TSA Expands Black Diamond Lanes

Last month, the Transportation Security Administration launched a security-line program at Salt Lake City International Airport and Denver International Airport that aims to improve the passenger screening process (and prevent expert travelers from getting stuck behind a family traveling with twelve small, screaming children).

Here's how it works. The Black Diamond Self-Select Lanes, based on the three ski skill signs (green circle, blue square, black diamond), allows passengers to go through security at "their own pace" by separating them into three categories: Expert Traveler (black diamond), Casual Traveler (blue square), and Families and Special Assistance (green circle). You can watch a video of how it works here.

Expert Travelers are frequent flyers (several times per month) who are traveling with few carry-ons (i.e. a briefcase) and know the rules of the security line -- take off your shoes, jacket, belt, and of course, who know the "3-1-1". Casual Travelers might be traveling with one or two carry-ons and are familiar with the security process.

The green circle group is reserved for those who need special assistance and for families who generally take longer to go through security (mothers taking shoes off of three kids, folding the stroller, etc.). The TSA has found that this lane allows families to take their time to prepare for the screening process, which has reduced the number of prohibited items found by security officials.

The TSA found the Black Diamond Self-Select Lanes in Denver and Salt Lake City to be successful — business travelers can get through security much quicker and the family lane runs more smoothly — and have just announced that they plan to expand the  program to six more airports by the end of April, including Boston-Logan, Orlando, and Spokane, and three others that have not yet been announced.

What we think: Great! Anything to prevent getting stuck behind a person who has never heard of the "3-1-1." What do you think?

Photo: TSA

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Comments

[Raoul]

Sounds good, except I liked the way things worked in the 90s even better. Remember those times? You'd just walk through the terminal to the airplane and be done with it. That was beautiful and stress-free. This is like taking aspirin for a headache that's of our own doing.

[mikey]

Maybe an okay idea to try to get people to self-select, but I think it's a little to pigeonholed in the descriptions.

As a parent who travels with his toddler daughter 6-8 times per year, and who knows how to get through the security lines quickly, I'm concerned that I'd be shamed out of the speedier line and stuck with all the nincompoops (sorry, "casual travelers"/"families and special assistance") who don't realize that they can't carry their guitar/defibrillator/oxygen tank through the metal detector.

We prep everything before even getting in line, so when we get to the table/conveyor area, we throw everything on the belt, walk through, taking no longer than the so-called "expert" business traveler. But no doubt I'd get grumbles and cold stares from the "experts" if we dared approach the "expert" line.

I know there are some people who don't travel often with their little ones, or who just haven't figured out how to do so efficiently and courteously, but I am sick of all the berating and whining and moaning on travel sites about how kids in airports/airplanes are the absolute worst thing that could befall someone. Some of us have our act together and have well-behaved kids, believe it or not!