Two Tiered Airport Security Is Wrong

Brad and I arrived at O'Hare this afternoon, on our way back to NYC, to find a huge security check line.

As we waited patiently in the line, an American Airlines employee came by and asked if we were flying first class or belonged to American's top rung of their frequent flyer program (I can't recall what they call it).  We said no.  But a few people said yes and they were escorted to a special security check line with no wait.

I have no issue with American Airline's desire to serve their best customers with premium service.

But airport security is a federally mandated effort. The public is making a sacrifice of our convenience for collective safety.

And I find the idea that a public utility like airport security can be tiered in some economic way really upsetting.

It's as if there were a first class section on the NY subway system.

I think it's wrong.

Comments

[nick]

American Airlines is paying a large fee to fund an additional, incremental, service for their customers.

Your tax return is a federally mandated filing. You can afford a top class accountant to do most of the work and maximize your financial position, many Americans cannot. What's the difference?

Applying for US citizenship or a Green Card is a federally mandated immigration process. Corporate applicants hire top class immigration lawyers to manage the process on behalf of senior employees. What's the difference?

[Zoli Erdos]

Well, you could argue that security is part of the check-in process no matter whether executed by Federal Employees, TSA, or airline employees.

We all make a decision whether to pay for more comfort, faster service ..etc, so in that sense I can accept that if someone pays twice as much as I do, they don't have to stand in line. Just like the soon to be introduced Fastrack security at San Jose airport, for $80 a year...

[james haft]

You get what you pay for. You want to go through the line faster, buy a first class ticket or be a frequent flier.

You want to go through even faster? Buy a jet... ;-)

[charlie crystle]

long security lines are just wrong in general. we'd increase productivity of business travelers/the economy if the lines were short in general--more staff, more terminals, smaller lines, more time to work on the next big thing.

[mark s]

i think what fred is saying is a very fair comment. for those of us that travel for a living (and from monday to friday i am most certainly one) and use this country's airways, i have experienced similar. Sure i can use miles, points, money, etc to try and make the experience a little better, but when national resources are used for this purpose, its not fair to anyone - whether a venture capitalist or not. I think that was his point.

[scott partee]

I travel a fair amount and have figured out the method to get in front of the line every time w/o paying for any sort of membership or elite class ticket. It's called pushing a baby in a stroller, and it works every time.

[Hank Williams]

Wow, that sucks.

I dont mind the new fasttrack concept as the payment there is for some form of pre-screening, which, for a nominal fee anyone can do. First class is, as its name implies, something that separates people into class as defined by wealth. This smacks of avoiding cavity searches because you are rich.

That sucks.

[Johnny Debacle]

This is silly.
Going through the premium line doesn't mean you are avoiding security, you just get to go through sooner.

Frequent flyers -- as opposed to first class passengers who may still be leisure travelers -- are likely to place the highest value on flying and are likely to be creating the most economic value (overall as well as to themselves) through their travel. It makes sense to limit their friction costs.

I would also venture that frequent flyers are lower security risks and that the TSA has more information on them with which to assess a threat level.

[Rick]

Screw security - which Chicago company were you meeting? FB or 37?

[Carlos Saldivia]

It is wrong..It's the arrogance of supply, like motor vehicles agencies for most states--the system is broken and it can't get up..The airlines should have taken more of a torching than they did for their pronounced negligence on 9/11, and the federal govt, keeps bailing them out--I say let them die the death they deserve and let the market find it's way..Stop the protectionism, and let's see if there's room for others at the table like JetBlue and Southwest Airlines..

[Michael Weiksner]

You are so right. What can we do about it?