United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Did UA get rid of fee-for-access to shorter checkpoint lines, and why?

I've been irked by the slew of misleading articles I've seen in various media lately about ID check lines (which are run by the airlines) in front of TSA security checkpoints at airports. They all claim, "those lines are just for rich people".

Actually, they're not; US Airways, for example, sells access to them, as part of its "Preferred Access" package, which costs as low as $10. Didn't UA used to do this? I checked united.com and see that UA gives access to those shorter lines now only to UA credit card holders, frequent flyers and first class passengers.

If UA no longer sells access to those shorter lines for a small fee, why did UA end the availability? Presumably the shorter lines were less short, but why not then just raise the fee?

If UA no longer sells access to those shorter lines for a small fee, why did UA end the availability? Presumably the shorter lines were less short, but why not then just raise the fee?

Its going to come back, it was a loss with the conversion of IT systems
IIRC its supposed to be back with the annual E+ option by the end of the year

I've been irked by the slew of misleading articles I've seen in various media lately about ID check lines (which are run by the airlines) in front of TSA security checkpoints at airports. They all claim, "those lines are just for rich people".

Actually, they're not; US Airways, for example, sells access to them, as part of its "Preferred Access" package, which costs as low as $10. Didn't UA used to do this? I checked united.com and see that UA gives access to those shorter lines now only to UA credit card holders, frequent flyers and first class passengers.

If UA no longer sells access to those shorter lines for a small fee, why did UA end the availability? Presumably the shorter lines were less short, but why not then just raise the fee?

Unfortunately, in many places those lines are no longer shorter.

Unfortunately, in many places those lines are no longer shorter.

You aren't kidding, I just moved from Seattle to Houston, and IAH almost gave me a heart attack the other week when I flew out.

One wonders what sort of deal the airlines cut with the TSA in order to get these going.

What motivation does the minimum-wage bozo [ * ] manning the TSA line have to actually help us big-ego elite-type people get through faster.

[ * ] Yes I'm aware that the TSA pays more than minimum wage, on the other hand I think the bozos they hire would otherwise be earning minimum wage so I use the term "minimum-wage bozo" advisedly.

One wonders what sort of deal the airlines cut with the TSA in order to get these going.

What motivation does the minimum-wage bozo [ * ] manning the TSA line have to actually help us big-ego elite-type people get through faster.

[ * ] Yes I'm aware that the TSA pays more than minimum wage, on the other hand I think the bozos they hire would otherwise be earning minimum wage so I use the term "minimum-wage bozo" advisedly.

Umm, that's a real simplistic view of it.

The airlines pay more to the airport/TSA to have more staff, and then pay the redcoats (at least in EWR) to appropriately monitor the different lines.

It's not as if the airlines are paying TSA directly for Elite lines.