At 01:29 PM 5/5/2003 -0400, Dennis wrote: >dplaflamme@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: > > > Check-in for UA at MCO was a zoo. > > After an hour in line, we got checked in and hurried off to the security > > area, another model of chaotic inefficiency. By the time we got to our > > gate, boarding for 1502 was well underway > >Every time this happens to me....about 10 list members say its impossible, >they never have to wait more than 1 min on their last 50 trips....Hey dudes, >it happens and it happens a lot, although I think now its the severe cutbacks >in airlines staff that are causing the travel lines and hassels even more >than ""SECURITY"" In the case of Orlando, it might be skewed by the types of travellers who pass through. Orlando surely attracts more infrequent travellers who require more attention. For example, we watched a group of European tourists split between two counter positions (why???) repacking their luggage at the check-in counter because they had too much they wanted to carry on, or some such reason. I've never seen something like that at Dulles, but Dulles probably doesn't get as many occasional travellers as Orlando does. Also, Orlando is a small station for UA, whereas Dulles is a small hub, so there are more agents at Dulles to absorb the occasional clueless travellers. As for the chaos of the security checkpoint at MCO.... That's not UA's fault. I think MCO is using TSA screeners, but whoever laid out the screening lines was using some logic I don't understand. Four parallel lines led to one choke point that then fed several actual X-ray machines. I've had more quick and easy trips lately than awful trips, and I don't remember my March trip through MCO being that bad, but I flew at a different time of day (and day of the week) that time. But, yes, both airline staff cuts and security checkpoint changes are forcing changes in the way we move from curb to plane.... >Dennis Nick