The idea of looking for FF info is good, except one problem, when a flyer swicthes carriers for a flight.

I am currently BD-Gold, UA-1P and AF-Gold, DL-SM and I have flow approx 30,000 miles in the last month.....I am also formerly DL-Plat (having logged 320,000 miles in one year on DL 3 years ago), NW-Gold, US-Plat and I have often fly WN which issues no status......in a few days I should be flyer CX on JFK to HKG. I currently have no OW status. Does this this mean I should go to the "blue square" rather than the "black diamond" for the CX flight (I know this system is not in place at JFK so this is hypothetical) because I am not an 'expert' in the OW system?

So? Any FF card should do.

I wouldn't sweat it. The TSA aren't experts in security, anyway.

Besides, you're likely going to encounter people who have no idea about the lines, thus getting Ma Kettle into the "expert" lane just because it's the shortest.

I feel obligated to state the obvious: the best way to speed up the lines is to immediately eliminate the three most useless "security" measures: ID check (especially since TSA took over with the loupe and the blacklight and the endless checkmarks), the shoe carnival, and the liquid idiocy.

Game, set, match.

Unfortunately, this will not happen in my flying lifetime, but I can dream.

Instead of asking people whether they are experts, they should just ask a few questions like:

1. "Are you familiar with the 3/1/1 rule?" (if yes, go to question 2, if no or unsure, go to Kettle line)

2. "Does your carryon violate the 3/1/1 rule?" (if yes or unsure, go to Kettle line, if no, go to question 3)

3. "Are you prepared to remove your shoes in under 15 seconds?" (if yes, Black Diamond, if no or unsure, go to Kettle line)

Solution: Anyone who takes more than 12 seconds to get their shoes off, baggie out, laptop out, etc., gets tasered.

Assuming, of course, that anti-American suggestions like SJCFlyerLG's above don't get implemented. SJCFlyer, why do you hate America? And puppies, don't you like puppies? Aren't you concerned about their security?

Mike

Two instances of Theater of the Absurd happened to the pax right in front of me, so I got a front row view, and as I was "recomposuring" my stuff I noticed that the problem pax in front of me had no carry on bag. So lack of carry on does not mean the line moves faster as it does not help the WTMD Clueless.

Twenty year old punk rocker dude trips the MD, gets sent back to partial strip into a bin by the MD Gatekeeper "Uh, that 16 ounce deaths head belt buckle might be the problem", BEEP, "Uh, that spiked dog collar might be the problem, try taking it off", BEEP, "Uh, those 200 studs on your pants might be metal, step over here to the Handwandland Penalty Box."

Very well dressed middle aged matron (think Martha Stewart type)(you figure she must have flown before, but was still clueless, go figure) BEEP, "Uh, those two armloads of dangly bracelets are fashionable, but try taking them off", BEEP, "Uh, that big Guuci belt buckle is pretty, try taking it off", BEEP, "Step over this way. . ."

Both times three to five shoeless FF pax coud have shuffled thru the WTMD in the time one clueless Kettle did a slow motion strip and repeatedly went back and got another bin to send one item thru the xray.

It's probably SSI, but perhaps one of the Newly Badged Blue Shirts ;) that hang here can tell us "How many WTMD tries and partial strips into another xray bin is a pax allowed before being sent to the SSSS Place?"

It's more work to wand more pax, but I think One Beep and You're Out would move the line faster overall, provided you have separate hand wanders and the MD person can stay there and move the line through.

I can stand 12 inches from someone, look them in the eye, and address them specifically, ask them if they have any liquids in their bags and receive a convincing "No" and they still have a bottle of water in their bag. Then they stammer the usual "But, but... I thought it's ok if it's sealed/ pepsi isn't a liquid, it's a soda/ cheez whiz is food ...."
Yes, the 3-1-1 policy is too complicated. No, it doesn't make us safer. It is what it is. And yes, doing away with it would speed up the lines significantly.


This idea I like! Lets also revoke their airport pass until they take (and pass) a course in airport security/etiquette.

Two tries is what ya get. Sometimes more, depending on the TSO at the WTMD, and how long it takes someone to figure out that their cell phone isn't all plastic. I had a boy scout (yes, you can never trust a boy scout), who was travelling with his troop, and he kept alarming the WTMD. After finally sending him to be wanded, it turned out he had condoms in his pocket and didn't want to pull them out in front of everybody.

Curses, you found me out! Now I will have to wear a flag lapel pin to disguise myself as I smuggle puppies on board for ritual sacrifice by drowning them in 3.5 ounces of water.

