Here I am at Terminal 3 (United domestic) of SFO - 10.00am - enjoying Eggs Benedict with crab meat. What a wonderful feeling. Super to get an early start to the weekend. But I digress...

I arrived at the airport at 07.00am - roughly five hours earlier than I needed to, in order to be able to have coffee with a colleague who had an early flight. At 08.00am I said goodbye to her at the security checkpoint which was already looking grim. A huge line had backed up and was starting to get in the way of people trying to walk past. I decided that I might have a less stressful morning by immediately going through check-in and security and then chilling out on the airside.

I joined the HUGE lines for paper ticket check-in (I know - paper ticket ugh - but there were reasons ). Whilst there, I observed several frustrated people, who were being denied check-in at 08.05am for their 08.40am flights. It was pretty obvious that they had no chance of getting through security and to the gate in 35 mins.... and I think to myself "I suppose this 35 minute check-in policy is a necessary evil in this era of strict security."

So I finally reached the check-in desk and joked with the agent that I'm lucky to have several hours to get through the awful security checkpoints. She nods and tells me: "Well if you are going through to the airside now, you should turn left and use that checkpoint down there. It might be quicker...."

I went in the direction she indicated (the checkpoint is close to gate 75) - see map on SFO website:
http://www.flysfo.com/guide_nonflash/index.html

And here's the "Alice In Wonderland Moment" - I find a check point with no people waiting in line. Not a single person ahead of me. There are at least 8 security personnel on duty. Two of them are waiting at the entrance of the roped off area to inspect my boarding pass and Photo ID. One of them is on hand to assist me with putting my things on the belt. Another two to signal me to come through the metal detector. Another couple behind the big XRay machine. I am sure there is at least one more supervisor. All ready and waiting just for little-old-me.

I wanted to ask them - "How many of you guys does it take to change a lightbulb?" but I bit my tongue. After I got through the metal detector another passenger arrived and he too sailed through security with the same "VIP treatment."

I joked "Is this a special, secret checkpoint just for me?" They laughed. Come to think of it, they appeared to be in very good humour, in contrast to the rest of the airport, which had a rather stressed-out atmosphere... I wonder why.

I made a suggestion: "One of you ought to go to the other checkpoint and guide some passengers down here. You could save them some time and take the pressure off your colleagues...."

Response: "Oh. Are they busy up there?"

Me: "Um.... yeah. Take a look."