Originally Posted by DMWT (Post 10986153)

I was at dinner the other night and asked a couple of friends why they did not visit family in Europe for the holidays this year. They said that after last year's experience, they had to take a year off. Last year, they left Manhattan four hours before their once-a-day TATL flight on CO, only to have their cab get stuck in the Lincoln Tunnel for over two hours due to a wreck.

At EWR, they got to the insane security line 45 minutes before departure. A TSA guy told them the line would take 45-60 minutes to clear. At that point, they went searching for a helpful CO EWR employee (don't worry, none was found) to assist them navigating the security line. I believe the exact answer they finally received was "it's not my problem" (even though no seats were available on CO to their destination for three days). They then ran back to the TSA guy they originally had spoken to. He told them there was nothing he could do.

Walking away, convinced they would miss their flight and possibly their entire trip, they were approached by another TSA employee who told them that if they would "help her", she would help them. She took them to the front of the line, apparently, with many knowing glances from other TSA employees, who must have gotten a cut of this woman's, um, initiative. After they cleared security, she went to shake my friend's hand, and they passed her $50.

While bribery is horrible, not to mention illegal, I wonder who would not take that deal - pay $50 to get through security to hedge against a completely ruined vacation.

Although no bad story about EWR really is that surprising, this seemed to be a new low. Perhaps I've missed a few threads, but I've never heard of someone having to commit a crime to catch their flight at EWR.

A couple of questions:

- Can't CO do something to help people on the verge of missing their flights through the security line? I'm assuming they can as I have seen it happen at IAH. Hell, even Air France did it for me (without my having to ask) in Paris when I had about 20 minutes to get a once-a-day connecting flight.

- Has anyone in a bind been approached by a TSA employee with a similar offer?

Originally Posted by COEWRFA (Post 11000431)

Well in Flyer talk terms I would think I am. I have decided to speak and act more like the posters on here and see how it makes most feel. In all reality no matter if they left themselves 4 or 20 hours to get to the airport it is the problem of the Passenger, not the airline. I can't understand why anyone would think they should be treated better because they themselves were late. When I go to work even though it only takes me 25 minutes to get to my parking lot I still give myself 1:30+ mins to get to work, "just incase". I also have a employee lane to go through not having to worry about security. If I had to wait on the security lane I would probably leave EARLIER. If I'm late I'm late and I blame no one but MYSELF. If people started to take responsibility for themselfs we wouldn't be having this discussion. Instead, an airline, the employees, and homeland security were blamed because a flight was almost missed.

Originally Posted by COEWRFA (Post 11000431)

Well in Flyer talk terms I would think I am. I have decided to speak and act more like the posters on here and see how it makes most feel. In all reality no matter if they left themselves 4 or 20 hours to get to the airport it is the problem of the Passenger, not the airline. I can't understand why anyone would think they should be treated better because they themselves were late. When I go to work even though it only takes me 25 minutes to get to my parking lot I still give myself 1:30+ mins to get to work, "just incase". I also have a employee lane to go through not having to worry about security. If I had to wait on the security lane I would probably leave EARLIER. If I'm late I'm late and I blame no one but MYSELF. If people started to take responsibility for themselfs we wouldn't be having this discussion. Instead, an airline, the employees, and homeland security were blamed because a flight was almost missed.

Originally Posted by COEWRFA (Post 11000431)

Well in Flyer talk terms I would think I am. I have decided to speak and act more like the posters on here and see how it makes most feel. In all reality no matter if they left themselves 4 or 20 hours to get to the airport it is the problem of the Passenger, not the airline. I can't understand why anyone would think they should be treated better because they themselves were late.

Originally Posted by DMWT (Post 10986153)

they left Manhattan four hours before their once-a-day TATL flight on CO

Originally Posted by CObigtimefan (Post 11000771)

Where is TATL?

Originally Posted by gawhite411 (Post 11000698)

Well you should have to get to the airport earlier. FAs are largely fungible and therefore a lot less important than paying customers. Frankly CO should be taking all BF customers immediately to the front of the employee line at security. Those willing and able to pay extra can and should be treated better than the rest. I would gladly pay 50 bucks each time I clear security to skip to the front of the line. I shall have to remember this trick the next time the queue is too long.

Originally Posted by COEWRFA (Post 11001035)

Maybe in your mind that would work but in reality without ME, YOU the paying Passenger goes NOWHERE. If you have a problem with the wait times at airports please referr your complain to Homeland Security/TSA. It has nothing to do with Continental.

Originally Posted by ralfp (Post 11000765)

If a CO flight is late because of traffic (ATC holds, delays from mostly CO-flight congestion at EWR, etc.), who is to blame? CO doesn't think CO is to blame. Why then should someone who doesn't control the majority of traffic be responsible for traffic delays?

If you want to get absurd (20 hours and it's still the passengers' fault), then we can say that the passengers paid CO for a ticket that included security screening, so the passenger has a right to a timely screening. CO failed to deliver, so it's CO's fault.:rolleyes:

To be less absurd, why is it unreasonable to expect a timely screening? How long does the wait have to be before one can say it's the TSA's fault?

Originally Posted by gawhite411 (Post 11001061)

Umm no, you could be fired tomorrow and replaced any other FA or any future trainee that wants your job. You are nothing special. There aren't scores of paying passengers trying to get into paying passenger school to become paying passengers. I don't have a problem with TSA; I have a problem with your attitude. You ought to remember who is paying the fares that pay your salary.

Originally Posted by COEWRFA (Post 11001035)

Maybe in your mind that would work but in reality without ME, YOU the paying Passenger goes NOWHERE. If you have a problem with the wait times at airports please referr your complain to Homeland Security/TSA. It has nothing to do with Continental.

Originally Posted by COEWRFA (Post 11001219)

I said nothing of the such. You should of read the entire thread. My point is instead of blaming the airline for a problem the passenger had, take blame where it is due and stop blaming everyone else in sight. None of us had anything to do with the customer being stuck in traffic and then having to wait in a long security line.

Originally Posted by rsnash (Post 10987648)

I think the key part of the above statement is the word after. If they had paid before going through security, it would have been a bribe. Since they were already cleared through, giving anything to the employee was an optional tip. I'm pretty oblivious to these kind of things and wouldn't have had the cash in hand to do a handshake tip. I probably would have just shaken their hand with a profuse Thank You! and gone on my way. :)