Originally Posted by
wetrat0
On the other side of this forum, there is a
raging debate over the potential impact of sequestration on security lines. Unfortunately, lost in the debate is that there is a real possibility, supported by mathematical theory, that lines could get very long.
...
TL;DR:
- Congestion caused by variability will result in exponentially longer waits as the service rate approaches the arrival rate.
- Passengers should be prepared for the very real possibility that TSA lines will get much longer due to sequestration.
As an engineer, I thank you for taking the time to provide this analysis, which makes sense mathematically but which I've never seen before. I appreciate that you've chosen to separate this analysis discussion from the debate on "the other side."
And if we were talking about lines at a grocery store or gas station or movie theater, where the owners and employees have an interest in customer service and repeat business, your analysis would be completely relevant.
But as tev9999 and GHF have said, TSA is not interested in efficiency or deploying resources to minimize the effect on passengers, and in fact is willing to manipulate the process to exacerbate the problem. Exhibit A is
Janet Napolitano all over the media rubbing her hands with glee at the longer lines three days into sequestration. Subtext is not "we're going to try our best to keep things moving smoothly", it's quite clearly [Wicked Witch of the West]"give us all the money we want or you'll all suffer."[/WWOTW]