=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/news/archive/2004/05/05/f= inancial0920EDT0035.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, May 5, 2004 (AP) Airports brace for delays as travel rebounds AMY SCHATZ, and (05-05) 06:20 PDT (AP) -- SCOTT MCCARTNEY The Wall Street Journal Many travelers are likely to face maddening waits in airport security lines this summer, as traffic returns to levels not seen since the gridlocked summer of 2000. Starting in June, airlines expect to ferry about 65 million passengers a month, a healthy 12 percent jump from last year. While that's good news for airlines, which are struggling with labor woes and high jet-fuel prices, it's a potential nightmare for passengers. That's because -- with Congress pushing the over-budget Transportation Security Administration to cut costs this summer -- there will be at least 5,000 fewer screeners staffing security-checkpoint sites, a 10 percent drop from last year. Worried airline officials have demanded meetings with the Transportation Security Administration to ask what the government is planning to do to alleviate the problem, which will undoubtedly result in missed flights and other frustrations for travelers. In some airports, the problems will be particularly acute. At Washington= 's Dulles airport, Independence Air (formerly Atlantic Coast Airlines) launches its discount service June 16, resulting in 300 more flights a day by summer's end. In Tampa, airport officials have requested additional screeners to staff new lanes in the two busiest terminals, to cut down on the 45-minute wait during peak hours, particularly for flights before 8 a.m. Airlines, with the help of the Transportation Security Administration, recently compiled a private list of airports most at risk for lengthy summer security-screening delays. In the last week alone, that list has grown from 15 airports to 25. They include some of the busiest airports in the country: Atlanta, Las Vegas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York-Kennedy, and Chicago O'Hare. Last week, officials held emergency meetings with TSA to discuss the agency's summer planning. Already, travelers in some cities are facing longer waits. In Phoenix, f= or example, security-checkpoint waits averaged 30 minutes or more, 64 percent of the time during a recent week, according to airline officials. In Philadelphia, arriving international fliers have been hit with lengthy security-screening delays, leading to missed connections, airlines say. TSA says it's developing a "summer strategy" and will be ready for the crowds. TSA officials point out they mostly prevented long lines from materializing at security checkpoints last year during the holidays. The centerpiece of its plan: A national education campaign dubbed "Ready, Set, Go!" that encourages passengers to be more careful about what they pack in their bags. Despite all the attention showered on nail clippers and scissors, a surprising number of people still are trying to bring weapons on board. For instance, earlier this year in Las Vegas, gun-show attendees were given goodie bags containing complimentary key chains with real bullets affixed to them, prompting huge backups in security lines as passengers didn't realize they were carrying ammo. Since the beginning of this year, TSA screeners have confiscated 123 guns and more than 5,000 box cutters from passengers. TSA also will remind people to take off their belts and remove coins from their pockets before reaching the metal detectors. Emptying pockets of coins saves an average of two seconds per passenger. Airlines, however, have been pushing for more concrete changes, such as significant adjustments in staffing and procedures, to help speed things up. Carriers typically rely heavily on part-time workers to boost peak-period staffing in everything from ticket counters to baggage handling, for example. But TSA has taken a more-rigid approach, maintaining the same staffing in the summer as in slower travel periods. In addition, some airports have 100 or more vacancies that remain unfilled, despite available funding. TSA has suggested to airlines that it may move screeners from airports that are functioning smoothly to airports with longer lines. Airlines oppose that, contending it will just spread problems across the country. "Airports will be penalized for their success," one airline executive says. Some airports are taking matters into their own hands. At Atlanta's main security checkpoint, two adjacent newsstands are being torn out this week to make way for four new security lines. The airport also sends an average of 42,000 passengers a month real-time e-mail updates on the wait at security checkpoints near their gates. Seattle's airport is handing out little plastic baggies so people can empty their pockets of keys, cellphones and coins before they get to the front of the line. Several airports, including Las Vegas, Seattle, Atlanta and Washington-Dulles, plan to expand the number of security lines this summer, although none has yet received a firm commitment from TSA that the agency plans to provide enough screeners to fully staff them. Carriers also have questioned the need to rescreen checked luggage arriving from Europe before putting it on domestic U.S. flights. The TSA has felt some European screening isn't up to U.S. standards. In addition, airlines are pushing for the return of secondary metal detectors at checkpoints to use on customers who set off the initial alarm. They also would