Originally Posted by snic

And it is totally nuts. Doesn't it, in a way, INCREASE the risk of a terrorist attack, since the checked bag is going to be in an unsecure area for a while before the passenger re-checks it?

The one gleam of hope is that I can carry on my bag on the SFO-LHR flight, then check it in LHR for my onward connection, so at least I don't have to wait for my bag in LHR.