Originally Posted by
14940674
I understand the official policy of the checkpoint; however, in my understanding, derived from FT threads, the checkpoint is usually clogged with the disabled, which severely diminished its utility. While available to all, in practice it mostly serves disabled passengers. If my understanding is mistaken then I apologize. I have never used it, so I have no first-person information.
Rules are rules.
Originally Posted by
14940674
Back to the subject at hand: Does the Dulles Diamond contain the Casual lane, or just the Expert one? Does the TSA enforce the rules of the checkpoint; ie scolding those who take too much time to clear, and are unfamiliar with TSA procedures?
Originally Posted by
Annandaler
It was originally intended for "expert" flyers, yes. And there were signs as you approached it defining what that meant. But there was never any enforcement - anyone with a boading pass could use it from the first day it opened.
But it was never used for "crew". Crew and airport employees always had a separate security checkpoint - that checkpoint is currently between baggage carousels 7 & 8. What you might be remembering is that the locations for Dulles Diamond checkpoint and the crew/employee checkpoint were originally the opposite of the current setup. For some reason, their locations were swapped over a weekend a couple of years ago.
The checkpoint was originally for Clear, crew, and passengers who knew it was there. The crew and airport employees were moved to the east side about the same time as the new main checkpoints opened. I think that was due to fussing about crew/employees having to share a crew line.... IIRC, they also reduced the number of processing lanes.
At the same time, it also became the "designated" special-assist checkpoint. At certain times of day, you could save time by using the diamond lanes if you knew they were there. Like with all diamond lanes everywhere, it was/is self-select. No enforcement, because it was a suggestion, not a law.
I stopped using the lanes when they were the first lanes to implement the strip-search machines. With that action & the designation as preferred lanes for handicapped, the main lines became faster.
The change in designation will simply reflect practice. Unless the airport & TSA choose to discriminate against able-bodied passengers, I expect it will remain open to all, though the TSA may change the staffing/hours.
IAD is miserable if you fly UA/Star. Aside from the horrid and obnoxious TSA (worst wait time in the US), it's not so bad on the carriers operating from Concourse B. I love the convenience of DCA (and the lack of strip-search machines on the AA concourse), but I really don't mind flying AA out of IAD when I'm going to the west coast. Concourse B is the model for how the UA concourse
ought to be.