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May 16, 2008 at 9:20 pm #586983
AnonymousInactiveI was reading about how the TSA has implemented designated lines at security (experienced traveler, families with children, etc).
I’m curious if anyone has experienced it yet and what your thoughts are.
May 16, 2008 at 9:33 pm #624712
charlabobParticipantI heard a story on NPR yesterday (from the Wall Street Journal’s “Middle Seat” podcast.)
Basically, it said that travelers like it a lot, TSA had originally objected, but tried it and found it helped security as well as line movement. I suspect slow travelers and business travelers like being out of each others’ way.
Here’s a link to the podcast:
May 16, 2008 at 9:38 pm #624713
AnonymousInactiveMy concern is how they get people to go to the correct line.
Hypothetically, If you have a family with several carry-ons and a couple children, but they see that the “experienced traveler” line is shorter, what would prevent them from going to that line? And, by doing that, wouldn’t that upset the “experienced travelers” who are ready to breeze through security?
I’m curious if anyone has personally gone through since they implemented this new strategy. And what their experience was.
Thank you, Charla, that is actually the exact article I had read! (It is WSJ, after all!LOL)
May 16, 2008 at 9:52 pm #624714
charlabobParticipantHey, and WSJ is now owned by Fox (Murdoch). Go figure. I’ve read WSJ news for years — and skipped right over the editorials. Now, eventually, I’ll probably have to skip the whole thing. What a teeny world it is!
The interview I heard on NPR (with the WSJ blogger) indicated that people just got in the line they were supposed to get in. (You would know much more about it than I do, but I gathered that people aren’t making trouble in airports very much these days.)
What if you have kids and you are an experienced traveler? (Business people on vacation?) What determines the line you can get in? According to this, when it was first set up it was self-select. Which makes some sense — if you know you’re going to be slow(er) you might just get in the slow lane to avoid being run down (or glared at). Of course, we all know how well that works in cars.
http://www.tsa.gov/blog/2008/02/what-is-your-lane-go-at-your-own-pace.html
Have a great flight, NR! I can’t wait to hear how this all works.
May 16, 2008 at 10:15 pm #624715
AnonymousInactiveThanks, Charla! I will report back how it all goes!
May 16, 2008 at 10:33 pm #624716
flowerpetalMemberHmmm, I have been on and off flights a few times in the past seven days. If something like this is being instituted locally I was totally oblivious! I just walk through the line they tell me to go through.
May 16, 2008 at 10:48 pm #624717
JimmyGMemberUsed the “experienced” line last Wednesday at SeaTac, worked wonderfully. We breezed through in under a couple of minutes.
It is well signed with both text and graphics explaining it and there were TSA people to assist.
May 16, 2008 at 10:55 pm #624718
flowerpetalMemberMaybe we were “pegged” as experienced. I remarked on how quickly we got through the line and didn’t pay much attention to how that happened.
In Las Vegas there was this odd puffing scanner which seemed to blow little puffs of air at me as I stood still on a designated spot. I don’t know what that was. And then we walked through the more traditional metal detector.
May 16, 2008 at 11:05 pm #624719
AnonymousInactiveThat’s interesting, flowerpetal. I’ve never seen people have to go through BOTH. I’ve certainly seen the “puffer”, but usually you go through one or the other.
Maybe they do things different in Vegas. Even though I am based there, I haven’t gone through their security in about 3 years.
I do know a good tip for if you set off the metal detector. Usually they want to do a full “pat down” when that happens. If you happen to notice that they have one of the xray machines, request to do that instead of the “pat down”. Sooooo much faster!
Thanks, JimmyG for the insight. Supposedly it is supposed to be one of the busiest summers for travel (aaahhhh….. recession? Sorry, couldn’t help myself), but it seems that most airports (TSA) are taking the initiative to prepare. It’s good to see.
May 16, 2008 at 11:19 pm #624720
flowerpetalMemberAt Las Vegas, the puffer and the metal detector are in a line; so it is not a choice of one or the other.
As for busy summer travel that doesn’t totally surprise me. It wil be less expensive to fly to see grandma than drive cross country. Road trips seem to be a vanishing recreational activity.
May 18, 2008 at 5:19 am #624721
AnonymousInactiveWell, not really, flowerpetal. Do you realize that airplanes need fuel to operate? Airfare is actually getting more expensive as fuel is getting more expensive. About 40% of the price of an airline ticket covers fuel. Fuel costs for airlines is going to hit $200 a barrel VERY soon.
We traveled the last two days and Sea-Tac had the designated lines, Phoenix didn’t.
I can tell you that, at Sea-Tac (on a Friday), we were in line at security for about 10 minutes total. In Phoenix, it was about 20 minutes.
I think the designated lines works. Hopefully it will find it’s way to more airports!!!
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