I agree with you, Silvers are not the problem...just the ones that have no idea what they're doing or are so excited with their new status that they just want to make sure they board before somebody...anybody...

Seriously, I make sure to get my wife to Silver every year, just for the few times she flies without me. Regardless of the hassle, she still likes boarding before at least half the plane (admittedly, being in SEA and not hub-captive helps). But more importantly, she loves all the other little things that go along with it: the elite security line here, elite check-in, 2 free bags...and getting them back before most, the mileage bonus, just to name a few.

So to the OP: if the question is, is it worth it?...the answer from here is there's no question about it.

Zones
 

The problem comes back to OH space. For all other purposes, the more you fly, the more you come to realize that you want to be the last person on the aircraft. When I fly on a day trip with just a small brief case, I board as late as possible.

If UACO and other carriers actually enforced their respective carry-on policies (just because a steamer trunk can be engineered into the OH doesn't make it "legal," 99% of the boarding nightmare would go away.

There is no reason why anything the size of a 757 or smaller can't board in 20 mins. and push on-time other than a lack of organization. Add the 10 mins. extra for each rotation and that adds up to a lot of downtime for a carrier across a day.

If the OH issue weren't a factor, I would board the bulkheads + exit rows and then whatever process works fastest. As it stands, it's a zero sum game with everybody losing.

Best way to deal with this for DEL or BOM flights is to be at the gate exactly one hour before departure when the counters open. They'll usually announce Visa/BP checks, but if they don't, go request it anyway.

If you're flying BF and there's a BF Concierge or supervisor, you can bypass the queue and get him/her to check your docs.

I think a being doused with a bucket of cold water might also do the trick.

Elite Access a joke at EWR screening
 

With apologies for bumping up an old thread....

As a UA 1K, I am taking a rare CO trip out of Newark. While approaching security screen area for C gates, the rent-a-staff manning the ropes was actively directing "elite access" to the non-elite side, saying quite emphatically "this way is MUCH quicker". He didn't lie. I stepped over to the non-elite side and was through much faster.

While I didn't catch all the details, the reaction and contempt displayed by the lady in front of me was something to see. I think she might have actually paid $ for the "elite access" in some form and was not amused by the lack of value received for her purchase.

I have been loudly bemoaning the degradation of experiential benefits for the upper level elites. Everything from check-in, security, boarding, etc. But I have to say, even I feel sorry for someone poor unknowing soul that was duped into paying money for what has been turned into a joke of a benefit.

Except for rare occasions, the kettle security has always been faster at EWR C Terminal.

This is because there is a dedicated station for elites, while non-elites have a much larger number of stations to go through.

I remember when I lost my elite status with CO, thinking about how much quicker the kettle line was.

Also, in those days, the maroon jackets insisted on having elites only in the elite line...