I was flying out of BOS Terminal A on Saturday where they have implemented the new three-tier security lane structure based on ski slopes. In front of the entrance to each lane, there was a TSA sign explaining who might fit in the lane. For instance, the "green" lane's explanation was something along the lines of "families with children and those new to traveling." The "blue" lane's explanation was something like, "somewhat familiar with security procedures." At the black diamond "expert" lane, the suggested criteria were, if I recall correctly:

1) Fly two or more times a month
2) Always have laptops/toiletries out of your bag when you reach the scanner
3) Frequent flyer elite

There were also one or two more that I can't remember. Notably, however, the words "First Class" were nowhere on any sign.

When I approached the "expert" lane, I was stopped by a private security guard -- not TSA -- and asked whether I had a first class ticket. I told her no, I did not, but I certainly fit the criteria listed on the sign. She said, no, the black lane was only for first class travelers, and directed me to the (exceptionally long) blue lane. When I tried to point out that TSA signs clearly indicated that, for instance, elite frequent flyers were expected to go through the black security lane, she simply reiterated "Only first class," while pointing to the blue line.

What really got me -- aside from the fact that the TSA signs clearly indicate you do not have to be first class to go in the expert lane -- is that the resources set aside for the expert lane also indicated that the private security employee was wrong. The expert lane had two ID checkers as well as two X-ray machines. If you are scanning only the tiny subset of first class passengers, doesn't that seem like overkill? (Indeed, while I waited in the blue line, I saw only a handful of passengers go through the expert/first class line).

I can't decide if the security person had it wrong -- that first class is also supposed to be permitted to go through the expert lane, perhaps even given priority there, or if the airlines (Delta and Continental) are directing their private security employees to stand guard at the entrance to the expert lane. It was very early, I didn't have the energy for a further confrontation (no coffee yet!), and I was running a bit late, so I just went over to the blue lane -- had it been later in the day, maybe I would have asked to speak to her boss.

On a related note, I'm not such a fan of the new system. The green lane was about 1/4 as long as the blue lane, as anyone without kids or who has flown before naturally gravitated to the latter due to the descriptions on the signs. Even though the screening time per-person in the green lane was probably longer than that in the blue lane, it was moving well. A family who entered the green lane around the same time I entered the blue lane cleared security about 10 minutes before I did. Maybe next time I will plead travel ignorance and head for the shorter line.