Originally Posted by
cordelli
I believe, though have never seen a formal definition
Priority Line - Skip the line waiting for the ID Check or whatever based on your airline status
Experienced Traveler - A security station set up for so called Experienced Travelers, where those who know how to go through will pass quicker.
The experienced traveler concept was described a couple years ago when they were piloting it as:
It's a simple idea that is – at least in initial tests – having a big impact: have expert travelers who know the drill go through one line; folks who have a good idea of what they're supposed to do, but may not fly often, go through a second line; and families with kids or people who need more time or special assistance, through a third.
The difference, at least to me, is that the assumption is that an experienced traveler will go through the line quicker, be them priority qualifying or not. If for example I'm flying an airport I have no status on, I would not be Priority, but would be Experienced.
A priority traveler could be somebody who has never been on a plane before, has no clue how security works, but bought a first class ticket or whatever.
The TSA has never been thrilled with the some people get to cut the line concept.
Moreover, there is the DYKWIA elite/F/J pax that believes that he/she is not subject to the process. They get up to the ID checker without ID in hand. They take forever getting their stuff on the belt and or course still have metal items in their pockets. Of course they don't have their BP in hand after coming through the machine. Finally, rather than take their belongs to one of the metal benches to regroup they hold up everyone while they do at the belt. (Of course, most of the time their bags need to be rerun and then handsearched because again those three ounce liquid rules most certainly do not apply to them.
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