Travel with Children - Not allowed to use the priority lane with infant

was traveling with my infant during the christmas weekend, and the lines were backed up the wazoo. Flying first on AA and had priority access for travel lanes. The TSA grinch saw me going in the priority lane and said, sorry this is for priority access travelers only, you need to go to the regular lanes. I said, I was priority, but he just pointed to the other lane and said it's for priority travelers and they have it on their boarding pass. I said please look at my boarding pass as it says priority access. and thats one of the perks of flying first class. he said "i'm going to argue with you" and stood blocking the lane.

waited in regular lane and after finished security, saw TSA supervisor, and told him what happened. he said there is no such thing as priority from the airlines and they misslead you, then walked away... I have no idea what he was talking about, as the line is clearly marked with signs as such...

anyway just wondering if they were just being grinches or if there was any TSA policy in place preventing me from going through the (empty) priority lane?

In the future, if there is no policy, anything I can print out or do to prevent this issue from happening again?

TIA.

Is there more to this story? I have gone through priority lanes with children many times, even if they had no status and were not sitting in a premium cabin. It is strange you were denied the use of this lane; makes no sense.

What airport was this?

To my understanding, you were right; the agent wrong. (Are you *sure* you were talking to a TSA agent, BTW?) While the TSA controls the screening, the airlines control the lines leading up to them. Hence, the agents manning those lines are frequently contractors working for the airport/airline, and not actually TSA. In airports where there is a priority line, it is up the airlines to decide who can use them. Once you reach the screener, though, the TSA can do what they please.

FWIW, you'd probably get a more expert answer to this question in the TS/S forum.

is there more to the story? no, i think i covered all the details in the original post.

Am I sure I was talking to TSA? Yes.

I have never had any issue in any other airport (I think I've used the priority lane in about 10 airports so far, with an infant)

for those that are interested it was in BDL.

For the most part, I assume this wont happen much as I've never seen that guy before at that airport and I go there often but any advice if this ever happens to me again as far as asserting my rights?

Lastly, I know there's a lot of TSA haters, but for the most part, I am not one of them, as many of those guys are just trying to do their jobs...

BDL must be tiny - I'm surprised they'd have the TSA manning the line screening (I've never seen it before with or w/o kids). Perhaps the TSA checks passports at the entry point and directs people to a specific screening station?

If it were me I'd probably have asked for a supervisor if it would've saved me 10 minutes or more.

I used to be a screener at SeaTac.

The first class lane at my checkpoint led to the TSA person who inspected your boarding pass and id.

AFTER that the first class lane vanished and became whatever kind of lane it happened to be, closed, ordinary, mostly for airline or airport employees....it could be anything. I often worked a lane that started out looking like first class, but after ID check became SSSS screening. Yes, I was often screeched at by first class passengers for that lane being a lousy slow first class screening lane. It wasn't, it was a lousy slow SSSS screening lane that they had assumed was a first class quick lane.

We were told that the airlines established where first class lanes were, then TSA ID checks, then TSA established what kind of lanes existed after that point, where and when.

We're flying Business to London.. will we be able to take advantage of the priority lane?

4 seats.. 2 adults, 6 year old, and 2 year old..

We're flying Business to London.. will we be able to take advantage of the priority lane?

4 seats.. 2 adults, 6 year old, and 2 year old..
You don't name your airline or airport from where you are departing, but for most of them if there is a priority line, you may use it when flying business class.

In CLT the priority lane is also the family lane :rolleyes:

You don't name your airline or airport from where you are departing, but for most of them if there is a priority line, you may use it when flying business class.

Newark.. I think EWR is the code?

Thanks..

AA prints PriorityAccess on the tickets, meaning you get to board first. If there isn't a specially marked security line (not the employee line) then you have to use the other.

This sounds like nonsense from the line checker to me, I've travelled 30+ flights in NA and EU with my infant and always been able to use a priority line when I had access on various star alliance carriers.

Sometimes thought, like at T1 in YYZ there is a special stroller and/or handicap line that is faster so I typically use that.

This sounds like nonsense from the line checker to me, I've travelled 30+ flights in NA and EU with my infant and always been able to use a priority line when I had access on various star alliance carriers.

Sometimes thought, like at T1 in YYZ there is a special stroller and/or handicap line that is faster so I typically use that.

I noticed there is a special security line that can handle strollers, and helps with taking a bit of extra time.. so not as rushed as other lines..

