I am hoping someone might have some insight re the changes at PDX regarding the security line for elite and first class passengers. TSA people no longer check to see if a person is eligible to use this lane. This of change was made at the request of the airlines. While technically the lane is still
for first class and status flyers, the tsa's announce that the lane is only for first class, and "frequent flyers". The elite lane is now pretty much the same as the other lanes. Really annoying! TSA's said to write to the airlines, but I
am wondering what reasons the airlines would have for making such a change? Anyone have any insight into this?

I noticed the same at SFO last week. The elite/F security line was treated just like a normal line. In fact, there were announcements at the regular line that the "other side" (normally for elite/F) was open to use.

I wonder if this is some kind of scam to encourage people to pay for Clear.

I hadn't thought of that...Makes a lot of sense, anyone have any info about
Clear?

PDX was always unusual, because they allowed anyone with a Southwest Rapid Rewards card use the elite line.

Moving this discussion to Travel Safety/Security.

iluv2fly
Moderator, UA

Eh, seriously? Because the only UA elite cards technically allowed to use the elite line are 1P/1K/UGS

Not surprising. I've noticed other stations with TSA ID checkers doing nothing to enforce the line. There's usually a sign, but a lot of pax ignore it.

I overheard one guy trying to justify to his protesting companion why they were entitled to use the premium line. "Well, I'm sure I'm premium, anyway." (I could see a big ZONE 4 on his UA BP, too.) And I've seen others "rationalize" the line poaching with such stuff as, "I was an elite two years ago," etc. And the ID checkers just let them walk on by with nary a comment...

MIA was the last place I can recall the ID checker actually caring, and she wasn't TSA. LAX was OK last few times I was there, too, but it's been a while since I flew out of LAX and not another area airport.

I agree it's really annoying, but it's the "right" thing to do. It's not the government's job to enforce the lines (everyone pays the same security fee, regardless of airline status). The whole thing with airline employees/contractors checking IDs was to establish the fiction of the TSA not being in control of the lines, thereby allowing the elite lines to continue.

Of course getting rid of the elite lines is really a scam to push "Clear"; it has nothing to do with doing the right thing. Let's hope that fails. Maybe if everyone is in the same boat, including senators, congressmen, airline executives, etc., there will be more pressure to shorten the lines for everybody.

On the other hand, I shouldn't be so idealistic. Everyone will have to pay for Clear and the lines for Clear will be the same as lines now. People w/o Clear will be really badly off, just like people without EZ-pass in the Northeast US.

The only rationalization required is the fact that all passengers pay the same security fee, regardless of airline status. The government should not be in the business of helping the airlines improve their loyalty programs (unless the airlines pay the TSA an extra fee for each person in the elite line).

n.b.: I'm "elite" and use the lines, so I'm arguing against my own interests, as well as a hypocrite for using elite lines.

Thanks for the heads up KarensuePDX. I haven't flown in a few weeks and am very dismayed to hear this -- I count on the elite line to get me from my door to the plane in less than 30 minutes including my 20 minute taxi the airport.

How do you feel about the government's encouragement of private enterprise charging $100/year for the privilege of skipping the line?

But all passengers don't pay the same fees. I pay more if I connect, even though I don't use security at the connecting point. And I may pay airport-specific fees that are unrelated to security, but again pay them unevenly based on whether or not I connect. And frequent fliers pay a lot more in those same fees overall, too, simply due to the # of tickets they purchase.

That argument also presupposes that the security fees paid in ticketing are what pays for the checkpoint (and the lines), which isn't necessarily the case.

And at airports where the lines are managed by the airport & airlines (which is still the vast majority of them, even those with TSA ID checkers), the argument can be made that those lines--run within space owned by and by people paid for by the airlines themselves--ought to be under airport/airline control to do with as they wish.

So no, the argument that one pays fees isn't the only rationalization required. @:-)

(But let's do try to keep this from turning into yet another elite vs. non-elite thread, like so many on the lines tend to degenerate into.)

All fliers, on average, pay the same fee per screening suffered. I seriously doubt that frequent fliers make more connections than infrequent fliers (mileage runners aren't that common).

There'd be nothing wrong with giving frequent fliers (any airline) elite treatment based on segments per year. Of course doing that might be tricky.

The government should not reward moderately frequent fliers (25k-50k miles/year) for picking flights based on airline loyalty instead of price. Elite treatment at security lines discourages competition for this market (I speak from experience).

Folks, if you want to protect these lines, you need to take action.

The lines are owned by the airport and the airline whose Elite/FC members are permitted to use it. The TSA has no vested interest in maintaining Elite lines, nor could they care less who stands in them.

You need to contact two entities: the Airport Director at PDX and the station manager for your airline.

Mary Maxwell is the Director, and she can be reached via 503.460.4040. If you're a frequent flyer with a concern about the line, the next time you check in with your airline, ask to speak with a supervisor, then ask the supervisor for the Station Manager's contact information, or to speak with the SM directly if they are available.

If you don't act to protect these lines, you will lose them!

Well, if it worked... I'm not sure. In principle the fee part is okay with me, but I don't like that a background check is involved. Regardless, the question is moot. Clear is a bad joke.

I would feel good about a 10% refund to the airline for non-elite security fees and a 30% surcharge in security fees (charged to the airline) for every boarding pass marked "elite", keeping the security fee charged on the purchased ticket identical. i.e. give the airline a small refund for every non-elite BP and charge the airline a small extra fee for every elite. Initial percentages could be set to make the overall effect cost-neutral.

The airlines could then allocate elite screening as they felt fit. Giving nobody elite screening could allow an airline to charge lower airfares. Airlines could charge non-elites a fee for the privilege. Etc. etc.

The numbers are made up, they'd obviously depend on the ratio of elites to non-elites. In the end the difference would be less than a dollar per passenger either way.