Originally Posted by
ashill
To amplify, the only difference the connector makes in this particular case is you can clear security at TBIT immediately after clearing Customs and then walk from TBIT to T7 airside instead of landside. Personally, I'd check the security lines at TBIT; if they're short, clear there, if not, walk past the checkpoints at T4, T5, T6, and T7 and clear at the first one with a line that looks fairly short.
But this isn't relevant to American Airlines at all.
Just to clarify, the TSA checkpoint in the connector is not open yet so one would have to walk all the way to the back of TBIT on the departure level to clear TSA. It's not worth the hassle.
Right now, if you have a connecting flight to T7, your best bet is to clear TSA at T7. Unless you can see that the line is short as you walk pass T4, T5 or T6.