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TSA's 'Black Diamond' program is spreading, debuts in Boston tomorrow

by Jeffrey White (RSS feed) on Mar 18th 2008 at 3:00PM

Last month, Aaron brought us news of the Transportation Security Administration's so-called Black Diamond program, aimed at making the security process at airports a bit more enjoyable.

While there is probably no initiative in this world that could truly accomplish that goal, it seems like Black Diamond is catching on. It debuted at Salt Lake City International last month. Then it turned up at Denver International. Now the TSA is going to begin testing it tomorrow at Boston's Logan International Airport, a place where lines go to grow.

A quick recap: Black Diamond applies the basic delineations of ski trails to security lines, with the green line for travel newbies, the intermediate line for more frequent travelers and the black diamond line for "travel experts," whoever those are. The thinking is that if people correctly choose the appropriate line, the entire security process will go quicker.

Am I the only one who wonders how this could ever really work? I mean, perhaps there's something to it if it continues to pop up at other airports, as the TSA promises. But I'm skeptical. Sure, it's catchy, but it appears to outright ignore one of the first principles of travel, if not to say human nature: We will always seek out the shorter line.

So, picture the blue line bogged down with some less experienced travelers, fumbling for their belts or whatever. Meanwhile that black line is wide open, the savvy travel pros flying through. Who isn't going to ditch the blue line and jump to that shorter line to get through quicker? I sure would. Hell, people will probably try to ditch the green line if it's moving at a crawl.

Who really is a travel expert, anyway? And "multiple carry-ons"? Don't airlines limit those anyway?

The ski analogy is easy to comprehend. But those of us who are skiers have all been confronted with the novice skier who inexplicably winds up on the wrong trail. Just as there's no one to stop that from happening on the mountain, there's really no way to control that in airports.

What does everyone else think?

Filed under: Airports, Consumer Activism

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

kevjohn Mar 18th 2008 5:10PM

It's hard to imagine someone not hopping into the speedy black line to escape the DMV-like green line. Although I can imagine some folks who aren't up on skiing terminology not wanting to gain the status of something labeled "black diamond". They might think it's the fast lane to body cavity search.

deanly Mar 18th 2008 10:45PM

I don't totally disagree with your assumption that people will go to the shorter line, but I would think that TSA would have staff out in front of the lines to help people go where they're supposed to. I'm a mother of two young kids, and I would use the family lane not to get through quickly, but to get out of the way of the people who don't have diaper bags, strollers and other stuff I often do when traveling. To me, the expert lane helps the frequent flyer get through quickly, but the family lane just lets me go at my own speed. Separating those two groups and letting them go at their own speed seems to make sense.

F1Mikal Mar 19th 2008 9:05AM

>But I'm skeptical. Sure, it's catchy, but it appears to >outright ignore one of the first principles of travel, if >not to say human nature: We will always seek out the >shorter line.

But if the designer of this process sets it so you cannot see the length of the line...well that would be a great solution, eh?

my 2 p

Robobagins Mar 19th 2008 11:53AM

Erm, people will always jump for the shorter line. Unless they actually enforce bag limits on security checks, ie Black Diamond: one bag or less, or we kick you to the blue line.

Remember when 10 items or less actually meant it?

tobiaswright Mar 20th 2008 1:18PM

I agree, I don't think it will be self-selecting. I think the TSA will tag you with what they think is the appropriate designation. However, the black diamonds will surely take the overflow instead of standing around.

Additionally, it'd be interesting if they only enforce those rules when those on business tend to travel, on Sunday nights or Thursday nights for example.

Josh Jun 2nd 2008 12:34AM

I've flown through SLC 5 times since that happened as an "expert flyer" and haven't even noticed. All the lines are always even.

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