Co-author sought for article: why to keep "preferred" airport checkpoint lanes
After seeing yet another inaccurate article peddling envy and resentment towards people who use the faster airport checkpoint lanes before security, it's time that those of us who use them (whether by being frequent flyers, just paying a $10+ fee or by cashing in miles for a first-class ticket) lay out the real facts in the media: those lanes are available to most anyone who wants to pay a nominal fee, but are used mostly by average working Joes who just travel a lot.
If the purveyors of envy and resentment are the only voices heard in the media, who knows what impact it could have? Some members of Congress try to pass bills every now and then to ban those lanes.
I would like to write a well-researched, persuasive article defending those lanes and have it published in reputable media sources. I can write the article with no problem; I'm a lawyer and research and write all day (and all weekend), but it would be helpful to have a co-author who could at a minimum critique my work and possibly make introductions to the media, but who would be welcome to contribute as much to the process as desired.
If you're interested, please send me a private message or post a reply.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCommuter
Some members of Congress try to pass bills every now and then to ban those lanes.
I wonder if those members use special security entrances or lanes to enter the Capitol building, or do they wait in line like regular members of the public?
I don't like the preferred security lanes, myself. I think that consistently treating one subset of travelers differently than other travelers creates a vulnerability in the security system.
Also, I find it distasteful that airlines have taken advantage of onerous security procedures to offer a "perk" to certain flyers and/or increase profits. If airlines were responsible for the security checkpoint, fine. They can do what they like in that case. But how are they allowed to do it when the federal government is responsible for the checkpoint?
I don't like the preferred security lanes, myself. I think that consistently treating one subset of travelers differently than other travelers creates a vulnerability in the security system.
Also, I find it distasteful that airlines have taken advantage of onerous security procedures to offer a "perk" to certain flyers and/or increase profits. If airlines were responsible for the security checkpoint, fine. They can do what they like in that case. But how are they allowed to do it when the federal government is responsible for the checkpoint?
I know MANY people here will disagree with me.
You've likely read those misleading articles.
The shorter lanes are just leading up to the podium where your ID is checked against your boarding pass. The only difference versus the "regular" lanes is that they are shorter. Your ID is checked against your boarding pass in the "shorter" lane in exactly the same way as it is in the "regular" lane, and once your ID is checked, all passengers, regardless of lane, are then fed into the TSA-run security areas. Again, in those security areas, whether or not you used a shorter lane makes no difference in how you're treated.
The airlines can run these shorter lanes because they are separate from the TSA-run security checkpoints.
Plenty of businesses have increased their profits due to onerous security: airport mailing services, businesses that sell TSA security-friendly laptop cases, etc. We're a free market society.
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I see no difference between a priority check in, priority screening or priority boarding lane. They are a benefit designed to make travel more convenient for the frequent flyer, and generally also available via an ancillary fee to any traveller.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCommuter
those lanes are available to most anyone who wants to pay a nominal fee, but are used mostly by average working Joes who just travel a lot.
Really? Besides US, what airlines offer this benefit for a fee (for Y pax)? UA got rid of that option a while back. I do not believe that DL or AA* (after a quick check of their sites) offer this. Also, if one is flying an airline that is not the primary tenant at a particular terminal, one often cannot get priority access to security (regardless of status/fees paid).
*: AA seems to offer this as part of the "Five Star Service". At $125+, I would hardly call it nominal.
Really? Besides US, what airlines offer this benefit for a fee (for Y pax)? UA got rid of that option a while back. I do not believe that DL or AA* (after a quick check of their sites) offer this. Also, if one is flying an airline that is not the primary tenant at a particular terminal, one often cannot get priority access to security (regardless of status/fees paid).
*: AA seems to offer this as part of the "Five Star Service". At $125+, I would hardly call it nominal.
UA is bringing it back soon; it's temporarily unavailable due to the systems integration with Continental. That makes all of the majors, excluding DL.
And for everyone else, while I'm still looking into it, it looks like you can pay $100 to the TSA for 5 years of Global Entry access, and thus you are eligible for TSA Pre-check lanes.
So everyone is eligible for shorter lanes, in one way or another.
I shall not elaborate on the security vulnerability
I'm interested in hearing what you have to say: what security vulnerability? I'm not seeing that people are treated differently, except that some people can stand in what is usually a shorter line approaching the ID check podium. Please tell me more.
Last edited by cblaisd; Jul 15, 12 at 9:08 pm..
Reason: Removed quote of now-deleted rude material
Location: various cities in the USofA: NYC, BWI, IAH, ORD, CVG, NYC
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Posts: 5,453
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCommuter
UA is bringing it back soon; it's temporarily unavailable due to the systems integration with Continental. That makes all of the majors, excluding DL.
And for everyone else, while I'm still looking into it, it looks like you can pay $100 to the TSA for 5 years of Global Entry access, and thus you are eligible for TSA Pre-check lanes.
So everyone is eligible for shorter lanes, in one way or another.
Everyone? Not by your previous definition of "anyone who wants to pay a nominal fee". AA does not apply ($125+ does not seem "nominal" to me), and currently UA & DL do not apply. Does Pre-Check apply before one reaches the TSA ID people (I have no idea; I have not flown a single flight where Pre-Check would be possible)?
Even if you get rid of the "nominal fee" qualifier and include people willing to pay for F, the last statement in the quotation is still not true, as plenty of people fly out of terminals where their carrier does not control the lines.
Everyone? Not by your previous definition of "anyone who wants to pay a nominal fee". AA does not apply ($125+ does not seem "nominal" to me), and currently UA & DL do not apply. Does Pre-Check apply before one reaches the TSA ID people (I have no idea; I have not flown a single flight where Pre-Check would be possible)?
Even if you get rid of the "nominal fee" qualifier and include people willing to pay for F, the last statement in the quotation is still not true, as plenty of people fly out of terminals where their carrier does not control the lines.
Yes, TSA Pre-check is often merged into the same "preferred" security lines.
UA used to sell access to "preferred" security lines and is going to once again offer that option pretty soon, once some IT work is done.
Airlines control the lines in front of the ID checkpoints.
Last edited by NYCommuter; Jul 15, 12 at 2:30 pm..
