There are now four lines, up from three, and the system seems to be getting worse. On the far left is the only actual priority line, for Nexus folks, which whisks people directly to screening, behind nobody except other people in that Nexus line. Then comes the family line. Then the 'priority security' line. Then the normal line. The so-called priority security line (and the family line) just inject you into the normal line about 40 to 60 (depending on density) people back from the screening machines. It took 20 minutes today to get through security today, 19 minutes of which was behind people who didn't have priority security.

In my experience priority security lets you jump the queue, you don't end up stuck behind several dozen non-priority travellers. E.g. that's what it's like everywhere else I've gone through security this year, maybe 6 or 8 airports. Is my experience unusual or is YOW just out of touch with what priority security is supposed to be?

20 minutes might not seem like much but for a short domestic flight it really affects airport arrival time, especially because that's 20 minutes when nothing goes wrong, e.g., you don't get randomly flagged for a search and find yourself 12th in the queue for special screening because of all the FOTSG who didn't realize you can't bring full bottles of shampoo, etc., in your carry on.

This is a non-issue for Nexus holders but there are probably a ton of non-Canadians flying business class out of YOW who can't even get Nexus.