like to see more X-ray machines: Currently, TSA requires that X-ray-machine belts stop on each item for study, rather than run continuously with stops only when an item raises concern. Airline officials say that processing could be sped up if TSA ran two X-ray machines for each metal detector, rather than the current single unit. One airline official says stopping the belt for every item is the single thing slowing things down the most. TSA officials won't discuss any more specifics about how they plan to speed up the lines, although they say they're considering changes to how lanes are set up. For passengers not willing to leave the fate of their summer vacations up to the efficiency of TSA, there are a few preventive steps travelers can take. Avoid flying in the early morning, when many airports, particularly smaller, nonhub airports, are their busiest. At John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Calif., passengers are already being advised to get to the airport more than 2 1/2 hours early during peak hours of 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. "I know business travelers who have completely given up at going at 7 a.= m. and leave at 11 a.m. or later," says Kevin Mitchell, a business-travel consultant. Lines are often so long at Terminal C of Mr. Mitchell's hometown airport, Philadelphia International, he often hoofs it over to Terminal A or Terminal D to pass through shorter security lines. He then walks back to Terminal C to catch his US Airways flight. (Terminal C is so busy because it's used by US Airways, which has a hub in Philadelphia.) That also works in other airports, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where passengers can move between Concourse C and D and the North Satellite area, where United Airlines makes its home. Airports at vacation spots usually see peaks and valleys in passenger traffic. For instance, avoid flying out of Fort Lauderdale on Sunday and Monday mornings around 10 a.m., when the wait at security lines in Terminal 4's cramped lobby average 40 minutes to an hour, says airport spokesman Jim Reynolds. In Miami, cruise-ship passengers flood the airport's security-screening area several times a week; the rush is worst on Sundays and Mondays. Finally, a word of wisdom to golfers. Take a few minutes to wipe off golf shoes and clubs before checking them on the plane. Pesticides used on golf courses have been known to trigger some airport bomb-detection systems, security officials say. Avoiding Delays at Your Airport The best way to dodge the logjams at airport security this summer at selected airports. * Seattle: If flying into concourse B (home to Southwest, Continental and Delta) try not to schedule a connection in another concourse since that will require going through another security check. * Atlanta: During peak hours (Monday and Saturday mornings; Thursday and Friday afternoons; Sunday evening), try smaller T-Gate area checkpoint, which is sometimes faster. * Philadelphia: Most of its concourses are connected -- so you can use a= ny checkpoint, not just the one closest to your gate. A big caveat: Terminals E and F aren't connected, so if a flight leaves from there, you must use that terminal's checkpoint. * Las Vegas: Avoid flying into town Sundays and Mondays between 6 a.m. a= nd noon. Avoid flying out Thursdays and Fridays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. * Dallas Fort Worth: Terminals A and C, and checkpoints A-35, C-21 and C-30, will have the longest lines this summer, the airport says. To find the least congested checkpoint, ask the "Terminal Managers" or "Airport Ambassadors" for advice. * Fort Lauderdale: Security lines are generally busier during meal hours. Airport parking expected to be tight, too, as locals escape summer heat. * Washington-Dulles: Security lines expected to get longer in June, when Independence Air, formerly Atlantic Coast Airlines, begins offering about 100 daily departures. * Orlando: Two security checkpoints experience three peak periods: Business travelers arrive between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. The next two waves include more families and occur from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. * Detroit: Try to use the Edward H. McNamara Terminal, built in 2002, which has 40 percent more screening capacity than the terminal it replaced. The airport says its busiest times are late afternoons. * Indianapolis: Avoid flights out of concourse B and C in the morning. By July, airport hopes to permanently move United Airlines from concourse C to concourse D to help balance security lines. * Orange County, Calif.: John Wayne airport is busiest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. on weekdays. Since there are only two security checkpoints, try avoiding a jammed line by walking about five minutes to the other terminal. The airport will increase its security capacity by 33 percent in June. Summer Airport Bottlenecks Airlines and federal security officials have identified 25 airports most at risk for lengthy security-screening delays this summer. Atlanta Boston Cleveland Charlotte, N.C. Cincinnati Denver Dallas-Fort Worth Detroit Newark, N.J. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Honolulu Washington-Dulles Houston-Bush Intercontinental Indianapolis New York-Kennedy Las Vegas Los Angeles Orlando Miami Milwaukee Chicago-O Hare Philadelphia Phoenix Seattle Orange County, Calif. Source: the airlines ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2004 AP