this makes me happy..

[lagilman]

At Airports, Security Lines Made for Speed
By SUSAN STELLIN
A new system, using a ski slope metaphor, has three “self-select” security lines for travelers with various degrees of familiarity with airline checkpoint procedures.

excerpt: The system, which has been introduced at 21 airports and is coming soon to New York, has a black diamond line for expert travelers, defined as those who fly more than twice a month and are skilled at security procedures, always ready with items removed; a blue square for casual travelers, who are familiar with the screening process; and a green circle for families and those needing assistance or more time.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/10/business/10lines.html?hp
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Long-time readers of this LJ will recall that I had hoped-without-hope for something like this, after being stuck in line too many times behind people who seemed oblivious to the bellowing of the TSA officer to remove their shoes, empty their pockets, have their boarding pass ready, etc.

Now, if people will actually pay attention to the signs, and not just blindly wander into the shortest line, we may actually all get to where we're going with a reduced stress level.... (yeah, I know, I'm a dreamer...)

On other news: still hot. 82 degrees at 6am. Stay cool and hydrated, my fellow east coasters! (and folk in the midwest, stay safe and dry!)

Comments

[handlebar605.livejournal.com]

coming out of Portland ME the other day, the line was kinda held up by only having two guys verifying bording passes and ID, but when the line started getting long, they opened up a couple more scanner lines.

I would have been home Sunday, but the thunderstorms here in the NY area caused delays and then finally cancellations when it started getting close to the noise abatement hours for a regional airport

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

They have this at Logan, but I didn't find it appreciably faster than normal.

[autojim.livejournal.com]

Don't hold your breath waiting for the people who need the most help to go willingly to their bunny-hill line.

""

[lagilman]

True, Joe Stud Traveler will still be a thorn in the side of people with a clue. But as per the article, people with small kids and/or bulky equipment seem glad to have their own lane, where people aren't shooting them exasperated glares and there are TSA agents to help wrangle the kids...

Also? I bet there are a number of Besuited Business Travelers who will be happy to redirect people to the proper line....(apparently I have the wearily prepared resignation of a frequent traveler, because even in jeans and a t-shirt, my hair in a poytail, they recognize me as One of Their Own.)

[autojim.livejournal.com]

One of the more amusing things I have had to do sometimes is travel with prototype auto parts. Here in Detroit, TSA doesn't bat an eye -- they're used to it.

But I had to patiently explain to one chucklehead in Orlando that no, this device isn't a "ninja throwing star", it's a water pump impeller, and it's not "hardened steel", it's exceptionally non-magnetic soft aluminum...

I agree, though, that it's more attitude than mode of dress that separates the experienced traveler from the novice... no fuss, no muss, everything is in order and ready to be presented as required, one-quart zip bag readily accessable, laptop out, jackets/sweatshirts/sweaters and shoes off, watches, keys, cell phones off person and in bag. Hell, I even wear my dress belt instead of my casual belt 'cause the buckle on the casual belt sets off the arch, while the dress belt doesn't.

Though the lady in the Roman-style lace-up-to-the-knee stiletto sandals did provide some amusement as she first tried to get out of them gracefully and then tried to put them back on gracefully...

Hehe...

[smoemeth.livejournal.com]

Yes, this is precisely my experience with those lines so far. 9 out of 10 people in the 'expert' line should really be in the bunny-hill line. I give the TSA points for trying, but sadly, you just can't defeat the general stupidity of the public.

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

They could always try reducing the need for security. Airport security is, in my opinion, more to reassure the public than it is about safety.

[wojsvenwoj.livejournal.com]

the canadian quarter buried in the lint at the bottom of my pocket wasn't my fault! i thought you had forgiven me for that! ;)

[bigferret.livejournal.com]

I saw this set up in Boston. Hopefully, it will spread. I hate being behind causual travelers when I could go through security in my sleep.

[oneminutemonkey.livejournal.com]

When we were coming home from Minneapolis, we were able to get into the "expert" security line because, let's face it, we both knew what the hell we're doing. (Remove shoes, have no metal, remove laptops from carrybags, all liquids taken care of... le sigh)

Of course, we still got pulled aside for the Very Special Inspection because of our last minute change of plans (dead grandmother) and airlines (they cancelled our flight and the only acceptable one available was with a different airline), but even that went smoothly.

But I wholeheartedly support the multiple lines... and I'll consider myself either casual or expert, depending on how the lines look. :>

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

Oh man, this is awesome. I hate being stuck behind oblivious slowpokes when I can get my laptop out and my shoes off and everything in the bins in 30 seconds flat. AAARGH.

[darillian.livejournal.com]

To give the otehr perspective:

While i fully understand the need for speed lines, I resent the fact that they are putting all the "slow"travelers in one line, as if because we (in my case, a family, not an idiot) have a family or do not have the money to travel all the time have all the time in the world to wait at security with four children and try to get to our flight on time. So, it's OKAY for us to miss our flight because we have kids?

Additionally, when we flew out with our entire famliy to Florida from Alaska (read my lips, ALL NIGHT AND DAY), I found that we were actually better prepared for the security run through than many "frequent flyers" with their laptops. I found it highly amusing that at one point we were hurriedly ushered from between our two laptop-toting business people in line to a separate line for handicapped, or whateveer (after waiting to the front of the line and only 3 people until our turn, the new line had four assumed "slower" people in front of us). They were afraid we would slow up the line, but we made it through before "expert" in front of us by far. And that was with two adults (one pregnant) and three kids ages two, five, and eight.

So please don't assumet that it is all the families, handicapped, and other similar types holding up your precious security line. We need to get where we are going too, and don't deserve to wait longer any more than you do. Generally, we are MORE prepared for the line and listening closer to instructions just because we have so much more to deal with.

Let's be honest, it's the idiots out there, regardless of "status on the hilltop" that hold up the line. And they won't pay enough attention to go where they should anyway.

[lagilman]

Fair enough, although I have yet to see a parent with an under-5 (much less one parent with multiple kids) make it through security in the same time an unencumbered-by-such person does, and it seemed clear (to me at least) that the point of the "families" line was to ease the burden on parents as much as speed the other lines. The real difference should be between the "experienced business travelers" and the "casual travelers" line.

(next: training people not to stop dead in the middle of the plane's aisle and back up boarding traffic while you try to figure out where to put your oversize luggage and/or knock people over the head with it when you try to shove it into an already-overstuffed compartment...)

[fakefrenchie.livejournal.com]

They should just prevent people from taking oversized carry-on bags!:-(