Comments on: Do airlines’ most frequent flyers deserve shorter security lines? http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/ Living the first class life -- at coach prices Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:55:54 -0700 hourly 1 By: Clear / Verified Identity Pass shuts down | Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-28394 Clear / Verified Identity Pass shuts down | Upgrade: Travel Better Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:14:35 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-28394 [...] - Do airlines’ most frequent flyers deserve shorter security lines? - Your shoes remain a threat to security - Would you pay a fee to reserve a time to pass through [...] [...] – Do airlines’ most frequent flyers deserve shorter security lines? – Your shoes remain a threat to security – Would you pay a fee to reserve a time to pass through [...]

]]> By: One Mile at a Time » Stop the elitism! http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-28196 One Mile at a Time » Stop the elitism! Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:52:21 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-28196 [...] whole “elitist” argument isn’t a new one, of course. Check out this post from 2006 by Upgrade: Travel Better, which does a good job of tackling the main issue. var [...] [...] whole “elitist” argument isn’t a new one, of course. Check out this post from 2006 by Upgrade: Travel Better, which does a good job of tackling the main issue. var [...]

]]> By: patrick http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-18956 patrick Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:18:37 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-18956 I think Elle started to say it above, but one point often missed in this discussion is that frequent fliers are familiar with airport security procedures and move through the lines far more quickly. By giving them an express lane, it's a bit like rewarding the people who have learned to remove their belt buckles and that their carry-ons don't need to be placed in a grey bin. It allows a certain group to be processed more quickly, since the guards don't need to remind them to pull their liquids out. I think Elle started to say it above, but one point often missed in this discussion is that frequent fliers are familiar with airport security procedures and move through the lines far more quickly. By giving them an express lane, it’s a bit like rewarding the people who have learned to remove their belt buckles and that their carry-ons don’t need to be placed in a grey bin. It allows a certain group to be processed more quickly, since the guards don’t need to remind them to pull their liquids out.

]]> By: Thanksgiving travel tips » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-17954 Thanksgiving travel tips » Upgrade: Travel Better Tue, 20 Nov 2007 02:11:35 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-17954 [...] If you have elite status, and your airport has an elite-access line for security, this is the time to use it. Even if you’re traveling on a different airline [...] [...] If you have elite status, and your airport has an elite-access line for security, this is the time to use it. Even if you’re traveling on a different airline [...]

]]> By: askmrlee http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-16592 askmrlee Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:39:52 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-16592 San Jose has Clear, but only one elite line in Terminal A for American Airlines elites/First class. All of the other check points are elite-less, so Clear makes sense. The way SJC's system works is that once you clear Clear, there is an escort to take you to the front of the general screening queue. San Jose has Clear, but only one elite line in Terminal A for American Airlines elites/First class. All of the other check points are elite-less, so Clear makes sense. The way SJC’s system works is that once you clear Clear, there is an escort to take you to the front of the general screening queue.

]]> By: Would you pay a fee to reserve a time to pass through airport security? » Upgrade: Travel Better http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-16542 Would you pay a fee to reserve a time to pass through airport security? » Upgrade: Travel Better Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:44:08 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-16542 [...] airlines and airports control the lines, which is how elite-security lines are justified. (Rightly, in my view.) That would be changing, with this [...] [...] airlines and airports control the lines, which is how elite-security lines are justified. (Rightly, in my view.) That would be changing, with this [...]

]]> By: Elle http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-16060 Elle Sun, 26 Aug 2007 05:40:52 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-16060 Jamie, I take it you are not of an elite status and thus not eligible to us the elite line. Travel 50k-100k miles a year, in and out of security check points, and we'll see whether you stand by your statements. ------- Something not mentioned in the above article that's worth noting is frequent fliers are aware of the security policies (ie, no shoes, Jamie,
I take it you are not of an elite status and thus not eligible to us the elite line.
Travel 50k-100k miles a year, in and out of security check points, and we’ll see whether you stand by your statements.

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Something not mentioned in the above article that’s worth noting is frequent fliers are aware of the security policies (ie, no shoes,

]]> By: Jamie http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-15661 Jamie Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:30:20 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-15661 I am not clear on the distinction between the airlines being responsible for the passenger during the time they are in line, and the government taking control of the passenger when the passenger reaches the security personnel. In what way is the airline responsible for making sure that you arrive at your gate? In fact, don't they specifically absolve themselves of that responsibility? The airline makes you personally responsible for being to your gate on time. Individuals are responsible for themselves - not the airline. Therefore, your argument that the airline is extending a service to its passengers does not quite fit. Regardless of how many miles you travel, and regardless of my personal feelings toward the TSA, it is really unethical to create these types of lines. Your convenience directly causes the inconvenience of someone else. At the check in window, that's capitalism, but the security checkpoint is not the free market. I am not clear on the distinction between the airlines being responsible for the passenger during the time they are in line, and the government taking control of the passenger when the passenger reaches the security personnel.

In what way is the airline responsible for making sure that you arrive at your gate? In fact, don’t they specifically absolve themselves of that responsibility?

The airline makes you personally responsible for being to your gate on time. Individuals are responsible for themselves – not the airline. Therefore, your argument that the airline is extending a service to its passengers does not quite fit.

Regardless of how many miles you travel, and regardless of my personal feelings toward the TSA, it is really unethical to create these types of lines. Your convenience directly causes the inconvenience of someone else. At the check in window, that’s capitalism, but the security checkpoint is not the free market.

]]> By: Upgrade: Travel Better » Blog Archive » Magic carpet? United adds separate elite boarding area at gates http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-863 Upgrade: Travel Better » Blog Archive » Magic carpet? United adds separate elite boarding area at gates Tue, 30 Jan 2007 15:02:55 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-863 [...] I like this idea, though it is bound to rub some people the wrong way for its velvet rope elitism. As I’ve argued before, ultra-frequent flyers who spend so much of their life traveling deserve to move through airports faster. If this gets them on the plane faster, then so be it. [...] [...] I like this idea, though it is bound to rub some people the wrong way for its velvet rope elitism. As I’ve argued before, ultra-frequent flyers who spend so much of their life traveling deserve to move through airports faster. If this gets them on the plane faster, then so be it. [...]

]]> By: metaStable http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-174 metaStable Fri, 29 Sep 2006 18:22:00 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-174 I'm all for the express lanes for the elite travelers... not as much for me, but for people like my father who are on the road for months out of the year... the thought of 'dad' having to stand in more lines is sort of derpressing. I’m all for the express lanes for the elite travelers… not as much for me, but for people like my father who are on the road for months out of the year… the thought of ‘dad’ having to stand in more lines is sort of derpressing.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2006/09/01/do-airlines-most-frequent-flyers-deserve-shorter-security-lines/#comment-173 Anonymous Fri, 01 Sep 2006 17:51:00 +0000 http://upgradetravelbetter.com/?p=301#comment-173 I cannot believe (well, I can, actually :-)) that journalists writing those articles are so dumb and misinformed as to not know the basics highlighted in this blog post. I hope they would have SSSS on their boarding passes next time they fly and then sit between two really-really-really fat people on a transpacific flight :-) I cannot believe (well, I can, actually :-) ) that journalists writing those articles are so dumb and misinformed as to not know the basics highlighted in this blog post. I hope they would have SSSS on their boarding passes next time they fly and then sit between two really-really-really fat people on a transpacific flight :-)

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