Security Lines for Early Flights: A Rude Awakening
When I have a 6 a.m. international flight from Dulles, I expect:
1. No traffic.
2. Easy parking in the airport lot.
3. No security lines.
4. Hot coffee at the concession stand.
I was right on three of four accounts; I totally miscalculated on No. 3.
Last Friday, I flew to the Dominican Republic, painfully arising at 3:30 to arrive at the airport two or so hours ahead of my departure time. The drive, parking and check-in were a snap. Then I saw the snaking security line and almost thought I was having one of those frightening dreams where you are aware that you are in the nightmare, yet can't shake yourself awake. Unfortunately, I was not in an REM state.
Apparently, the Transportation Security Administration keeps only two lines open late-night, roughly from midnight to 4.30 a.m. According to Amy Kudwa, a TSA spokeswoman, the morning shift convenes at 4:30 and does not open the remaining 20-odd lines until 5 a.m. That meant all dawn's-early passengers had to funnel into a measly two lines, which was like guiding spawning salmon into a garden hose. The queue zigzigged in maze formation before straightening out and stretching back to the ticketing area, then paralleling the window before ending deep in a back corner. Any more passengers and they'd be out the door.
In line, people were grumbling about the uselessness of airport taxes and the pointlessness of arriving two hours ahead of time (that was me). Many of us feared that we would miss our flights, a throwback to the early post-9/11 days when the government was struggling to balance increased security measures and passenger demands. However, just as I started plotting a Plan B, the line started to slowly creep forward. Then it picked up its pace, and I feared a Rolling Stones-style stampede. Indeed, just as Kudwa had said, at 5 a.m. the gates were flung open and the prisoners, I mean the passengers, were released.
Of course, this still does not convince me that I need to be at the airport so far in advance. Though I promise to abide by the rules, I would rather avoid that nightmare and show up at 4:55. I think five minutes in the security line is appropriate at that early hour. Shouldn't we get some kind of reward for cutting short our beauty sleep?
By Andrea Sachs |
October 11, 2007; 9:44 AM ET
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Posted by: LV | October 11, 2007 11:13 AM
They need to have more gates open then that. It's Dulles! Internationa flights are their bread and buuter and they should know how that there are going to be alot of people getting there really early.
Also, FYI, it was The Who who had the stampede in Cincinati.
Posted by: EricS | October 11, 2007 11:24 AM
Yeah, but what about Altamont. That was somewhat of a stampede fiasco, no? (Sorry, was not really of concert age back then, but I have heard the tales.)
Posted by: andrea | October 11, 2007 11:38 AM
*shrug* For those of us who have to take early morning flights, this is hardly a surprise.
It doesn't make it any less annoying though. The TSA Powers That Be hammer in the whole "be there two hours ahead of time" thing, and then don't mandate that the airports staff the security lines accordingly.
Federal Agency. Logistical Planning. These are mutually exclusive terms!
Posted by: Chasmosaur | October 11, 2007 11:45 AM
You were lucky that check-in was so easy. I haven't encountered long security lines for early flights, but I've been surprised a few times by long check-in lines and inadequate staffing. (I hate checking bags and try to avoid it when I can, but I sometimes don't have a choice.) A couple of times, I arrived at BWI or Dulles well before my flight and, in contrast to the deserted roads and quiet parking lots, found a huge line at check-in. If the airline has a bunch of flights leaving between 6 and 8 a.m., less than full staff, and/or a check-in desk that doesn't open two hours before the first flights, it can end up with a mess. Once, at BWI, United had to start a separate line for my 7-ish flight because many of the passengers would have missed it otherwise. Even with that special effort, it was close.
(And yes, the stampede was for The Who in Cincinnati -- spelling the end of festival seating, at least as it was done back then. I believe Altamont involved some rowdy fans and over-reacting Hells Angels members who were providing security (there was a great idea!) -- resulting in stabbings, not a stampede. But that one was before my concert-going years too.))
Posted by: jane | October 11, 2007 12:12 PM
Dulles (and Reagan) just need to get with the program and have the lines open in full sufficiently in advance of the first flights. If the first international flight is at 6a, then there's no excuse for the lines not to be open at 4a. (Yes, I'm sure it sucks for the TSA workers, but that's part of the job--offer overtime if that's what's needed).
Posted by: ah | October 11, 2007 1:01 PM
Wrong on traffic.....allow yourself ample time to get to Dulles if your flight leaves between 7-10am. DC metro area has some of the nation's worst traffic, and with Dulles perpetually under construction, you never know. Better safe than sorry.
Posted by: VA native | October 14, 2007 1:32 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
It actually happens at Reagan National too. Except that their lines don't open PERIOD until 5:00am. In fact, almost nothing opens until 5:00am - no check in, no luggage scanners, no security. Then, when security opens, it's still the two sorry stalls at each section. It can get real iffy for those 6:00am flights.