If the OP is still following the thread, I wonder if she'd clarify whether she's referring to the checkpoint before the D/E concourses (UA/LH + random NW, CO, DL, etc.) or at the (more chaotic) A/B/C concourses?

Complain to the airlines, they can still vet people at the head of the elite line. For example, at the MSP elite line next to the NW FC/WBC checkin, entry to the line is guarded by a NW red-coat.

I will check early Thursday morning... it was in effect last time I flew through D/E early Octover, but right as I got to #3 or 4 in the elite line, the handler yelled to the longer regular line "both lines are open" If I had been walking up just as he/she did that, I would have been even more , since the regular line was definitely not short.

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They opened the elite line at A/B/C on Sunday night to non-elites. The sign was still there showing which elite cards could be used, but they were yelling at people in the other 2 lines to go to the elite line.

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Frequent fliers may, due to program loyalty, be much more likely to choose connecting flights on airlines with which they have status over nonstops on those which they do not, whereas for Ma and Pa Kettle it is likely the opposite. Perhaps not a huge difference--maybe not an extra $5 per screening for frequent fliers--but still a difference nonetheless. There are also those who qualify on segments rather than miles and who may choose a connection even when a nonstop is available, which is almost never going to be the case for infrequent fliers.

And, I'd argue that comparing it on a per-screening basis does a disservice to the amount of revenue generated by frequent fliers on many levels.

The government should not be enforcing airline competition at the security checkpoint.

However, elites at airport XXX tend to be elites at the home airline: CO at EWR, CLE, IAH; US at PHL, PHX, etc. This has the effect of minimizing the number of connections for those travelers. Many frequent travelers are wise to the benefits of non-stop travel (speed, reliability), and may have a bigger preference for it. The number of elites that selectively chose non-stop flights is probably greater than the number that try to maximize EQMs on each trip.

I'd be interested in knowing what, if any, correlation, exists between elite status and average segments per trip. Without such data I would hesitate to claim or accept a correlation either way.

Nor should it provide an artificial competitive benefit to one carrier. Given the choice, I'd rather have the government actively encouraging/enforcing competition that have the government provide a competitive benefit to one carrier.

I'm at PDX right now and the sign is still posted at least (the one that shows each different airline allowed to use the elite security line, and the cards/membership levels required for each airline). As far as I remember, Southwest was not listed.

For UA, There was a 1P and two 1K cards shown next to the United logo. I assume one of the 1K cards is a GS card? They're overlapping so they just looked like two slightly different 1K cards on the sign.

There was no line at security so I didn't get to try just getting by without flashing an elite card as a test. Oddly, the ID checker 1) required me to remove my drivers' license from the transparent sleeve which almost never happens, and 2) highlighted and initialed stuff on my DM Card!

I thought 2P were allowed as well (and, god forbid, 3P).

Which c/p: A/B/C or D/E?


Check it: ID must be out of wallet -- new rule?

I believe DimSum's observation of the sign posted by D/E security is what I remember, only 1Ps and above at PDX. But, who knows what the ID checkers are actually *allowing*. essxjay, I'm not sure what the elite line situation is over on A/B/C, I rarely fly out of there these days

I was referring to the D-E gates. I plan on contacting the 2 people mentioned in earlier reply, thanks for all the input.

KarenSuePDX