separate security lines for first class?

[Drago]

'cuz we're special.

[stevepaa]

I see who voted for option 4.

[Superman]

John, I'd hate gubmint too if I thought folks were paying 50% of their income in taxes. I don't think the federal income tax rates go that high, and some of us claim certain exemptions and deductions. Must be some interesting math someone over there is using.

I work at an airport. The Airport is built and owned and maintained by a local public agency. The agency gets much of its revenue from the airlines. The agency has nothing to do with TSA security activities however. One of Steve's points is that the funding coming to TSA from a First Class passenger is the same number of dollars as the funding coming from a Coach passenger. The First Class passenger has purchased a higher level of service from the airline, but has purchased the same level of service from TSA. But the thing Steve needs to come to grips with is that, just like the airlines view some passengers as more "equal" than others, so does the federal government. first class passengers get quicker service from TSA. And it just has to be acceptable to us that a government agency plays favorites like this, even if there is no basis other than the multi-class "democracy" we live in.

You're a big guy, Drago. No doubt. And if you save your pennies, you certainly earn a first class ticket. Then there is the problem mentioned above, which is not a service provided by the airline but rather by a so-called "public" agency. Maybe first class passengers should get to break the posted speed limit leading up to the terminal also? That's another service that the airlines also do not provide. And maybe there is more basis for that. We know that TSA funding from both classes of passenger is identical. But if wealthier (first class) passengers also probably pay more property taxes, then maybe they should get special treatment from police, and not just from TSA.

[Drago]

Originally posted by Superman
Maybe first class passengers should get to break the posted speed limit leading up to the terminal also? + ...then maybe they should get special treatment from police, and not just from TSA.

Now your just being silly.

Honestly, I haven't flown 1st class since 9/11 (like I said, I don't fly much) so this July's flight should be interesting

I'll be sure to ask those in the cattle call line for some Grey Poupon as I wisk by waving Bejamin's at the poor folks. Sheesh.

[jrdavid68]

Originally posted by stevepaa
Sure first class revenue passengers pay more for their ticket.

So ultimately, whether via the passenger or the airline, the government collects more tax on a first class ticket, correct?

[stevepaa]

Yes/no, the gov collects a 7.5% (?) transportation tax which does not support TSA. Then there are the fees and everyone pays the same fee schedule regardless of class of service. One of those fees is for TSA and we all pay the same amount.

Overall taxes and fees are higher, fees are not. And it is the fees which support TSA.

And this only applies to those who actually purchase a ticket, not to those getting a first class upgrade. They don't pay any addditional fee or tax.

[island911]

Originally posted by stevepaa
. .
And this only applies to those who actually purchase a ticket, not to those getting a first class upgrade. They don't pay any addditional fee or tax.

oh no! . . not the milage upgraders . . .I'm outraged.

look , the real issue is, is TSA providing suficent service for ALL of us?

I've been thru TSA 6x in the last three months. So far so good. If TSA starts severly understaffing, then, yeah, theres a problem. . . and THAT is what the focus should be. Not this class warfare crap.

[Superman]

Originally posted by island911
I've been thru TSA 6x in the last three months. So far so good. If TSA starts severly understaffing, then, yeah, theres a problem. . . and THAT is what the focus should be. Not this class warfare crap.

Sometimes our security lines are pretty darned long. Perhaps you have been lucky.

Sometimes, in order to understand an issue better, I caricaturize it in my mind. I take it to an extreme and see if it still makes sense. If so, fine. If not, then the non-caricaturized real world example also does not make sense, but gets away with it because the difference is not so great. Let's caricaturize this. What if the TSA security screening system had a series of lines, one for folks who use less than $1,000 per year in airline services. And that is the mile-long line. Would it feel okay (Island, or anyone else wishing to comment) if your travelling was light, you rarely flew, and now you find yourself in the we-don't-care-about-you line because you have not used enough airline services to earn the right to the fast line? Again, this is not an airline line. This is a line created and staffed by your public agency. They cannot create a line for whites and a line for people of color. that would be discrimination based on skin color. Why can they create a short line for folks the airlines love more, and a separate (and much longer) line for folks who the airlines love less? Using your tax dollars. Fee dollars, I should say.

Oh, and Steve, one difficult but true answer to your question has to do with corporation versus citizen. Now, before you guys blow a fuse, listen up. In this society, things commercial simply outweigh things personal. Let me give you one interesting example. We all get telemarketers calling us at home. And none of us get them at work. Work time is sacred. Family time is not. First class passengers are on a commercial mission (usually)...time is money....no time to waste. We can waste less valuable time. Like personal time.

[island911]

Originally posted by Superman
S .. . a line for whites and a line for people of color. .

So what about the handicapped? They shouldn't have any special pass thru the line either?

[stevepaa]

You know I have never seen any special privilege for the handicapped at the TSA lines. They get in the same line I get in. Then a TSA guy takes the wheelchair from them before they go through the metal detector, and runs around the area to give it to them on the other side after they have examined it.

[island911]

Originally posted by stevepaa
.. . They get in the same line I get in. ..

So you're saying that they don't and shouldn't have special access?

[Shuie]

Just lost 7 hrs my life between the Nahville, Memphis, & Baton Rouge airports on two free first class upgrades. No special treatment from TSA this week either . Maybe I'll be on the 'random' next week since Im changing my normal flight. I think Im in coach for this trip so I'll keep you guys posted.

We did land in 35 mph shearing crosswinds this past Sunday after the pilot missed his first attempt in Nashville. Tonight we landed in the middle of a wicked lightning storm in BR. I think I got my moneys worth from the airline industry this week.

[stevepaa]

They don't now at TSA lines that I have seen and there are no accomodations for them, except they can get a airport employee to push them in the wheel chair.
And no, I see no reason for a special line for handicapped. Nothing special about being handicapped to wait in a line.

[stevepaa]

From Shuie's experience it looks like the special lines are only at airports I have been at recently, SEA, SFO, SNA.

Have others not seen the specail access line or do they not exist at other airports?

[island911]

So you would have the old woman, on oxygen, or pushing a walker, stand in some long line?

[stevepaa]

Oh, that would be my mom, and we would get her a wheelchair to sit in while we go through the line.

[island911]

ya know, they let special medical thru . . . but on principle, you'll just have your mom wait.. .. Right?

[stevepaa]

so what is special medical?
There are airports where a wheelchair could not go thru the normal lines so I suspect they make exception there. Like at SNA