JDiver

List of AA's Premium Security Checkpoints

Here is a compendium of what we have posted to date, with no credit – I don’t have enough time to do the whole enchilada with credits. Updated May 24, 2005; keep them coming...

Please feel free to update, correct, etc. and I will add / review mid-June (please do not PM me - I’m off on a trip, of course!) If one with Moderator powers wishes to reorganize the posts and make a sticky, so be it. Otherwise, it will be searchable by the term elite line…

ATL – yes, no details

BOS - “main concourse, Terminal B. Used it last Sunday”… and “Eagle flights that go out of the main terminal (as opposed to the satellite terminal) have a separate security checkpoint that does not have a premium line. And that line can be very long in the morning…”

BWI - Concourse C, EXP, PLT not signed for Gold “and First Class, of course”, but tazi says s/he has used it as a Gold and adds “I've seen them open the elite line up for others on several occasions. Not at the entrance, but down at the end where the lanes "merge". When at this point, if they let the general line in, you haven't saved much time.”

DAY – NO elite lines, and hidden shoe carnival games – they will ask you if you’d like to remove your shoes, and if you don’t they will send you to secondary.

DCA – “DCA does not have an elite line, but, DC-based elite members were invited to participate in the TSA's registered traveler program.”

DEN – yes, no detail

DFW – yes, but knowing near what gates would be important - they do not have them at every entrance, and certainly not when one emerges from Immigration and Customs in A. I THINK the elite line is near A21, and the ones at A12 and A35 do not? If anyone posts corrections, I'll update this. So far, we’ve got “The DFW Terminal A elite security line is indeed at the middle entry for Term A (I forget the exact gate number, but not the low-gate entry and not the high-gate entry, which is the one near international arrivals). I believe it's the same at Terminal C -- it's at the middle entry.”

JFK – separate "premium" queues in both T8 and T9. (“Terminal 8… sometimes a mixed blessing since flight crews tend to push in front of everyone and slow the line a bit). T9 …elite line was just to the left of the regular line, with a clearly marked sign. Separate ID checkers for each line.”

LAX - it's not easy to find: Flyer23 says “When you reach the (west) end of Terminal 4 (and the gap between Terminal 4 and TBIT), look inside the windows. You'll see the elite check-in area. From there, walk inside and start going back towards the general check-in area, looking for an elevator going up to the elite check-in line. There is usually a sign at the bottom indicating that it's only for elites and First/Business.” TrishBOS adds “bottom of the escalator standing next to a large floor stand with sign saying "first/business/elite" - it you are at the ticket counter, you only see the back of the sign (with no writing on it).” LAX map.

LAS – HAS BEEN First Class sensu stricto – no elites, unless in FC. But MIKESILV posts May 24: "Was told by CSR that since yesterday Plats and Exps can again use the security line (no mention of golds) they had recently been restricting to F only. Went through the F line, showed my Plat card and no problems."

LHR - second floor, for "fast pass" - J and F only, iirc, not elites in Economy. Premium does not mean "fast."

MEX - should be MESS, no elite queues here.

MIA- Concourse B, signed but often closed. MIA-SAT says "the better solution seems to be to walk past security between the E and the A terminals, usually one line is fairly short. Once you pass security, these terminals are interconnected. Just remember that the presence of a sign does not mean that you can actually get in an elite boarding line.” FlyAO2 says "C gates checkin is usually pretty empty as there are very few C gates. (and as someone already said, A-E gates are connected)"

MSP - Premium line by the AA counter seems to be open every time I have been thru there.. even at 5am on a Saturday morning.

ORD – IluvParis says “It used to be between G and H and is now between K and L. People don't seem to be aware of this security checkpoint, let alone the premium lane, as this checkpoint is not busy at all compared to the one between G and H.” Flyer123 says "checkpoint between K and L appears to be reserved entirely for elites and first/business... The premium security checkpoint is also conveniently located to the premium check-in counters. ORD T3 map.

ORF – yes, no details

PDX – yes, it is well posted, with three entries to the separate queues, crew and airport personnel, elites and everyone else. Some have used WN Rapid Rewards cards here even.

PHL – “PHL there was an Elite/First line shared with other carriers.”

PHX – yes, no details

PIT – “has a preferred line open to any airline elite (including AA).”

RDU – "Security Checkpoint #8" is the elite line for all of these travellers: Gold/Plat/EP/First/Business. Flyer1965 and ILuvParis updated.


SAN - “does too.”

SFO - the security entry has changed, now allowing one entry to AA or UA; the LEFT queue entry is elite, and may or not be open, depending on personnel, and passenger traffic. SSSS will be injected into the elite line, as well as crew, ahead of you.

SJC – At entry to security queue, marked First Class, but has been used successfully by Plats and EXP.

SEA - elite line that seems to be there most of the time. One FTer thinks they have dropped the "Platinum/EXP only" requirement, although “I don't know if that was ever enforced.”

SJU - the entrance directly to the left of the ticketing counters.

SMF - forget it. The queue can run down the escalator into the terminal area. Upstairs it splits into tow lines, neither with elite provisions. It appears to me the right ASMD is set "tighter" than the left, though others will say that's ridiculous because they calibrate regularly, etc. etc.

STL - checkpoint for CD gates, lane 6 (rightmost lane) is for premium pax.