Basically, the scanner is wider than standard, and a stroller could be folded up and run through security check.. other lines, possibly priority line, may not have the capacity to handle the extra time needed or the special check necessary for small children travelling..

I noticed there is a special security line that can handle strollers, and helps with taking a bit of extra time.. so not as rushed as other lines..


This I don't get - don't you want to get through as quickly as possible - especially with an infant?

This I don't get - don't you want to get through as quickly as possible - especially with an infant?Well, yeah, but those of us traveling with children (particularly twins! ;)) simply can't get through security lines as quickly and as efficiently as those of use without children. I would use a security line that was specifically for strollers and families. I wouldn't feel as rushed; I wouldn't feel like I was slowing everyone else down. It would be much more relaxed.

And most X-ray scanners are too small to put a stroller through without breaking it down (particularly ones for twins! ;)). I'd love access to a security line with an X-ray machine that didn't require us to break the stroller down as much as possible!

This I don't get - don't you want to get through as quickly as possible - especially with an infant?

Well, yeah, but those of us traveling with children (particularly twins! ;)) simply can't get through security lines as quickly and as efficiently as those of use without children. I would use a security line that was specifically for strollers and families. I wouldn't feel as rushed; I wouldn't feel like I was slowing everyone else down. It would be much more relaxed.

And most X-ray scanners are too small to put a stroller through without breaking it down (particularly ones for twins! ;)). I'd love access to a security line with an X-ray machine that didn't require us to break the stroller down as much as possible!

Well said..

My family's personal experience is we rather not be rushed.. We have 7 carry ons, gotta dismantle stroller, take off shoes, coats, belts, wallets, keys out of pocket and into the bin.. We're talking 10 plastic bins because my wife wants everything not on top of other items.. Other side of security, repack the video camera, put the laptop back into the bag, stack the 7 carry ons including booster seat.. put together the stroller, put the shoes back on the kids, sit the infant into the stroller, attach the diaper bag..

Trust me, most passengers would have lost it by now waiting what seems to be 10 minutes to get through security.. and my wife will not be rushed.. trust me, I've tried..

Stick our family in the family line.:)

Depends on how many kid(s) and how much personal belongings you have. We have always go through priority lines since my child is close to two. We never had problem. I do pack light, even with a kid, it is no more than 4 pieces (1 carry on, 1 backpack, and one purse, a small stroller) for all three of us. Never felt we are blocking the lines.

I just don't care for standing in line for 20-30 minutes with kids if I can avoid it - on top of the screening.

A few points here:

the screeners will demand you put your stroller in the x-ray machine. If it looks like it will fit if you take the wheels off and still almost jam the machine, they will still want to put it in the machine.

If it definitely won't fit, like a wide-twin stroller, then you will be ok.

But beware of strollers that are not very narrow.

Secondly many US airports have stroller lanes. These can actually be very quiet and possibly quicker and certainly more relaxed than even the fast track security.

Otherwise you can go in the priority lane (assuming you have access!) but do be aware if your stroller is going to block the machine, especially if there is only one or two lanes serving the priority line.

Not to sound too anal but next time you fold your stroller, lay it on the floor. Flip it sideways, on top, on bottom and look. Which way is flattest? Mine did best going upside down. Fit better into the X-ray machine. It flattened out the wheels.

It's a small thing but when you're pressed in the security line, every second counts and if you know right away which angle will go in best. You'll also have an idea of if it jams, what part of the stroller is the culprit.

I would prefer not to hold up other passengers while I'm coping with getting my toddler through security in the winter (coats, shoes that fasten etc). In many airports the family lane feeds into a regular conveyor belt, which makes no sense to me. I go as quickly as I can but when the car seat doesn't fit through the X-ray (I'm looking at you SFO!) I really wish that the nice green "slow people" sign really did only contain slow pokes.

I would prefer not to hold up other passengers while I'm coping with getting my toddler through security in the winter (coats, shoes that fasten etc).

FWIW, no need to remove shoes anymore! We now have to fight with our son to keep them on since he got so used to taking them off at security :rolleyes:

FWIW, no need to remove shoes anymore! We now have to fight with our son to keep them on since he got so used to taking them off at security :rolleyes:

Yes.. and great to hear.. it was alot of work taking shoes off of my son when he was 3 months old.:)

FWIW, no need to remove shoes anymore! We now have to fight with our son to keep them on since he got so used to taking them off at security :rolleyes:

When did that change? Is that only specific to children? I have to take mine off.

