As I understand it, TSA handles the actual security screening, but the folks that match IDs to Boarding Passes and tell you what line to go to are Airline employees.

So what happens if you go to the short elite line, when the ID checker has told you to go to the long commoner line? Ultimately, would the aiport police show up and support the ID checker by arresting you if you refuse to go to the proper line? Or would the TSA folks get involved? Or, is the elite security line more of a common courtesty thing and if one of the "unwashed" wants to be an ... and use it, they *legally* can?

I think we all know who the airport police would support, which isn't to say that a court would convict you. (Actually, I suspect many courts would convict you, even if it's not the right answer. People are so freaked out about airport security that you probably could get thrown in jail for not abiding by the wishes of the pimply face teenager selling big macs at the airport McDonalds.)

Twice I have been late for flights at SEA, with the aircraft leaving in under 30 minutes, by the time I arrived at security. I was on domestic flights in economy, and had no status that would get me through fast.

I went to the elite line and politely explained my predicament. Both times, without even a word, the nice people let me through. First time I made my flight with time to spare. Second time, TSA picked me out for secondary screening.

In short... the elite line should stay that way. It is after all for the frequent fliers, the high revenue pax, and those who practically live in the air. But I see no harm in allowing people to use it if they are running late. Fair use of course.

A really great system here in Amsterdam Schiphol is Privium. It uses iris-scanning technology to allow one to bypass immigration, but there are also dedicated security lines as well (or the pax are whisked to the front of the normal for the unwashed masses). I've seen people get through in less than 2 minutes. I imagine if one does it right and prints a boarding pass at home and has no check-in luggage, one could get from train platform/curb to gate in five minutes. There's no way to beat the system either (unless you steal someone's eyes)... plus you get business class check-in privileges at many airlines and priority parking. Truly fantastic system...

The thing that make me go is the not-so-frequent-flyers who don't understand how quickly things can actually move in the "regular" line and how much time they actually have to catch their plane.

I generally take the same flights every week for months at a time. While I admit to enjoying small pleasures in life, the following scenerio gives me tremendous satisfaction:

I'm waiting patiently in line (any line; baggage check, security, etc.) for my flight that is leaving at 6:40. It is now 6:05. A person with too many bags and disheveled clothing rushes up to the line completely out of breath.

"Oh My! Can I cut in here? My flight is boarding!!! My.Flight.is.Boarding!!!!! Oh the humanity!"

So, being the friendly and relaxed traveller that I am, and knowing I have plenty of time to spare, allow this poor-planner ahead of me in line. They go through the line and rush off to their departing airplane. I continue my leisurely stroll through security an onto the gate where my boarding row is being called as I arrive. I board, stow my carryons and settle into my seat.

A few minutes later a passenger taps my shoulder; "Excuse me, I'm in the window there, can I sneak by?". Looking up, I see its my old, poor-planning friend from the security line. "Guess you made it in time, eh?" I say.