Frequent flier priority screening will survive Plus: United reinforces more cockpits; Northwest sells miles By Joe Mathieu, CBS MarketWatch.com Last Update: 10:42 AM ET Feb 22, 2002 WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- It seems reports of the government eliminating dedicated frequent-flier security lanes this week have been somewhat exaggerated. Some miscommunication by the newly formed Transportation Security Administration led many to conclude the perks would be eliminated. The bottom line, though, is top airline customers will still get preferential treatment. GET QUOTES Enter one or more symbols Quotes delayed up to 20 Minutes RELATED QUOTES NWAC 15.27 -0.37 UAL 13.10 -0.15 DAL 32.96 -0.58 AWA 3.42 -0.28 U 5.02 -0.08 Top MarketWatch Headlines SEC's Pitt backs new regulations post-Enron Computer Associates confirms federal probe J.P. Morgan sunk by more Enron angst "We have closed security lanes with equipment and resources that now belong to the taxpayer, because we can't give preferential treatment through those facilities," explains Jim Mitchell of the TSA. But, he also says the government cannot keep the airlines from separating passengers before the security area. What it comes down to is "lines" versus "lanes." The federal government took control of airport screening lanes last week, affecting airlines that had dedicated some of those checkpoints to VIP travelers. But the airlines were left in control of the lines feeding the screening checkpoints, allowing them to filter customers however they see fit. "Clearly we're talking about those parts of the system that involve the security equipment, the people, the magnetometers and the x-ray machines, which must be open to everybody," says Mitchell. "We understand [the government] owns the security checkpoint process, but how customers are delivered to that checkpoint is really a customer-service issue, not a safety issue," says Kurt Ebenhoch, spokesman for Northwest Airlines. (NWAC: news) The airline's priority screening system is based on separate lines immediately before the entrance to the security checkpoint and will not need to be changed. United (UAL: news) uses a similar model and Delta (DAL: news) has followed suit. But not all business travelers have faith in the adjusted concept. "That type of line, to me, would seem to really irk the other people, because that's like someone jumping in before you," worries Kevin Mitchell, executive director of the Business Travel Coalition. He says the TSA's handling of the matter, in its first week in business, has been less than impressive. "It's a bad sign that this is the kind of start they're getting off to. The consequence of this is serious. If you screw-up getting these most highly traveled customers onto the plane, they are going to opt for the car. Short haul markets represent 63 percent of the airline system and that's what we're messing with -- the whole economics of the airline system." United locks the door -- again The passenger who stormed the cockpit of a United Airlines jet heading for Buenos Aires two weeks ago has prompted the airline to better reinforce cockpit doors on some of its long-haul jets. The man managed to squeeze his head and upper body inside the cockpit of flight 855 and United says it will add more locking devices to the upper and lower portions of the doors on 93 777s and 767-300 aircraft. The carrier claims the modifications will make the doors "impenetrable" within the next two weeks. Need more miles? Northwest Airlines frequent fliers can now "top off" their mileage accounts by purchasing the additional miles outright. The airline is working with MilePoint.com to allow its WorldPerks members to purchase miles either for themselves or others. Both transactions are automated and available at www.nwa.com, where an individual can buy in increments of 2,500, 5,000, or 7,500 miles with a cap of 7,500 per account annually. Fare sales America West Airlines (AWA: news) is offering 10 percent off selected flights to and from Columbus. Destinations included in the Internet-only sale are: Hartford, Conn.; Boston; Baltimore/Washington; Washington/National; Newark, N.J.; New York LaGuardia; Chicago/O'Hare; Philadelphia; Dallas/Ft. Worth and Toronto. Roundtrip tickets must be purchased at www.americawest.com no later than Feb. 24 for travel from Feb 25 through May 23. A seven-day advance purchase is required. US Airways (U: news) has lowered its fares between 11 New York cities and nearly 200 destinations, offering prices as low as $158 roundtrip. The sale is valid for travel to and from Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Elmira, Ithaca, Jamestown, Massena, Ogdensburg, Rochester, Syracuse and Watertown. Tickets must be purchased roundtrip at least 14 days before departure, within 24 hours of making reservations and no later than Feb. 26. Saturday night stay is required and customers purchasing at www.usairways.com get an additional five percent discount. New Routes AirTran Airways (AAI: news) will add Saturday-only, nonstop jet service between Orlando and Flint, Mich., beginning April 13. America West Airlines will resume daily nonstop roundtrip service between Las Vegas and Washington National Airport on Feb. 27. Continental Airlines (CAL: news) will begin service between New York/Newark and San Salvador, El Salvador. The new flights begin May 1 and will operate Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Continental Express will offer one additional daily flight between Beaumont/Port Arthur and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, beginning April 8. Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines will add a fourth daily nonstop regional jet flight between Atlanta and Monterrey, Mexico, May 1. The airline will also add a seventh daily nonstop flight between Toronto and Atlanta beginning April 17. Delta Airlines will place its code on a new El Al Israel Airlines flight between New York and Tel Aviv, beginning May 1. Lufthansa will launch nonstop daily roundtrip service from Boston's Logan International Airport to Munich March 1. Midwest Express Airlines (MEH: news) will resume service between Omaha and Washington National on March 2, and between Des Moines and Washington National as well as Des Moines and Kansas City in April. The airline will also add a third daily nonstop roundtrip between Kansas City and New York LaGuardia beginning April 7. In May, Midwest Express will add a fourth daily roundtrip between Milwaukee and Dallas/Ft. Worth, a fourth daily roundtrip between Milwaukee and Boston and a fourth daily roundtrip between Milwaukee and Atlanta. Vanguard Airlines (VNGD: news) will begin service to Orlando beginning April 22, with one daily nonstop flight between Orlando International Airport and Kansas City. On the same day, Vanguard will also add a second daily flight between Kansas City and San Francisco. Roger La France EWR CO767 or ewrgateman on IAM