Mikester

At PHL having just passed through the new Terminal D/E security checkpoint. Generally a nice checkpoint in the scheme of things but the TSA folks were directing everyone coming through to any of the lines even though one was clearly marked as the black diamond lane. While today the lines are not too long so it was not much of a problem for me, I can see that on a busy day having all the infrequent fliers and families that were in that lane would be a real problem. So, how often do you see this happening, what are your feelings about it (like I really have to ask this crowd...), and what can be done about it?

obscure2k

Moving thread to the TS/S Forum.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

exbayern

I see this at MCO and HNL of all places quite often Two of the airports which have most likely one of the highest concentration of inexperienced, infrequent travellers, and/or families. YVR used to dump special needs, families, and Nexus all into one lane but thankfully stopped that.

I don't know why someone would want to put more stress on themselves by being in the midst of frequent, experienced travellers who may become impatient with the inexperienced passengers causing delays.

halls120

It was PHL. No other explanation needed, as this is possibly the worst airport in the entire country.

asbestos

I like the idea of these lanes. I've never actually seen them in use though. The places I go seem to just filter everyone into the same line and then fan them out to the arches.

Superguy

IAD uses the diamond lane as the disabled access lane too.

Also, it's the only one open at 4:30am, so everyone and their dog goes there instead of waiting for the main checkpoint to open at 5.

LessO2

Happens everywhere, file under 'don't sweat it.'

PhlyingRPh

Over the years, as elite lines starting vanishing and this ridiculous experience level system was put into place by the TSA, I have noticed that more often than not, anyone can just walk into whichever lane they feel like, or the TSO's just close enough lanes to make it a generally bad experience for everyone.

STBCypriot

The "expert" lane in ATL after customs and baggage recheck is either closed when I go through there (which is often) or it is being used for families and people with special needs. It drives me nuts. I once asked if I could go through the "expert" lane and the women directing the sheeple told me it wasn't her job. Couldn't get anyone to allow me access to the "expert" lane. For goodness sake, just remove the darn "expert" sign if you are not going to use that lane as it was intended.

Global_Hi_Flyer

The diamond lanes are a hideous waste of money as they are currently used. *IF* they were to be held to their intended purpose and *IF* they were enforced, they might be marginally useful. Elite lines are far better as they are generally enforced (by the airline, I might add).

JoeBas

In my experience, the black diamond lanes are a farce anyway.

Here at Hobby, which is my home airport so the one I experience most frequently, it seems like EVERYONE thinks they're an "Expert Traveler"... including the Chatty Kathy with the TDC's, the "Oh, my laptop has to come out? Since when?" crowd, the "Three trips through the WTMD because they don't wanna take their cell phone out" people, etc.

Meanwhile, the "Family and Medical Liquid" lane, which one would figure would be the worst, is usually empty, or at best has one family with small kids in it... which still beats the expert lane by an order of magnitude.

Last trip 2 weeks ago, I was traveling with my family, and got to use the "Green lane"... my wife had timed the "Black Diamond" lane at almost an hour after dropping her off while having gone off property to park/etc... we were through the "Green Lane" inside of 5 minutes, and that was WITH two families in front of us.

Only down side in my experience is that roving TSOs sometime try to police the line. I'm actually taking to carrying a big bottle of saline, even though I don't wear contacts, just to get through.

PhlyingRPh

As someone who likes to arrive at the gate just as boarding is beginning, I have to say, not having an elite line or premium class line to rely on is really beginning to get on my t1ts something chronic. This is the type of thing airlines should be looking out for. Instead, whenever I have complained to the airline, I always get a "well, the TSA took away our elite lanes". When I complain to the TSA, if they understand what I am talking about, they come back with "The airline decided not to pay for an elite line". I want the truth!

jkhuggins

Sometimes, it's a farce because of the general length of all the lines.

In late May, I flew out of ATL (domestically, so the story above doesn't really apply). As I recall, the lines between the TDC and the WTMD were so long that there was no way to identify which line was which ... until much, much later, when I happened to pass the sign that informed me that I was in the Family Lane (even though I was on my own that day).

On the other hand, everyone flying out that day seemed to be moving at least as fast as the WTMDs/X-ray machines were working, so it wasn't like a Black Diamond Lane (or lanes) would've had much effect on throughput.

You can't handle the truth!

Loren Pechtel

The same reason someone with a full cart would choose the express lane.

thegeneral

Why the heck would you like these stupid lanes. Anyone who does fly a lot has status and already gets a business traveler lane. All this does it make business life more difficult for those that travel a lot. It always gets treated as just another lane.