Originally Posted by
jsloan
There is near-zero chance that the US will ever have a blanket policy for automatic bag routing to domestic locations. In calendar year 2021, the FAA reported enplanements of 2500 or more at 518 distinct US airports. While not all of those handle scheduled commercial service, it would be a logistical nightmare to try to set up customs clearance at all of those airports, and then figure out how to segregate passengers who have gone through customs (and agricultural inspection) from those who have not.
They've been working on a pilot program at IAD that can automatically route some bags, but still requires pulling your bag if you have certain declared items or if they need to search your bag. That's about the least intrusive you will ever get.
Even in the ITI program that you encountered at MIA, you passed through US customs and immigration on your way to Canada. If you were carrying anything that the US considered contraband, it could have been seized even though you were immediately reexporting it.
Customs clearance wouldn’t be at the endpoint but at the hub/port of entry. It’s nothing new for US CBP, they do it every day at YYZ, YVR, etc. If a passenger can check their bag all the way through (no reclaim) on LHR-YYZ-IND, then why not LHR-ORD-IND?
Sure, YYZ has some extra equipment to perform a one-step immigration/customs check but there aren’t that many airports in the US that would need the same. Maybe 20 at the most? If an airport doesn’t install the same capabilities as YYZ then it can handle immigration and customs the old fashion way.