Slide on By

By ASHLEY MCLEAN

SKIING IN SAN DIEGO? Not quite, but airport security lines may seem more like ski lift lines these days. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has recently applied the familiar ski-trail rating system to airport security lines to try to minimize travelers’ waiting time.

The Black Diamond program allows passengers to choose their security line by their own travel needs and expertise. First implemented in ski havens Salt Lake City and Denver earlier this year, the system has since expanded to one new airport every week and is now used in more than 30 airports across the United States, including San Diego’s Lindbergh Field.

Since the program began, black-diamond lanes have seen a 21 percent average increase in activity. It has made the security checkpoint a little less hectic by allowing passengers to go through lines at their own pace. But lines are not monitored, and some question why anyone would get in a slower-moving lane.

“We allow it to be self-select because we don’t want to police which lines people go into,” says TSA public-affairs manager Dwayne Baird. “Sometimes people realize they’re in the wrong lane, and they step out of that lane to go somewhere they feel more comfortable.”

The program is used selectively, depending on the time of day and travel volume. But just because you are a black diamond on the slopes doesn’t mean you are a black diamond at the airport. Average checkpoint wait times are available at tsa.gov.

BLACK DIAMOND: EXPERT TRAVELER
Expert travelers who fly several times a month can head for this lane. To qualify as an expert traveler, you must be very familiar with TSA procedures, pack light and have everything ready to go through the checkpoint, including liquids, so there’s no holdup.

BLUE SQUARE: CASUAL TRAVELER
Most mountain slopes are blue squares, as are most travelers. This lane is for those who take trips a few times a year, are fairly familiar with TSA procedures or do not want to be rushed at the checkpoint.

GREEN CIRCLE: FAMILIES AND SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
Travelers who need extra time going through security can look for the green circle. The lane is especially for families, people who require special assistance and those who may not be familiar with TSA procedures.