TSA security lines can cause many to feel a lot of stress when traveling. Why? There are so many unknowns about what could happen to delay your journey to your flight. Let’s face it – there are dozens of people in front of you at the security checkpoint. Who knows what could happen?
Sometimes if we’re in a rush, we’ll get angry at those who unpack themselves to go through security. Or we’ll get upset at the elderly or handicapped who have difficulties coordinating their preparations for the metal detector.
Or you may be the culprit, not coming prepared and needing assistance. Or something unintentionally or intentionally packed may show up as dangerous. Or more.
And the delay could last seconds or minutes.
Some thoughts I think we all have at the checkpoint:
- This line is so long…will I make my flight?
- Will there be enough bins?
- It seems like everyone moves so slowly. Can they hurry up?
- Will I hold up the line putting my stuff in the bins? I have so much to unpack.
- Will I get my stuff back? (such a weird thought because why would these guys want our stuff? But anyway…)
- Hurry. Hurry. Hurry.
- Oh no! What could I have in my bag to set off a manual check?
- What’s wrong? Will I get in trouble? I hope I don’t get in trouble.
- I have to hurry and repack. I’m holding up this part of the line.
- Do I have everything? Shoot – I have to recheck.
I often travel with a lot of electronic equipment and take a while to unpack, putting items into up to 4 separate bins. I know people hate me because I seem to take forever to do this. I guess some TSA agents have sensed my stress because a few intervened while I was pulling it together and reminded me to take my time. They weren’t being sarcastic. They meant it.
That improved my experience somewhat, but it’s still pretty stressful.
I was pretty surprised at DFW airport the other day when I saw that TSA is testing a solution to resolve these thoughts that we all have and make the experience 100% better. Honestly, this was probably one of the best security expeirences I have ever had. I hope they implement it nationwide. I felt relaxed, not rushed, moved at my own pace, and I didn’t feel like I was interfering with someone else’s need to move faster.
What the new experience is like
To start, for this trip I was in a security line that wasn’t really a security line because there was no one in it. There was a long line was for the TSA Pre-Check group; no line for regular travelers. Go figure!
Once the woman checked my identity and sent me onwards, I walked up to a “station,” where I picked up a bin below a conveyor belt. I put my stuff into the bin, which was HUGE (double the size of the standard bins today). And I could combine multiple items in the bin – including my computer and bag in a single bin. So convenient!
After I loaded all of my things into the bin, I went through the metal detector while the bins themselves were scanned and the TSA agent completed the standard screening.
If there was a problem during the initial screening and more inspection would be required, the bin would be “tagged” and redirected on a conveyor belt direct to an agent, next to the main screening line. The inspector would then pick up the bin, ask who owned the items, and you could watch him inspect your bag while you wait for more of your items to be screened or you repack your things.
Otherwise, it’s business as usual for the checkpoint. Your items pass inspection, you get your bin, you reassemble yourself, and you go on your way.
And don’t forget – once you are done, please be a good citizen and put your bin in a cart with the ohers.
It’s a much smoother, relaxed experience for sure. I didn’t feel I was holding anyone up and I didn’t feel rushed. Neither did the other people in line.
There are some challenges in the system. When I was there, a shoe got pushed out of its bin somehow and dropped onto the conveyor belt and the agents couldn’t get it out. Everything stopped and my items were not scanned properly and had to be rescanned. That wasn’t so ideal. However, the rest of the experience went so smoothly, it made up for that.
So, thank you, TSA! This new experience solves so many problems.
- It reduces the stress people feel holding up others in line because they have a lot to unpack (electronic equipment, etc.)
- It reduces the stress of someone going thru your things without you if your stuff didn’t pass the initial scanning and needed more investigation. Everything is right near you to keep an eye on it.
- There’s far less of a line.
- You are then responsible for unpakcing yourself and getting through the process – not responsible for the wait of others.
The most important solution TSA gave with this automation is easing the emotional tension that we feel while going through security. It didn’t just reduce stress, they removed it. Now when I think about going thru security with this new process, I think about how at ease I will feel. It’s like the peak-end rule in action.
I hope that people appreciate the new TSA automation as much as I do and it becomes the new norm. It’s not only a great application of automation, but it will improve the security experience for many travelers, making it more relaxed and easy. We could all then move at our own pace, not getting upset at people being “in the way.” Can’t wait!