You know this one is pretty simple to work around. Any business is about handling exceptions, and airlines do handle exceptions, and know how to handle exceptions. A simple proposed procedure for this – have people go to the “preferred line” Tell the agents there to allow anyone in who’s flight departs in less than x minutes. Simple enough, effective, and reasonable.

DC – I’m going to respond to you point by point this time.

> Could the TSA do better? Yes, I think you are right.
> But are you suggesting they should not follow procedure
> when it comes to you?

Absolutely not. I would never ask for a special exemption on anything. I want this sort of treatment to extend to everyone who is running late. The TSA may be a security organization, but that doesn’t give it the right to be exempt from customer service. People run late, and the TSA should work to accommodate that.

> You know enough about the business to understand
> that the ability to handle exceptions doesn’t just happen.

That sounds like a cop out to me. First of all, the TSA could at least have rough estimates of how long it would take to get through the line. They couldn’t even give me that information. Then they could have line minders going through the security line to determine which people wouldn’t make it and pull them up to the front to allow them through. It’s not that hard to do. And since this isn’t a normal-sized line at LAX these days, you’re not going to find people trying to cheat the system. People wouldn’t have expected to see that line, so it’s really only people who were legitimately running late.

> It’s not at all hard to lie. Just show up late and
> show your boarding pass. Do you really expect
> line employees to be able to filter those types out?
> The only way TSA should allow you to cut the line
> is if they have procedures and training so they can
> be fair to everyone. (You still did not explain why
> you feel entitled to cut ahead of other passengers
> who were delayed).

That’s not lying, that’s cheating. If you show up late and show your boarding pass, you’re telling the truth, but you’re being an ass. As I said above, this isn’t a normal line for LAX. On a Wednesday in the early afternoon, the TSA website says the average wait is under 10 minutes with a maximum of just over 10 minutes. So nobody is going to try to cheat the system if they don’t expect lines.

axelsarki – Yeah, they still have some in the old colors flying around. It’s a shrinking number, but you’ll see it every so often. They’re also keeping three in the old colors to symbolize the first three destinations.

David SF East Bay – I agree with that for sure. I didn’t want to bother getting name info on the TSA agents, even if it just meant trying to see their badge. I was in too much of a hurry to pay attention. BTW, I also make a point to send in a note if the service is exceptionally good as well.

It could be worse though
http://i40.tinypic.com/2u61p4i.jpg

hopefully happier trails are in front of you.