KING5 tv here in Seattle is saying that the wait times were even worse on Sunday, and not looking much better today (Monday) due to TSA staffing cutbacks (hasn't anyone at TSA taken an Econ 101 course ... surely they know about matching supply to demand?).
Anyway, the crux of my post: Any reports on how long it is taking to get through the C/D MVPG security line? And are we shoes-on or shoes-off this week?
Cheers.
Now, let me see, if the TSA spends 5 minutes on screening one person, and there are 500 people in line...
You get my drift...
The Port of Seattle decided today to hire 50 “divestiture” people by this weekend to help direct passengers through security lines at the Seattle Tacoma International Airport.
The new employees would free up security workers for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to run the screening equipment at the checkpoints.
The TSA workers have been handling the duties of walking through the lines at the checkpoints to remind people to empty their pockets of change and other metal objects and to take off their watches.
The port estimates it will spend $150,000 a month to hire the 50 new workers. Bob Parker, spokesman for the airport, said the expense was justified to move people through the lines faster.
Five minutes for one person.
Now, let me see, if the TSA spends 5 minutes on screening one person, and there are 500 people in line...
You get my drift...
Point well taken but that five minutes was on someone that was given the "full treatment" - baggage and person hand searched, wanded, etc. This takes longer, in any case, than the normal security screening, so long as you have prepared yourself by removing shoes, jackets and laptop computers, etc. BEFORE you arrive at the front of the line.
[This message has been edited by Pam (edited 06-24-2003).]
Depending on the time and day of the week, it will take anything from less than a minute to 5 minutes to clear security at the C gates elite line. Note that to use the elite lines, I believe you need to be either mid tier on UA and AA and Gold on AS to utilize these express lines. MVP's are not eligible.
The delays are a combination of things, from what I've heard: a), TSA staffing cutbacks due to budgetary concerns, b), the TSA's reaction to these cuts by "slowing down" their work, and last c), the increase of pax due to the heigthened travel season activity.
I would urge that if anyone going to SeaTac that is going through security as a non-elite, I'd, for now, add 90 minutes at least to your normal pre-arrival time to be on the safe side.
[This message has been edited by fredmartens (edited 06-23-2003).]
Safe travels!
-Mike
At least 10 people in line yesterday said that a) they were not going to fly again and b) they would not return to Seattle due to this mess. How is this chaos helping the airlines or passengers? BTW - there were several MVPG passengers in this security line as well - nobody was around to direct AS passengers to another portion of the airport/screening part.
Also, the...person at the one door that allows you into N gate screening...does NOT allow people to go to the "fast lane" if he doesn't "feel like it."
Weird. I have never been denied access to the Elite Secuity Line at N in over a dozen visits - be the main line small or snaking back to the other side of the airport.
I've never quite understood why they accept a regular WN Rapid Rewards card as "elite" qualifying for the B concourse. That said, even the elite line @ B concourse is short.
Until 2 - 3 weeks ago, I didn't have to remove my tennis shoes...now they seem to be requiring it at SeaTac and other airports (Detroit yesterday).
Cheers,
-Steve
[This message has been edited by smantl01 (edited 06-24-2003).]
Anyway, the crux of my post: Any reports on how long it is taking to get through the C/D MVPG security line? And are we shoes-on or shoes-off this week?
Cheers.
As has been mentioned, time of day and day of week really determine times. Mornings until noon are usually the busiest but last Sunday the security lines stretched into the street until early afternoon.
If I were a MVP/G I would be there at least 90 minutes before departure if I had no issues to resolve and just needed to check in. This is based upon using the MVP check-in line and elite security line. There was a 60 minute cutoff for check-in last weekend so you may have missed being able to have a BP issued if you had less than 60 minutes before departure.
All others, I would plan on 2+ hours for departures before 2:00p. If you have carry-on only and have a BP you might get away with 90 minutes.
QL
Arrive earlier, and you will both be holding up folks who did arrive two hours before their flight, and you get to sit around waiting for your plane.
If elligible to use the elite security lines, then one hour should be safe.
And note that by 9am, the lines were empty. Usually the rush is between 5:30 and 8:30 am as that is when Alaska, Horizon, and United all deploy a lot of flights.
All shoes off today.
Usually clear in five minutes, as you go right to the front of the "dispersal" point where they assign you to a screening station. And I always take my shoes off, as the metal in them is guaranteed to set off the detetcors.
You can connect from D/N to C, so if C's line is closed, use D's.
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