Begin forwarded message:
From: Richard Wiggins <richard.wiggins@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: September 28, 2005 8:05:46 PM EDT
To: David Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Logan considers easing way for frequent
fliers
Reply-To: Richard Wiggins <richard.wiggins@xxxxxxxxx>
Dave,
Dr. O'Donnell raises a good point: is this just catering to an elite?
I think it's a little subtler than that. There are a lot of people
who fly multiple times a week as part of their jobs. Many of these
folks might decide to drive or take the train if the burden of airport
security is sufficiently onerous.
If you fly over 200 times in a year and this is the difference between
a 5 minute security check and 30 minutes in line, that's 100 hours
wasted. No doubt that won't evoke much sympathy from anyone who
travels a few times a year. Still, I think a case can be made that a
program that eases the way for people who basically commute via the
commercial airlines is not just a paean to the elite.
They will give up some cash and a little liberty for the privilege, so
cue that Ben Franklin quote....
/rich
On 9/28/05, David Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Dr. James J. O'Donnell" <provost@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: September 28, 2005 9:50:39 AM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IP] Logan considers easing way for frequent fliers
Dave,
We've seen these discussions of fast lanes for several years now.
Could
we ask the cost-benefit question? (1) What would it cost to
create this
system? (2) If it's really for people who fly once a week or
more, how
great is the benefit and is this really only for a tiny elite?
(3) Just
how bad is it going through security now? I fly 100K a year, through
pretty busy airports (most regularly Dulles, National, Laguardia,
O'Hare,
SFO), and I have to say that I've adjusted to the basic hassles
(laptop
out, shoes off, jacket off) and the time-through-security is *not*
a real
problem at this point. Among other things, I think it is the regular
fliers who have their personal drill down so they *don't* trigger
extra
searches. (They're pulling bags over when they spot folding
umbrellas
now: ok, dumb, but I get it, so the umbrella travels visible now
and it's
part of my drill.)
So: is this a problem that has solved itself *sufficiently* (to
say 90%
of optimum) that it's not worth putting resources into solving
further?
I'm not saying I like any of the extra layers that have been put
on the
system or that I agree that they are necessary: I'm just asking
the "how
big is this problem *really*" question.
Jim O'Donnell
Georgetown U.
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