I usually go out of IAD or DCA but there was a fare I couldn't resist at BWI. How are the secuirty lines at BWI for Saturday mornings at about 9am? I understand that they were reshuffling stuff there recently so it was supposed to be messed up?

I fly out of BWI on occasion and the security lines are not that bad. I have always found the security screeners to be very proactive in asking people to remove shoes, belts, laptops from carrying cases, etc to keep people from holding up the line by the machines. Top notch security can not beat a large crowd though. Good luck.
(To vent, I have little patience for people who wait until they are the next one to pass through the machine to empty their pockets. I'm the type that stuffs everything into my briefcase well before I even reach the line. Common sense everyone!)

Even if the line looks insane - as in like it is wrapping around the concourse - they still process it very very quickly.

I've been in lines with a few hundred people, and cleared in less then fifteen minutes.

BWI Concourse D Security really has their stuff together. I wish they were manning the gates at every airport.

I flown out of BWI often at various times of the day (first flight out in the morning, early evening and middle of the day) and never did I have to wait at security longer than 10 minutes. I wish IAD security lines were like that!

I wish I could speak so glowingly of the security lines at BWI. While they have gotten better, they are not even close to DCA. IAD lines on a Saturday AM are comparable in my experience.
My biggest problem with the BWI crew is the way they handle the shoe policy. Unless they have some special intel, they are not allowed to force you to take off your shoes. I would say I have had to remove my shoes 75%+ of my trips out of BWI, and maybe 10% out of every other airport. These are standard tennis shoes, mind you, and never set off the metal detectors. I realize that they have a job to do, but I don't believe the constant shoe removal at BWI is just my luck of the draw to be traveling on those days when all shoes must come off. I will relay one more brief story, where a co-worker of mine was traveling with his girlfriend out of BWI, and was asked to remove his shoes by the woman on the other side of the metal detector. He declined, to which she replied they "would set off the metal detectors". He knew they wouldn't, so he walked through and she raised her arm into the machine and set off the detectors with her watch. He proceeded to argue with her, and his girlfriend just walked through without any type of hassle about the shoes, or even a glance at the detector. He proceeded to complain to the supervisor, but was basically told to get lost. I can understand a secondary search, but setting off the detector in an act of spite is just plain wrong.
The moral is avoid BWI.

I'm glad someone asked this question as I was wondering the same thing. It's been a while since I ventured out to BWI, but the last time I did it was a mess. Have they been calling people out of the security line for flights that are about to leave?

Also, how about lines at the UA ticket counter (non-elite)--particularly around noon on a Friday?

UA's check-in lines have been heavy the times I have been there (usually Sunday or Monday morning). But they do have EasyCheckin Machines which are usually empty.

SEA also has a "no shoes, yes service" policy, but then my shoes set off the detector so I have to take em off, anyway.

I have not noticed BWI security pulling people out of line for close flights because I have never experienced delays (in about a dozen trips) so long (more then 15 minutes) that needed people to be pulled if they arrived within the 45-60 min mandated time.

I fly out of BWI at least 2x month. Checking at at the self-serve takes no time, and the D gate is right behind you. About 6 months ago, the D gate was a mess, with lines to the intl' terminal. They did, however, pull people out of line if it was getting close to their flight times.

I have no clue about Saturday a.m. flights, but I agree w/all those who have said that it's getting better. My experience on Monday a.m. flights has been totally hassle free, but I do remove my shoes w/o being prodded.

The line at Starbucks in D in the a.m. is where you're really going to have to worry about lines!

They do pull people out of line if its getting close. I went through Friday at afternoon crunch time. It was busy. 20-30 min through it. Not the most efficent but way better than BOS!

PS - just take them off. its not worth the hassle