TSA tries airport security lanes for families

[sabra]

Source: USA Today

DENVER — The Transportation Security Administration is experimenting with checkpoint lanes designed for families to ease the pressure on parents struggling through an airport with young children.

In one of the first efforts to ease airport security for infrequent travelers, "family" lanes are being tested at the Denver and Salt Lake City airports alongside "expert" lanes for travelers who know every nuance of security screening and lanes for "casual" travelers.

Screening is the same in each lane, and the program is voluntary. Segregated lanes could open around the country if the tests show the concept speeds up security lines.

"The principle is a good one, and I think it will be very effective in airports that want to roll it out," said Earl Morris, TSA's security chief in Salt Lake City.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-03-02-familylanes_N.htm

[ixion]

1. how about this: disband the TSA all-together

they do nothing but harass free citizens and make traveling by plane a living nightmare.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Amen! n/t

[electron_blue]

4. I heartily agree!

[LibDemAlways]

10. Nothing would make me happier. They have the sheep

terrified and complaint to the point that they conduct bra feel ups in public and no one says anything.

They make no one safer and their "job" is nothing more than harrassment and intimidation.

[high density]

12. Sounds like a great idea

Imagine all the money and time saved.

[Alcibiades]

3. It is at least a start

The TSA still has my toothpaste and corkscrew, because, as we all know, toothpaste and corkscrews were responsible for 9-11.

The whole response to 9-11 has made no damn sense at all. A handful of Saudi terrorists make it onto airplanes and so now we have to check everyone, including people traveling with small children, because we all know what a hazard to civil aviation small children pose. Let's not forget the proven track record of Wahabbi terrorists at posing as American citizens traveling with small children. Oh, they never have? They why check them at all? Indeed, why check anyone but Saudis?

[MaryCeleste]

5. Right now many airports have premium lines

Those are used by frequent fliers, and are much faster than the regular ones. Basically it separates the experienced traveler from the amateur, though both get the same examination. The frequent flier knows to take their shoes off, not to carry a water bottle etc, and gets through quickly while carrying a lot of stuff. The amatuer takes 4 passes to figure out that the cell phone, change, wallet, watch, and belt really have to go through the scanner and not the walk through. I really do think it has saved lives...those of the amateurs from the frequent fliers.

[14thColony]

6. My issue

is that this is great for the frequent fliers who frequently fly from the same airport, but I've found so much variation between airports in terms of procedures that showing up at a new one makes you a de facto amateur. Is this a shoes-on or shoes-off airport? Not all are. Is this a belt-on or belt-off airport? They're not all the same. Is this a "laptop goes in the plastic tray outside the carrying case" airport or is this a "laptop goes in the plastic tray by itself" airport? The only solution I see is flying naked with no carry-on allowed. I jest, but I'm sure someone at TSA is about to announce a new pilot program...

[DCKit]

7. How's that going to help all those 3 year olds on the "No-Fly" list?

Why does the TSA hate America?

[Beam Me Up]

8. I have not flown since 9/11 and won't ever again until they stop this

BULL SHIT CRAP of harassing citizens.

[LibDemAlways]

9. Perhaps next they'll come up with the elderly

alzheimers patients in wheelchair line, so they can more quickly and efficiently terrify them as they yank their orthopedic shoes off and hoist them up for a wanding.

Ever since I witnessed such an atrocity at Sea Tac I've had nothing but contempt for the TSA goons. Give an underpaid flunky too much power. Stand back and watch the abuse.

Bastards.

[Delphinus]

11. That's what I was thinking, too.

I wish I could be like someone up thread who hasn't flown since 9-11 and won't until this shit's disbanded. ;(

[LibDemAlways]

13. They are drunk with power and stupid beyond belief.

Anyone who can't see that a frail 90 year old woman who weighs 80 pounds, has a blank expression on her face, and is hunched over in a wheelchair is no threat to anybody is about as big a moron as exists on the planet.

[LeftHander]

14. I saw this coming...

Frequent business travelers walk past a crowd of vacationing families, guards and dogs as they are searched. Paying a premium gets the traveler through the line.

They will "qualify" for a special license to bypass screening.