Overall it went much smoother but I also changed my tactic. Instead of dragging everyone up via sky priority checkin (7 total) my wife and I took bags to max us out. 3 for me and some reason two (not 3) for her. Then I only brought 2 other people up for two bags per so 9 bags for free but less people. The rest (3) already had boarding passes and stayed out of the way.

The firearm process was different than mco. In slc declare, add the tag and they escort you to a tsa acreening area in the open. From there they swab and hand inspect your bag and tell you good to go. I had a pelican case full of stuff (lenses, binoculars, radios, etc) plus the gun. He took it all out and checked it.

Even with that I prefer that to a just hang out some indeterminate amount of time and check with me later while I still check people in which is basically the mco process. At least slc one is more clear.

I thought it was odd my family got pre check both ways. My parents are 70 and 66 so they usually do but my daughters are 22 and 20. They where on the same reservation as my parents so maybe that is why.

They did swap planes at the last minute slc to atl. Got bumped off a 757 200 to a airbus a321. I picked this flight because of the 757 when the changed time on the direct return to be a red eye. Not excited about the change but it is what it is. The flight changes cost me a night in the cabin in island park since I did not want to get up at 5am to make the flight in slc we left day early so I paid for lodging in two places last night. :-) Was a great trip though. So much wildlife.

Btw slc airport was a ghost town at security today around 1120am.

Sitting in sky club now.

claustrophobic some not terrible so the boarding for fc on 757s is so much better for me. Not terrible enough for me to board last but a jammed aisle of people and bags makes me anxious so I will fly out of my way for boarding via 2L. :-)