Not very long ago. We did discuss it when it was announced. Yes, specific to small children. Can't say what age exactly (anyone remember?) but it's safe to say that a non-walking baby can keep them on (hopefully they're the nice soft ones anyway!)

It's either "under 12" or "12 and under," don't remember which.

A few comments.

1) I've been to BDL many times and I have never seen a TSA person manning the entrance to the priority lanes. It might be someone with a jacket who looks sort of official, but that is NOT TSA. It is also clearly someone who misunderstood access rules.

2) The rule is that "12 and under" do not have to remove their shoes.

3) When traveling with my family, including kids, I always use the priority lanes or access. If we feel like we're going to hold people up, we'll tell the next person behind us to go ahead. However, we usually have our coats off, laptop(s) out, and metal objects in our bags well before actually getting to the bins. Makes it easy to just pull the bins, dump everything in, and move along. Never understood why people waited until they actually got to the bins to start getting ready.

It is 12 and under. My oldest will be 13 in 2 months and can pass for quite a bit older (much to her father's and my dismay) and has been told to take her shoes off at every airport since it started last fall, she smiles politely and says "I'm 12" and they wave her thru.

I've never had a problem with going through premium lanes with my kids.

As for extra-time lanes - I get most annoyed when the people in front of me (and my 3 kids) do something stupid and have to go through again - everyone thinks it's us! We break down the stroller, fill up the entire table leading to the xray machine, then one of us goes through, the other sends the kids through and pushes the stuff into the xray machine while the other unloads and packs up on the other side. we can get in and out of there as fast as any 5 people can.

...we can get in and out of there as fast as any 5 people can.


This is the key that most hurry up types tend to forget. With kids (including infants) even at 30 seconds per pax that's still 1:30 for a family of three to get through. Also the space requirements for bins is still the same whether its three suits in priority or a family of three.

FWIW AncienMastro, my daughter has Nexus card and we always use the Nexus lanes rather than regular family lanes. The reason, my Daughter has Nexus card and would like to use its privileges to the fullest extent. Secondly the Nexus lane tends to be staffed with experienced CATSA people, where as the family lane tends to have some inexperienced screeners.

I have once experienced a line handler deny access to both the priority and Nexus lanes (this was YVR domestic concourse C). I argued with the Green Coat and won, Nexus cardholders can use the Nexus lanes regardless of age.

This is the key that most hurry up types tend to forget. With kids (including infants) even at 30 seconds per pax that's still 1:30 for a family of three to get through. Also the space requirements for bins is still the same whether its three suits in priority or a family of three.

FWIW AncienMastro, my daughter has Nexus card and we always use the Nexus lanes rather than regular family lanes. The reason, my Daughter has Nexus card and would like to use its privileges to the fullest extent. Secondly the Nexus lane tends to be staffed with experienced CATSA people, where as the family lane tends to have some inexperienced screeners.

I have once experienced a line handler deny access to both the priority and Nexus lanes (this was YVR domestic concourse C). I argued with the Green Coat and won, Nexus cardholders can use the Nexus lanes regardless of age.

A good tip..

So are Nexus cards effective when travelling to LHR.. How long does it take to apply and get the card back in time for travel..

A good tip..

So are Nexus cards effective when travelling to LHR.. How long does it take to apply and get the card back in time for travel..

Nexus cards can be used at the security lane, but passport will be required to board the airplane (unless the trip to LHR includes a side trip to USA). In your case it appears to be a side trip to EWR. Yuo can use Nexus card at US CBP, security lanes for the flight to EWR, identification on boarding flight to EWR. Once at EWR, you will have to switch to passport for all onward travel.

Nexus cards can be used at the security lane, but passport will be required to board the airplane (unless the trip to LHR includes a side trip to USA). In your case it appears to be a side trip to EWR. Yuo can use Nexus card at US CBP, security lanes for the flight to EWR, identification on boarding flight to EWR. Once at EWR, you will have to switch to passport for all onward travel.

Thanks for the tip. I'll look into Nexus cards; sounds like I can get some use out of the cards.. How long does the application take? IIRC I think it was 3 weeks or something?

When traveling with my child, I frequently have the priority lane agent attempt to shoo me away with a scornful look as though nobody with children could possibly be entitled to priority lane access. I manage to correct that but never without wondering why the employees are so clueless. Yes, I have a child. Yes, she sometimes travels with me. But my husband and I each travel enough on our own that we have elite status. Sometimes we even travel in first class. In this day and age, how can that possibly be shocking?