News - Local/State

Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008

Special lanes may speed travelers at Charlotte airport

CHARLOTTE -- A holiday that often raises fears of endless airport lines may be more of a breeze for fliers this year because of a sour economy, fewer flights and a new way of organizing traffic through security checkpoints.

The Charlotte airport and the Transportation Security Administration have created checkpoint lanes based on a traveler's comfort level and expertise. Similar to what you find at ski slopes -- right down to the color-coding -- the lanes are marked as "family," "casual" and "expert."

The idea is to let travelers move at their own speed. Frequent fliers won't be caught behind a families who aren't as familiar with security procedures, and less-seasoned travelers won't have to worry about businessmen in a hurry breathing down their necks.

But a bigger factor in how quickly people pass through security might be fewer people passing through security.

AAA expects about 4.5 million people nationwide to travel by air for Thanksgiving, down more than 7 percent from almost 4.9 million last year. Airfares are about 8 percent higher this year, AAA said, and many airlines now charge additional fees for checking bags, reserving certain seats, and -- in the case of US Airways, Charlotte's dominant carrier -- soft drinks and coffee on planes, plus pillows and blankets starting next year.

As many potential travelers balk at higher costs, airlines have cut flights. With more than 80 percent of flights at Charlotte/ Douglas International Airport, US Airways has trimmed only a few routes. Other carriers, however, have dropped several flights at the airport.

Last year's Thanksgiving holiday saw few backups at checkpoints, and in recent months the flow through security has been mostly smooth. The TSA recently switched to measuring average wait times in three increments: 20 minutes or less, 20 to 30 minutes, and more than 30 minutes. Charlotte averages less than 20 minutes.

Jerry Orr, the airport's aviation director, said he has noticed the lack of long lines.

"There are still some issues Monday or Tuesday morning," when business travel is heavy, he said. But long waits in general, he said, "certainly have been less of an issue this year than last year."

No room for more lanes

The airport has 14 security lanes -- which share detectors -- at four checkpoints right now, and plans call for a fifth checkpoint with four lanes to be added on the east end of the terminal in about a year, Orr said.

For now, though, there's no room for additional lanes, Orr said. Workers had to move part of a wall last year to create the 14th lane, which opened in January at the D checkpoint.

"The next wall we knock out will knock the building down," Orr said.

The main terminal eventually will be expanded, allowing the opportunity to reconfigure the checkpoints, Orr said. But that won't happen for at least few years, he said, and maybe longer depending on the economy -- especially availability of credit and the bond market.

"We're proceeding cautiously," he said. "Selling debt is very iffy right now."

Until then, the new self-select lanes could help manage traveler traffic better, TSA officials say.

Self-select program

The lanes were first tested in February in Denver and Salt Lake City, said Jon Allen, a TSA spokesman. Other airports soon became interested, Allen said, and now the lanes are at almost 50 airports, including a new N.C. terminal at Raleigh-Durham.

People are moving faster through the "expert" lane at airports, Allen said, and security screeners are reporting fewer alarms in the family lane -- probably because families and other infrequent travelers aren't rush-ing to get out of other people's way.

"It's easier for them to stop and do one final check," Allen said.

During the holidays in Charlotte, TSA officers will encourage families to use the B and D checkpoints, Allen said, but won't prohibit anyone from using any of the four checkpoints.

"It is a self-select program," he said. "Nobody's going to get turned away."

For one Charlotte resident familiar with both business and family travel, the new lanes are a blessing.