has been in place since February, giving travelers a streamlined connection at Heathrow.

App Bag Drop and Touchless ID ramp at hubs

Delta's App Bag Drop is live at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), with plans to reach all hubs by year end. TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, which lets enrolled SkyMiles members verify identity with a facial scan, now operates for bag drop and security at ATL, DTW, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and SEA, plus security-only lanes at Denver International Airport (DEN), Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), and Portland International Airport (PDX).

Analysis

Delta's ICN to ATL enhancement addresses the single most time-consuming choke point for inbound U.S. connectors, the reclaim and recheck cycle. Moving that task into a secure behind-the-scenes process is a tangible win for traveler experience and for on-time performance, since fewer people are delayed at baggage and re-screening. While the London to ATL security bypass is the headline feature, extending bags-through from Seoul demonstrates that One Stop Security is scalable beyond a single transatlantic trial. The requirement for Global Entry or Mobile Passport Control on the LHR flow is a practical filter that keeps security standards aligned while offering meaningful relief to high-frequency travelers. In parallel, App Bag Drop and Touchless ID tighten Delta's curb-to-gate chain, trimming touchpoints that add dwell time. The real test will be operational stability during peak banks at ATL and seamless interline performance with Korean Air. If reliability holds and regulatory partners approve more corridors, expect additional Asia and Europe city pairs to follow.

Final Thoughts

For international connectors, the combination of baggage-through from ICN, security bypass on select LHR flights, and faster bag drop and ID checks reduces friction at ATL. Today's changes will not eliminate all queues, but they attack the longest steps with measurable gains. As more routes are approved, the value of a large hub with mature biometrics and smart baggage flows compounds. For now, if you hold Global Entry or use Mobile Passport Control, and you are arriving from London, you will see the biggest savings. If you are arriving from Seoul, you still benefit from the streamlined bags-through process tied to Delta One Stop Security.