I've been there as well.

Lady in front of me is well dressed, only has a small purse, but wearing lots and lots of "bling" .. how much jewelry does one need?

She starts taking some of it off then goes through the WTMD, "beep" .. as she returns for her next try, she turns to me and asks "should I take these bracelets off?" ... I had my coffee that morning and wasn't in a hurry, so I politely pointed to a half dozen things and tried to help her. She still beeped (no surprise to me) and was then sent into the box.

Another annoyance is the kettles with the giant belt buckles. They walk thru .. beep .. then remove something from their pocket thinking that's it ... through again, beep. Screener: "How about that belt buckle"? "Oh, forgot 'bout the buckle" Passenger takes of this belt with a buckle the size of Texas and low and behold, makes it through the WTMD.

And some other passengers, it's like they lose all common sense as soon as they get to the checkpoint and they're off in another world.

The largest hold up I'm seeing at some airports is the ID inspection station. Having an "black diamond, blue, and green lane" makes no bloody difference when there is no line at any of the 3+ checkpoint lanes while two TSO's are open for ID/BP checks and the ID/BP checks are taking their sweet time as the security queue runs back to the ticket counters and out the door.

The best thing the TSA can do is eliminate the ID checks. ID does not = security. Eliminate the shoe carnival .. I fly just safely overseas without having to go through the shoe carnival. Last, get rid of the liquid ban. It's time we take a risk-management approach and only screen ones shoes if there is reason to; allow liquids and only look into someones liquids if there is reason to.

We're not any safer than we were ... in fact it is probably less safe with large queues of people at the checkpoint waiting there as potential targets if one wanted to do harm. Anyone remember the Rome and Vienna Airport Attacks back in 1985?

Sadly, it seems the TSA only has a short memory and is being overly reactive to one event (Richard Reid) and one "plot" that was uncovered...

TSA logic #1 We must do something, xxx is something, therefore we must do xxx.

TSA logic #2 If we do more we get more funds, yyy is more, therefore we must do yyy.

Do away with these silly color coded lanes. Do away with Clear. Just have an express lane and a regular lane. To get in the express lane you need a premium ticket, or a non-expired FF card, or an "express card" you can buy for $49/year from TSA. No need for fancy smart cards, iris scans, or background checks. Just a pay to cut in line card. When you get your card it comes with an easy to understand guide on how to not be an idiot at the checkpoint.

Sorry, that idea scares the @*#$&! out of me.

Mike

Why "non-expired"? Anything that was valid in the liquid era should be good enough.

But I would pit my nearly 3 year-old against any Kettle.


A TSO being snarky? Get outta here...but in this instance you know it was inevitable. Thinks about it. TSOs have been getting flak from frequent fliers and business travelers since Day 1 (nobody from FT of course ;)). And now that the lanes are "recognizing" the expert fliers, the TSOs can now take them to task for any procedural violation.


I hear Paul McCartney needs a companion...


When I hear "wheelchair" and "aiport" I've only ever thought about the folks being pushed around by the airport attendants. I've seen plenty of folks who wheel themselves around. Assuming you do as well, I'd say "expert" although does your chair fit through the WTMD? I've seen some portals that are awfully narrow. The only time I've personally delt with a wheelchair was when relocating my FIL. We had one of the airport attendants and they both bypassed the WTMD altogether. The TSOs wanded the attendant and did a pat down on my FIL. I'm assuming that's where the "extra assistance" comes into play.


DW is driving cross country and bringing good friend back home with her. The friend is flying back to DE next week and she is a total Kettle. Let's see, the last time she came to visit they confiscated her 4 lighters--2 on her person, 1 in her purse and the backup in her rollaboard. She hadn't heard about the lighter ban. By the time she arrived she was having a major nic fit!

DW noticed that she has 2 big bottles of shampoo and conditioner at the hotel. When told that she wouldn't be able to take those on the plane, our friend was shocked because she NEVER heard of 3-1-1, the Baggie Affair, the liqiud explosives issue...none of the "security" issues of the past year!


I guess some would say thems the breaks for not choosing a program with elite levels (the old, less riff-raff in my lane argument). You don't even need to make the NYC-SYD run...just get the Visa Signatue or other premium credit card and get the lowest elite level.


At least he was prepared!! :D


TSA Prime Corollary: If Axiom 1 and Axiom 2 are mutually exclusive or conflictive in any way, explain away the situation by stating it is an intentional inconsistency implemented as a security measure and the details are SSI.