Why not just implement a two-pronged screening system, one in which if you do not trigger the detector you are out of there in a couple of minutes, and if you do then you join the queue for the (much longer) shakedown?

Elites - as frequent flyers - would know what they have to do to not set off the detectors, and would be out of there so quickly they will be in the lounge and drinking their first beer before the mum's-and-dad's are through the second stage (oops, I forgot we are talking about the United States here, with your grossly sub-standard lounges).

This would make everyone happy, the elites get through quicker, frequent flyers would get through quicker (even if travelling on a "foreign" carrier, they would still know to remove ALL metal items from pockets, etc).

Dave

[QUOTE]Originally posted by thadocta:

"oops, I forgot we are talking about the United States here, with your grossly sub-standard lounges"

..... and the grossly competitive airfares ...

This is the way it works now. If I don't trigger the metal detector, I don't get the pat down and hand search. If my bag doesn't register anything suspicios on the x-ray machine, then it doesn't get hand checked. I am gone quickly.

[quote]<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cesco.g:

Quote:

Originally posted by thadocta:

"oops, I forgot we are talking about the United States here, with your grossly sub-standard lounges"

..... and the grossly competitive airfares ...

And ours aren't? I flew SYD-CBR-SYD yesterday afternoon for a grand total - including taxes - of $A160, about $US80, accruing 2000 points and 20 status credits, whilst spending two hours in Qantas Club lounges drinking copious amounts of free alcohol. Flights booked 24 hours in advance, for the Easter long weekend.

Nothing wrong with our aviation system here.

Dave

It's hard to match the

- LAX-MIA-LAX run for $ 97.50, earning a total of 14160 miles

or

- the SFO-SIN-SFO run for $ 470, upgraded rt(no miles) to business class, a free 1-day stop in HNL, a total of 38492 miles PLUS a $ 600 bump certificate.

I do have no qualms at all about the way you guys run your airlines downunder, but YOUR post prompted me to the reply the way I did.
Happy travel next time you have to "endure" an airline lounge in the U.S.

&gt;&gt;&gt; Ok, you suck! LOL lucky on both counts... do you mind giving more details on both trips? I am thinking of a mileage run to Singapore... details please...
Where did you get the $600 bump certificate?

Worldtrav, there are lots of details in the Mileage run & United fora. Good luck!

Fair or not they are back in STL