From Doorstep to Departure Gate: Atlanta Pilots Off-Airport Baggage Service

A new off-airport baggage service is now live at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), allowing passengers to hand over checked luggage before arriving at the terminal in an effort to reduce congestion at bag-drop areas.

Developed by SITA in collaboration with reclaim, the service enables travelers to check bags from their home, hotel, or other approved locations. Luggage is collected, tracked end-to-end, and delivered to the airport ahead of the passenger’s arrival, integrating with existing airport and airline baggage systems.

Airport officials and technology partners say the approach is designed to relieve pressure on terminal infrastructure during peak periods by shifting part of the baggage journey outside the airport. Long lines at bag-drop counters are a recurring challenge at large hub airports, contributing to passenger delays and operational strain.

The deployment has been live since December and is focused on providing immediate operational benefits at one of the world’s busiest airports. By reducing demand at check-in counters, the service allows ATL to accommodate growing passenger volumes without adding new facilities or expanding terminal space.

For passengers, the service allows travelers to arrive at the airport without checked luggage, move more easily through crowded areas, and proceed through the terminal as they normally would once bags are accepted.

“Handling baggage earlier in the journey gives airports a practical way to manage peak demand without adding complexity,” said Shawn Gregor, president of the Americas at SITA. “It improves flow while maintaining existing operational processes.”

The partnership enables reclaim’s service to integrate with airport systems and daily operations, reducing implementation risk and allowing for future expansion. As passenger volumes continue to grow globally, airports are increasingly evaluating modular solutions that can be implemented quickly while supporting longer-term capacity strategies.

“This approach allows airports to adopt new services with confidence while maintaining safe and reliable baggage handling,” said Akmann Van-Mary, CEO and founder of reclaim.

The off-airport baggage model is available today and is designed to scale as airports and industry partners look for ways to manage congestion and improve passenger flow without major capital investment.