Business travelers, families can pick own line at airport

Business travelers no longer have to wait behind vacationing families with their line-clogging strollers and kids climbing on stanchions at the Salt Lake City International Airport.

And those family types won't have to listen to the uptight guys in suits grumbling in line behind them.

The Transportation Security Administration has selected the Salt Lake airport to test a new security-checkpoint procedure that separates travelers into three lines based on their airport experience.

The Black Diamond program creates a fast lane for expert travelers, allowing them to zip through security measures — taking off their shoes, removing laptop computers from bags, etc. — without instruction from TSA employees or the delay of rookie passengers.

The express lane, designated by a black diamond surrounding a solo, small-bag-toting traveler, made its debut Thursday at the airport, along with a frequent traveler line for those somewhat familiar with TSA procedures and a line for families and those needing special assistance.

TSA administrator and U.S. Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Kip Hawley visited the airport Friday to tout the program — one of several efforts under way to make the security process more effective and easier for travelers, he said.

"We've gotten feedback from parents of children with special needs who've said they really don't like to be crowded into the business traveler who's anxious to get going," Hawley said. "And we heard the same thing from a lot of business travelers who've said, 'We know the rules. ... We know what to do and we can do it really fast.' This is a chance to try that out."

Hawley said Salt Lake City was chosen as the site for the Black Diamond experiment because the airport and its executive director, Maureen Riley, are willing to try new things in hopes of improving the travel experience and quality of service at the airport.

"Innovation happens in Salt Lake City," he said. "There's a willingness and eagerness to lead."

Airport officials expect the change to be felt most in Terminal 1, which previously didn't have any kind of frequent-traveler program or first-class lines for travelers, said Earl Morris, Utah federal security director for TSA.

"Every passenger who comes here will be able to designate what level of passenger they are," Morris said. "Those who have families, we can give them more assistance as they come through."

TSA officials plan to introduce the divided lanes next week at the Denver International Airport. The program will be evaluated over several months and then likely expanded throughout the nation.