Innovation in Airport Security

I am always surprised and shocked when an organization that lacks any real challenge actually makes an improvement.  Take my parking lot at work (please).  Once in a while even monopolists are compelled to try something better.

Last week I was walking through my Cincinnati airport at 6am and was startled to see something different.  I found the sign above suggesting that travelers que up in the security line most appropriate for them based on the following groups and descriptions:

• Families and Special Assistance - small children, strollers, groups; assistance needed; new to flying
• Casual Traveler - familiar with TSA procedures; multiple carry-ons
• Expert Traveler- expert at TSA procedures; always ready with items removed; flies more than twice a month; travels light; elite frequent flyer member

In addition to this sign guide, there were signs for each hanging over specific security lanes.  It was early in the morning so few people were there and they just had everyone go through the same two lines, so I didn't get to see the system in action.  But I marveled at this attempt to speed up this tedious process.

There are a few things I really like about this:

• It matches the "12 items of less" lanes that we've grown used to at grocery stores
• It is fairly egalitarian, versus the Blue program you have to pay for or the elite frequent flyer programs that go toward the million-milers
• It was tested out in Denver and Salt Lake City already, and performed well
• The TSA is actually asking for feedback via its new site and blog.  I even saw a TSA employee with the freedom to post and cast some doubts.

But I do have a few doubts:

• Will some lanes move faster or slower?  If all the travelers are Experts, will that lane be too long?
• Will there be cheating?  The tests to date have been on the honor system.  I can see some harsh words and dirty looks when the Family late for their flight jumps to the Expert lane. 

At the end of the day, even with a few doubts, the need for improvement here is great.  And better to try something than continue to live with the old system.  The TSA has a real chance to prove my challenge dividend beliefs wrong, and impress the hell out of the citizens that fund its operation.

Luckily (?) I travel a lot so will get many chances to test this system out for myself and, of course, will report back to you, dear reader.  But why wait - what do you think?  Will it work or not?  What other issues might come up?  If you read this post, an opinion is already forming in your mind - so take the plunge and leave a comment.  I promise it won't hurt at all.

Comments

[Jonathan]

Oh, how I wish I could say that I think this will work. I find myself saying quite often something like "It's a society people!" Most people forget this and always look out for number one. Of course, what they forget is that the more they look out for themselves the worse it is for the rest of us including themselves. Consider traffic. Most of it is caused by people being inconsiderate and fighting to make sure that they are in front of you. This causes last second braking and a giant domino effect. On the other hand, if we were all working together, there'd be no reason why a merge would even slow us down. Everyone would just get into line, one at a time, in order. Ah, if only people thought about that. Consider birds. They fly in giant flocks with hundreds or even thousand of bird. They turn on a dime and dive and change positions all the time. Have you ever seen 2 birds crash into one another? Have you ever seen a migrating flock come to a stop in mid-air because Jacques the Canadian Goose needed to be ahead of Henri? Next time you're at the airport and the extended family of 12 flying on Southwest for the first time cuts ahead of you on the expert line, remember my call "It's a society people!"

[Bob G]

Car traffic is an interesting comparison. I think the car gives people protection to be an asshole without having to actually face people.

It reminds me of an old George Carlin sketch. I'll tell you about it at work tomorrow.