Elite security lines are back, exactly as I suggested at the top of this thread.
The government is paid to SCREEN everyone; not to control the entire airport. Otherwise, by these egalitarian arguments, airports (which are generally city, state, county or government property) and are paid by tax dollars to run, have airport controllers monitor, the FAA inspect planes, would have to insure "Equal" access to everyone. No frequent flyer check-in lines. No elite gate boarding. No seats in first class on planes inspected equally by the government. Etc. Etc.

Bottom line: the government is paid to SCREEN people now, and no more (except other security-related services) and it's pretty hard to say why controlling lines to access the portols has anything to do with security any more than any of the other things described above that the airlines do all of the time for valued passengers (even congressmen!).

I do agree with Randy though (thanks for the help in response to the community even though you personally have a different viewpoint, which we all respect) that some more visible "union" voice for frequent flyer's positions would be very good, although the airlines seem to have realized that what's good for us is good for them and taken "our" side on this issue anyway at least at this point in time.


[This message has been edited by 1K Prof (edited 02-22-2002).]