LAX and SFO I have priority printed on my boarding pass based on status/fare class, but there is no faster/priority line. Everyone just gets funneled into the same TSA line. Is this some weird like, policy where there can't be different tiers of a government service? Because I'm here paying more under the assumption I'm supposed to get a better service.

Are you talking of the lines or that thry funnel to the same spot of a group of TSAs?

FYI—SFO and MCI are only contracted TSA people…they are not fed employees.

Well since the Feds offer Pre Check they clearly do offer variable levels of service to those that qualify and pay.

What I found before I had Pre was that there was uauslly a ‘priority lane’ but that just got you put in the security process quicker than the non priority lane by filtering you into it sooner.

it’s not like at many European airports where where is a totally separate line for for those with priority screening - which is to the same standard as the other lane,

IiRC from my last visit to JFK T8 flying with BA after using their flagship checkin area was there was a TSA person checking BP/ID then sending people one way of they had Pre and another way if they didn’t - those people were then filtered by another person into the actual screening queue,

The airports in the US have increasingly moved away from priority security lines on the basis of class of service being flown and airline program elite status. Instead, we get this: the airports, airlines and TSA have increasingly shifted the priority screening access to be for those with PreCheck boarding passes and CLEAR members. A large part of the blame for this is on airlines; but the airports and TSA are also major contributors to the mortality of priority security screening access for those flying in premium cabins or having airline program elite status.

Existence of priority lane is determined by terminal operator. Some terminals do have priority for elite/F/J while others do not. Mostly it is just general or Pre Check.

A little more to the point - airport operators do not pay the costs of priority lines - they leave it up to the airlines to decide if they want to provide and pay for the staffing of priority lines. This is why at one airport one PSC might have a priority line while at another PSC, where a different airline(s) might be gate dominant choose not to have priority lines. Most airlines are very satisfied with not having the extra expense and to let conventional wisdom chalk it up to the operator or TSA.

Could you clarify paid for? Airline does not pay for TSA staffing as that is already included into the ticket tax. TSA staffing is based on forecast model. I don't see anything to indicate TSA offers a service to airline/terminal to staff beyond forecast model.

As such, if TSA determines they will operate 5 screening lanes during a certain time period, terminal operator/owner can configure their lanes leading up to the checkpoint anyway they want, but TSA will still only staff 5 screening lanes.

No, I meant staffing for priority lanes that feed into the PSC lines. If airlines want to have priority lines then they coordinate it with the operator and the TSA (space, stanchions, signage, staffing) but the airlines pay any costs of priority lines. Staffing (line dragons for priority lines) is typically airline contracted labor and only rarely airline employees.

PSC = Passenger Screening Canine?

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/fi...%20Program.pdf

PSC is also used for passenger screening checkpoint(s). It’s safe to assume it means passenger screening checkpoints in this context when saying PSC lines.