I'm only laughing because about half the time I get in United's 'priority' security line at O'Hare, it is longer and slower than the regular security lines - lots of business travelers with laptops that have to be taken out, etc. The way the lines are set up in T1, you really can't see them until you get to (or past) the person checking IDs.

Sylvia- Yes, you saw TSA screeners sending the first class, etc. passengers through a special line. However, as others have explained, TSA doesn't develop the rules of who gets to be in each line. TSA just carries out the plan made by the airport (and typically, the dominant carriers). The TSA agents usher people to lines and then screen them. TSA doesn't make the line policy, the airport does.

An analogy is when I drive to the Atlanta Braves stadium, Atlanta police officers are directing traffic. The police direct cars with gold level parking passes into a separate line for the gold parking lot next to the stadium. The police didn't create the gold parking lot or traffic lane for gold level parkers. The police merely carry out the plan as created by Turner Field/Braves. The police aren't giving special status to the gold level parkers because they have paid more for their season tickets. Turner Field is the entity giving those ticket holders better access just as the airports are rewarding thier frequent flyer/high paying customers.

Get it?

Bravo, padams421!!! Great example.

I don't give a rat's about procedure. It's wrong. Those WERE TSA, they WERE giving preferential treatment, INCLUDING a dedicated line through X-ray. TSA is a FEDERAL program, paid for with citizen taxpayer dollars, and I don't care how much you paid for your ticket or how much an airline pays for gates: MY money goes to pay for those personnel. p.s. I'm done with this thread, very disappointed in the kneejerk replies--I might say, also, that it was ALL FC passengers, not just the main revenue-generating occupant of a particular airport getting ushered by the peasants.

sylvia3, that's the second time you've declared yourself to be done with this thread and the "elitist drivel" contained therein.

After all the clear and logical explanations, it seems you're the one with the knee-jerk, name-calling reaction.

- from an impartial observer who doesn't like preferential treatment anymore than you do, but who understands Capitalism. These folks purchased this service. You can too.

YIKES!! I saw Sylvia last night at the grocery store!! She was the contankerous old cout who had 13 items in the Express Lane(limited to 10 pleeze!!)....

I am one of the "peasant" Non-FC passengers who has NO problem with special lines. padams example is exactly how I see it too. There are plenty of things that concern me greatly when I travel; special lines not being one of them.

This thread reminds of the EZ pass system. OK, it's not an exact comparison, but there are similarities.

Since I'm signed up with EZ pass, I get to go through special dedicated toll booths much faster than others, and yet the toll booths are operated by the state from taxpayer dollars. Why? Because they set it up that way and I agreed to be charged that way.

Which brings me to another totally unrelated question: why doesn't everyone have it???

Sylvia,

Just so you know, the TSA people at the 'elite' lines treat everyone with the same disdain and lame attitude as in the non-elite lines.

Now, if the 'elite' TSA guys were nicer / better / faster, I'd have a grudge too. They aren't!

This discussion has centered around the TSA, America, and capitalism.

For those who have recently flown on a foreign airline from a foreign airport, what has been your experience? Are there different security screening lines for first or business ticket holders?

Yes.

As a matter of fact, London airports have a special immigration line for incoming business and first class passengers.

Many of the major European airports also have special security lines for business and first class passengers.

So the same thing happens with (?capitalist ?socialist) European airline companies in European socialist countries.

How about communist (Chinese, other) airline companies in US and foreign countries? Any experience there?

sylvia3: this thread is nuts. It does not matter one whit if the person was TSA, a policeman, an AA ticket agent, or a boy scout -- the airport and/or airline makes the rules

Now chill, or you may have a stroke . . . . .

sylvia, further review of your preceding posts make it clear that your problem is not TSA
#40#

Your tax dollars also go for Food Stamps, and Medicaid Are you also saying that those programs are unfair because they are designed to be used in private supermarkets and medical practices?
You will be most likely be seen first by your doctor (and to spend more time with him) because YOU are paying more than the Medicaid or the Medicare patient. Is this also un-American?

I understand that you are saying that a government agency funded by our tax dollars shouldn't play favorites.

But, the people traveling first class on average PAID a lot more taxes than people in the cheap seats. So by your logic, they ARE entitled to special services.

So, if I'm in a higher tax bracket than the guy ahead of me, I should be able to move ahead in the motor vehicle department.

Makes perfect sense. Maybe I could cut to the front of the line at my pitiful Post Office.

I think many of you have missed OP's point.

Y'all keep saying it is for 1st and buisness... I rarely PAY for 1st and business class. My last trip to Denver was 238.00 round trip and I got to use the 'special' line in DFW AND Denver.
I get to use it because I am a frequent traveler.
Good grief... get to the airport a few minutes earlier, that's all.
I personally think that there should be a line for people with just briefcase or purse. This line would require you to take off shoes, belts, jewelry and empty pockets before you even take your place in line.
The people who screw things up are those who hold the line up...

wliwl - I don't know what the OP's point is. She says that she sees federal TSA agents manning the lines and directing traffic towards the actual security screens.

Since she's the only one who sees that with her own eyes, while everybody else sees non-TSA agent doing that (and also as reported by the media), there's really no point discussing OP's points anymore.

Since I don't own her eyes, and I've not traveled with her together, I can't say that she's lying. It's just that what she sees is different from everybody else's.

There's really no point in arguing. If Moses said he saw God in the burning bushes, I can't say he didn't because I wasn't there.

I already said that TSA agents shouldn't be manning the lines and directing traffic. If she saw that happening, she should contact her congress representative about that.

I'm kind of with TxTravelPro on this one. The problem lies not with the TSA screeners but with the hordes of non-savy travellers who after waiting in line and watching those before them go through are oblivious to any instructions they may be given and have no clue as to what they can do to speed up the process (remove cell phone and tons of loose change from their pockets, take out their laptops, remove thier coats, etc. BEFORE they go through the metal detector). These are the same people who ignore the FA's request to put their carry-on bags in the overhead compartment wheels first (but that's a topic for another thread).

As for the First/Business/Elite lines what's wrong with the airlines trying to make things easier for their preferred customers? To steal a line from an old Mel Brooks movie - It's good to be the King.