they should have elite security checkpoints
 

A big perk would be a special line just for elites and full fare coach pax travelling domestically. This would be practical in all larger airports that have a lot of elites and would be a big benefit these days.

Any thoughts?

Clearly, the airlines are in serious trouble, and if BIZ flyers do not return in big numbers, some carriers will be forced liquidate/consolidate soon. I think the perception of long lines at the airport is a major barrier to the BIZ flyer returning, and so I think adopting your suggestion would help.

There has NEVER been a better time to be clutching an Elite card and standing at the line with 3 people in front of you while the coach line has 300. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif Why seperate security? Has anyone experienced a longer than usual delay on Elite lines as it is?

If the airlines are looking for a way to p/o the passengers they have not p/o'd so far, a separate security line would do so. Even the perception of one group having a "different" security system would trigger quite a few emotional responses in today's atmosphere.

The answer is to create a system similar to the PASS system used to cross the US-Canadian border where you pay for the privilege. Clubs & Lounges could either incorporate or subsidize the cost with the membership fees.

I agree with runningshoes about the p/o factor, but I think the idea has merit.

I second this idea, though at some airports with a lot of different security checkpoints (e.g. DFW) it might not be so feasible.

It also might be difficult to implement for practical reasons (e.g. training the DEN people to recognize credentials from every single airline).

Perhaps a single uniform credential could be identified and the airlines could give permanent ones to their elite members, single day ones to high fare pax.

I seem to recall seeing separate security lines for first/biz pax in some European airports.

I think that when I was in LHR I had an orange dot put on my boarding card that let me in through a different line. This could work.

It's called Fast Track. PEople flying out in Business Class, or an airline special customers can go through FAst Track and stay away from the "masses".

How about something similar to the FastTrack program that is used for immigration control at British airports?

You are given a sticker on your boarding pass that allows you to move through the "fast" line if you have a business or first class ticket. The airlines could also place them on boarding passes of their Elite members at check-in.

It would mean having to check in at the elite line before going to security instead of at a club lounge, but you would be exchanging an extremely long wait in the security line for two relatively short waits.

It could possibly be set up so you could get your boarding pass from an e-ticket check-in machine (where you're still allowed to use them), and just have it verified and a sticker placed at an express ID line.

I would consider a elite security line to be a similar perk to priority checkin and that it would be greatly welcomed if security lines continue to grow.

Most of the terrorists were flying on one way first class tickets. Thus, if we are proposing separate lines for first and business class passengers, they would have gone through those lines.

Djlawman

I probably should know better than to make a comment post-migraine, but what they should have is a checkpoint for people with no carry-ons, only small tote bags.

The delays I've encountered are from guards going through every inch of the two-plus carry-ons some people insist on carrying.

I have a feeling checking bags is safer than ever----with such stringent security, I doubt many are winding up in the wrong place.

Richard-
I liked the idea initially, but then I thought how we are all better off being treated eqally with regard to security.

In terms of probabilities, how probable is it that a potential hijacker would have achieved PremEx or 1K status?

I'm not suggesting any laxness or difference in how we are treated in "elite/full fare security".

But the line will be much shorter, airlines presumably can finance this line with a higher ratio of personnel to pax just as they do now at the special ticket counter line. These are the highest revenue pax who fly the most on business.

Considering the amount of flying some of these guys did that the FBI either knows about or has discussed already, it would appear to be quite easy. Meetings in Germany, training in England, trips to Vegas, Fla, Portland, a couple of trial runs on the flights, etc. I would assume if they wanted to it would have been easy to get it just on those trips if they concentrated on one airline, but if there was a benefit to having it then they could have just made a couple of mileage runs if they needed it.

That is a nice idea. I would love to see it.

No one is saying that the elites should have laxer security, just a separate line which would be shorter. Let's stay on topic. It's a good idea. What good does a shorter elite check-in line do if you then have to wait half an hour for the x-ray machine?!

