=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/c/a/2009/05/31/TRRK17L6OJ= .DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday, May 31, 2009 (SF Chronicle) Budget travel Arthur Frommer I'm troubled (to say the least) by an example of discrimination practiced flagrantly at the airports of America, in the plain sight of everyone. And I'm puzzled as to why an uproar hasn't emerged on the part of economy passengers. Here's the background: I've recently been flying a great deal on United Airlines. And guess what happens when you buy a United Airlines ticket on the Web? After obtaining the price, you are suddenly told that for $39 more, you can purchase all sorts of extra privileges, including the right to use the airport security lines maintained for business-class and first-class passengers. Yes, Mr. and Mrs. America, special "premier" security lines are maintain= ed for business-class and first-class passengers by the Transportation Security Administration, funded by our own Sept. 11 air-ticket fees. And since there are far fewer people in the up-front areas of passenger airplanes, the lines they encounter obviously are much shorter than those in which us plebeians, us proletarians, stand. I can understand why United Airlines is pushing the privilege. But the Transportation Security Administration? Where does it get off in acceding to and cooperating in a blatant effort to create different classes of air passengers? Usually when I make arguments of this sort, I'm accused by our more conservative readers of liberal hysteria. But isn't this the kind of nondemocratic (small "d") mischief that even conservatives should decry? I'd love to hear from them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2009 SF Chronicle <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".