Orlando Airport new security lanes

[Luhts]

From the latest allears newsletter: "Orlando International Airport now features "Self-Select Lanes" at the security checkpoints that provide passengers with the opportunity to choose for themselves the lanes they believe are best suited for their experience level, while maintaining the same level of security for everyone. The various lanes are "Families & Special Assistance," "Casual Traveler," and "Expert Traveler."

What does everyone think of this? What about one for "Expert Family Travelers"? My family pretty much has this procedure down-pat and I am leary abt being placed in a line behind ppl needing assistance while other travellers who arrived after us are 'sailing thru' at another line.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

They just started these lanes in Columbus as well. I haven't been through them yet, but will in a few weeks.

You can select any of the 3 lanes you want. I'm debating about going through the "casual traveler" line rather than the "family" line because I'm familiar with the procedures and don't want to get stuck behind people who have no idea what they are doing (e.g. the lady with a carryon full of small bottles of liquids that is arguing endlessly with the TSA agent that they are just toilettries and she doesn't know why they are a problem. Yep, that's who I was behind the last time I flew.) But I suppose I could get stuck behind clueless people there as well. DD does slow me down a little so I definitely won't go through the "expert" line with DD even though that's what I'd choose when traveling by myself.

Choose whichever line you think fits you. You don't have to go through the family line just because you are traveling with your family. But if you choose the expert line, be prepared for nasty looks from business travelers who will swear you are slowing them down even if you are moving as fast as they are.

 

[thegrimdwarf]

I think you'll be out of luck no matter which line you choose, lol. In my experience, the bigger the idiot, the more likely s/he considers him or herself smarter than the average bear. Your best bet would be to find a line that says "Morons" and go to that one.

 

[tripplanner]

I went through them recently. I chose the casual traveler line. There were many families that chose that line as well. It really didn't seem to matter which line you pick. They were all very long and all seemed to move at the same pace. None of the lines were "sailing thru". Not even the expert traveler line.

 

[Luhts]

Your best bet would be to find a line that says "Morons" and go to that one.

I guess I just kinda disagree with the idea. It should still be "first-come-first-serve", kwim?

 

[imthatgirl]

so if you are free to choose any lane you wish, really nothing has changed, tight

 

[everylastbreath]

I would not choose the "expert traveler" line unless you had minimal carry on's - this line is really for the business traveler who is just maybe carrying a laptop bag, because the xray screening still takes time, and if you have multiple carryons along with strollers, pocketbooks etc.. it really slows that line down, true "expert travelers" carry very little and move very quickly.

 

[crisi]

I think its a great idea. And if your family is expert travellers, go to the expert lane - you'll be just as fast as the expert traveller who has to get his laptop out of his bag.

I wouldn't go through the expert travellers lane with SMALL kids. My suspicion though is that Orlando sees enough families go through that there will be a lot of family lanes and it won't be that much slower. You just won't have business people flying home from a conference rolling their eyes about you not knowing you need to put the stroller through the x-ray machine. And, if they are smart, they'll train the TSA staff working those lines to work with little kids "Teddy is going on a ride, just like you went on at Disney!" As someone who has come through Orlando several times on business - as well with kids from aged two to my youngest is now nine - there really is a difference in what it takes to get through the line. Plus the instructional videos can be targeted - expert travellers usually don't need to be informed that their stroller needs to go through the xray machine and their two year old needs to have their shoes off. They can get a shorter video with changes and a reminder that they need to take their laptop out of the bag.

 

[peemagg]

FYI

The TSA has now made it so you don't need to remove your laptop from your bag anymore.

 

[thegrimdwarf]

I guess I just kinda disagree with the idea. It should still be "first-come-first-serve", kwim?

Honestly, unless I'm missing something, it still is first-come-first-serve. If it's up to the general public to decide which line, you can be sure that people will be hopping in whichever one seems shorter or faster.

 

[crisi]

FYI

The TSA has now made it so you don't need to remove your laptop from your bag anymore.

Yeah!!!!

 

[Manda]

It wasn't executed well at MCO. MDW has the same thing and it worked better. We got in the family lane (even though we aren't novice travelers, but we were trying to follow the rules) and then the guy who monitors the line starting yelling at everyone to fill up the lines evenly and not pay attention to the signs. Then we go through the ID checker and walked through to the casual line and someone else told us we were in the wrong line and moved us back to the family line. Then, in the family line, they had this very cranky lady whose job was apparently to expedite the stuff going through the x-ray machine. So she just started taking everyone's bins and bags and dumping them and shoving them through even though we couldn't step through the detector yet. So we were all watching our purses, wallets, cell phones, etc. run through without us and pile up at the other end. And when people complained, she snapped at us. And she wouldn't let you wait to send your stuff through, she just took it from you and shoved it on through. Once we got to the other side, it was just this big log jam of everyone's belongings and spilled purses. We couldn't even find one of DS's shoes for several minutes because it was such a mess.

I did complain to a TSA manager about it, by the way, and he did at least act grateful for me discussing the issue with him and acted like he'd do something to correct it. I don't know if he did, but at least he put on a good face. My husband was afraid I'd get hauled into the back for a strip search if I complained about them, LOL.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

FYI

The TSA has now made it so you don't need to remove your laptop from your bag anymore.

My understanding of this is that the TSA worked with a few companies to develop laptop bags that could go through the screening without removing the laptop. If you have an old style bag, you still have to take your laptop out.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We just came home Sunday. Yes, MCO has the lines BUT it is so packed and chaotic that you do NOT get to choose which line you go through. The TSA agents just route you to whichever line is shortest at any given moment, so they are NOT following the signs consistently. One of our home airports has the signs, too. When DS12 and I flew to see my mom in May we were routed into the "families and special assistance" line behind the wheelchairs, strollers, etc. DS has flown enough that he can clear security faster than many adults.

When I flew by myself in June they didn't have all of the lines operating so ALL of us (me, business travelers, everyone else) got stuck behind the people who didn't know what they were doing. It took forever.

Those lines only work when people can actually choose which line they want. With the crowds at MCO that won't happen except at odd times, and at odd times they may not have each type of line operating, which is what I found at Love Field.

It sounds good in theory, it's a mess in practice.

 

[swald91]

I think you'll be out of luck no matter which line you choose, lol. In my experience, the bigger the idiot, the more likely s/he considers him or herself smarter than the average bear. Your best bet would be to find a line that says "Morons" and go to that one.

hahahahahahhaahahahahahhahahahaaha I love it!!!! I think they were probably doing this to speed things up, but honestly they just want the lines to keep moving-fill them up, etc. It is frustrating having to deal with people that are moving at a slower pace but if they think this will work they need to try it somewhere & why not closest to the happiest place on earth!

 

[gazzag]

Just grab a fastpass and go and get a coffee. Wouldn't that be nice!!