US gov't clarifies order on airlines' VIP lines Friday February 22, 2:32 PM EST WASHINGTON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Premium business and frequent fliers will still get through security checks faster at many airports after the government clarified an order eliminating VIP service at screening checkpoints. The Transportation Security Administration, which took over responsibility for passenger and baggage screening from the industry this week, reaffirmed that airlines still control passenger lines and can structure them as they want so long as the flow to security checkpoints is not disrupted. "We rent the space, we pay for it," Michael Wascom, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association, said about the terminal area in front of security checkpoints. "There was some misinterpretation." Wascom said airlines were getting mixed signals from the government about the VIP order from city to city, and the industry sought a clarification on Thursday from the Transportation Department. James Mitchell, a TSA spokesman, said there "might have been some confusion" when the order was communicated verbally to airport personnel, but it has now been clarified. He also said the overall policy has not been changed. U.S. Transportation officials ordered that VIP lines, some of which fed into separate screening checkpoints, be eliminated to make overall security changes equitable. The elite services were established to remedy time-consuming security demands at airports imposed after the Sept. 11 hijack attacks. While the separate screening checkpoints will not be back, officials said the airlines can continue to set up additional lines for their top customers where possible and as long as they do not impact security operations. Industry officials acknowledged that each airline would now have to handle the VIP lines differently, depending on available space, security checkpoint configuration and whether or not they share screening services with other airlines at a particular terminal. Roger La France EWR CO767 or ewrgateman on IAM