Fastpass for Airport Security

[ep4244]

Just saw this story

From USA Today
---TSA CONSIDERS RESERVATIONS FOR AIRPORT SECURITY---
Like golfers who reserve tee times and diners who reserve restaurant slots, (Disers who use fastpass) airline passengers may be able to reserve the time they go through airport security. The Transportation Security Administration is exploring whether it can guarantee a short wait at checkpoints with a reservation system aimed at enticing travelers to go through security at off-peak times.

Fastpass for airport security.

 

[seashoreCM]

But if the come back time for your MCO fast pass is way before the time your plane departs, it's kinda' useless.

Or if your Magical Express bus is delayed a tad and your MCO fastpass expires ... (Go search the Theme Parks board for the flaming threads on the subject of fastpass expiration.)

How much will it cost? More flaming theads on the subject of Disney's patents on fastpass refinements and possible cost are on the Theme Parks board.

And at least one of the (non-DIS) articles on this recent subject of airport security appointments mentioned the hassle of another step to add to your travel plans, a step that would also need changing if your airline changed your flight behind your back. Aren't there some threads on the Restaurants board about the hassle of having to decide when and where to dine and make ADR's (restaurant reservations) for way in advance?

Now if the act of reserving and using Magical Express automatically generated the appointments for airport security, no kiosks or slips of paper needed, that would be wonderful.

One thing is different about airport security compared from Disney (and Universal Studios) rides and restaurants. Airport security capacity can be expanded, and it should be expanded to meet the demand.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/fastpass.htm

 

[safetymom]

I have the Clear card which is better than a fast pass at the airport. www.flyclear.com

I doubt business people will go for it. If their meeting ends sooner and now they have to wait in a line?

 

[bavaria]

I agree with Safetymom (surprised?). Plus many of the busier airports (MCO is an exception) have security lines for elite members, as we are usually quicker as we have more experience with the process.

I haven't actually encountered a long line recently at any of the airports through which I have travelled, with the exception of MCO - and that was only about 15 minutes on a Monday around noon.

 

[bab31]

not to get flamed...

I understand if you fly alot how important elite is to elite members. It took us forever to get thru security at SFO -a short line that continually grew in front of me and NOT behind me- I was beginning to worry that I would not make my flight.

Sure can make flying difficult for the vacationer . I know airlines are catering to the business person because that is who flys more.

 

[ducklite]

not to get flamed...

I understand if you fly alot how important elite is to elite members. It took us forever to get thru security at SFO -a short line that continually grew in front of me and NOT behind me- I was beginning to worry that I would not make my flight.

Sure can make flying difficult for the vacationer . I know airlines are catering to the business person because that is who flys more.

At Orlando the CLEAR card line is technically seperate from regular lines. They will open the CLEAR station to non-CLEAR passengers during off-times, but it's the CLEAR fees that have paid for the line to be open--ie annual fees to the TSA to add staffing and help defray the cost of equipment.

So when you're at Orlando or any other airport and see CLEAR passengers get put in front of you, it's because they paid for the privelege, and that money has been used to keep more stations open to begin with--in other words allowing three people to get through ahead of you has allowed you to overall get through security much faster because an extra line has been opened. And like Bavaria said, those who go through the trouble and expense to get a CLEAR card (or one of the other Trusted Traveler programs) are experienced travelers who have the process down and are very speedy getting through the lines.

Anne

 

[bavaria]

And I hope that this is not considered flaming, but a sharing of thoughts.

At most American airports I have encountered (and I have been to almost every state now) the elite line is seperate from the other lines.

At my home airport, the elite line, crew line, and the FAMILY line are combined. Please imagine how ugly that can get as families who are not used to travelling get mixed with the most regular travellers (the security agents know me by name, as do many of the shop employees and currency exchange people at my airport).

While I may not be one of the elites visibly huffing and puffing, I DO understand how frustrating it is to have paid for a program which allows us to pass through more quickly, only to be delayed by inexperienced families. This in turn upsets the families, and they become more flustered and take even more time. Some mornings it gets very ugly as the Hawaii and Disneyland passengers mix with the business travellers.

 

[bab31]

When I flew out of SFO, the guy at the entrance to security took your ticket looked at it and sent you either in the snake roped off line or the short cut right to the front. It took us forever because he kept putting people in front of us. I dont know if these people were elite with the airline in that wing- I dont think it was something they paid for- didnt look like that to me. I dont understand why he kept putting people to the front of the line- I thought it was for elite status. Actually I have never heard of paying to go thru security first until I read this thread

 

[safetymom]

In the US it probably wasn't something they paid for but they probably were elite members. Clear hasn't come to SFO yet.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Waiting for Clear to come to PHL.

Yeah, I know...

 

[Lewisc]

Very stupid idea. My choice is get to the airport 3 hours early, but have no line at security or get to the airport 2 hours early but have a 30 minute line at security. Passengers don't have an issue with the line as much as having to get to the airport early. TSA should have enough staffing, and lines, to cover the number of passengers expected.

Elite lines and clear sounds good but there isn't any excuse, excluding high alerts, for having much more then a 15-20 minute line for the rest of the passengers.