To the twits on this board:

If they could figure out how to manipulate ground personnel, plan all this out, and then make it effective, don't you think they could take AAdvantage of the perks provided to frequent flyers?????

I agree. A seperate full-fare/elite line would compliment the existing elite check-in lines. I see the purpose of having elite check-in lines as a perk to speed an airlines' most frequent customers along on
their way to their plane. It shows an appreciation of the value of my time and
an attempt to make YetAnotherTrip a little
less frustrating. Continuing this line of
thought on through security only makes sense.

There are likely to be fewer pax in the elite lines and as FFs or VFFs we're going to have
more experience doing this, be much more likely to have our stuff/ourselves together and therefore less likely to hold it all up for everyone else.

Wouldn't you rather be in line behind people who know the drill instead of Ma and Pa Kettle from Dogpatch all fixin' to ride on one of them air-e-o-planes?


JD

Bear in mind that the FastTrack channels at LHR/LGW are paid for by the airlines. If they are bleeding as much as they claim to be, I don't think they will splash out the extra cash at the moment.

But if they would do so, I would think it at the very least a nice gesture to their respective top-tier fliers.

If you hold a Business class or First Class ticket you can use Fast Track (and even then it is not open all day at LGW) in London. Elites do not count. Security is paid for by the airlines (and thus ultimately the passengers) but it is the responsibility of the BAA at Gatwick, Heathrow, and Stanstead.

Why not just open up more check points?

Or a line for people who have no carry-on?

Lines for people with no carry-ons essentially penalize business travellers paying top dollar to do short trips. They always carry everything on.

Airlines need to focus their efforts on elite flyers and full fare business pax right now. They must get them flying again.

Richard, a line for no carry-on would reduce the length of the other lines. My main premise remains that if the lines are too long, open up more lines--like the supermarkets.

One problem becomes, how do you define what's an "elite" level across airlines? I see a potential for this to be used for an even higher wall around fortress hubs--for example, CVG might allow Silver Medallions, but not Silver Preferred or AC Prestige.

At Lufthansa's hubs in Munich and Frankfurt there are separate security lines for first/business/LH status.

Frankly, what is needed is the addition of enough security staff to speed up the security process. It seems that most of the extra time is being cosumed with hand searches of luggage. Fine. Hire additional people to perform the checks and get the lines moving. This problem needs to be solved or short haul flights will be cirppled--the only people flying them will be those who need it to make a connection elsewhere; others will simply drive.

The security delays are going to become intolerable once people start really flying again. My suggestion would encourage business travellers and high rev pax to fly. Without it, things are too unpredictable at the airport and the business person will seek alternatives to air travel.

While I think an elite or first/business line could be good, I might prefer an express line for those with either no carryons or no electronics that seem to be bogging things down.

Edited to add ... the more I think about it, I think an express line might be better. When I read the threads about the waits at the airports, everyone seems to say they've found no line at the elite counters even though there might only be one person staffing that line. That coupled with the fact that many businesses are prohibiting their employees from travel right now makes me think it's the non-elite, leisure traveler who is helping the airlines out right now by flying. It seems it might be wise to make their traveling easier if they're the ones airlines might be depending on now.

[This message has been edited by letiole (edited 10-02-2001).]

If passengers have gotten used to the sight of first-class check-in lines which are so much shorter, I think they could easily get used to a different security checkpoint.

Elites first, and they can take people from the regular line when there's no FF elite/FC/BC passengers waiting.

I just finished my sixth trip since the 11th. and have not had one long security line. I realize that they potentially will get longer as we get back to normal,but I hope that by then the airlines will have a plan. Money is really the only issue. In Atl. the security firm that has the contract with ATL is in bancruptcy. I certainly don't see them adding more staff unless the airlines covers the expense. There are some things that make me uncomfortable about "sending business out for bid",especially if it's my safety and security.

Air Canada introduced a priority security checkpoint at its domestic/transborder terminal in YYZ earlier this year. Access is open to AC Prestige, Elite, Super Elite, Maple Leaf Club, Executive Class and Star Gold members.