Originally Posted by NYGabriel

On the afternoon of Thursday, August. 3rd, I was traveling to LA and had to check bags for the first time in a long time. I went to the Elite check-in area, expecting an easy time at the kiosks. Upon arriving I found a line that was snaked around the terminal and only 4 Continental working the line. As no red-coat agent was around, several of the passengers in line were Non-elite trawlers. (I could see their printed boarding passes with no "elite access" at the top and I could over hear the agents that were working attempt to turn people away when they finally arrived at the check-in counter, but never did because they had already endured the long line.) I counted the line and at one point there were over 100 travelers. To top it off, there was a open counter position that was selling tickets (far left end) but when no when else was purchasing tickets, she did not even attempt to assist in check-in. She in fact, turned several people away.

I called the elite customer service line which immediately connected me to the Customer care line and I reported the problem. The supervisor I spoke with said a red-coat should always be around to direct traffic and screen travelers for the correct line. After 45 minutes in the line, I got finally got the the fronto of the line and was waived up to a kiosk. I told the agent that I had called and he graciously said "Thank you." That was the best thing I could have done to try to help.

Was this an anomaly or does this happen everyday at EWR? Again, the airlines wonders why we never want to check our bags. CoInsider, whats supposed to be normal operating procedure?