Well, the last bastion of refuge for frequent travelers is slowly slipping away.  Day by day. Trip by trip.

It has been said, “all good things must come to an end.” Unfortunately, for frequent travelers this happens more often than not. Airline clubs are being overrun by “day pass” users, premium seats are being overtaken by credit mileage phenoms, and now one of the best inventions to come to the air travel industry post 9/11 – TSA Pre-check – is being opened up to the infrequent traveling public.

I had heard rumors and seen postings on Facebook and Twitter from my frequent traveling companions, but had not yet experienced the myth of long TSA Pre-check lines. On my recent business trip to Las Vegas the myth became my reality.

Arriving at Terminal 4 at LAX, I accessed the Premium Access escalators and was stunned to see the TSA Pre-check line backed-up to the top of the escalators. The Premium Access line was actually, incredulously, shorter than TSA Pre-check.

After my 8-minute wait (yes I timed it), I finally passed through the security checkpoint and came upon the gleaming silver of the tables leading to the security conveyor belt. It was then I realized why my 47 seconds had increased to 8 minutes. I watched, mouth open as travelers grabbed extra bins and began to remove their shoes and pull out laptops.

TSA tried to assist them by advising them they didn’t need to do so for this special line; which only added chaos to the process, and questioning by them.

“I don’t need to take my shoes off?”

No.

“What about my jacket?”

No. Only metal items in your pocket that might set off the metal detector.

“Should I take my laptop out?” No.

“What about my bagged liquids?” No, they can remain in the bag.

As we stood there and waited while the checklist of all items that once had to be removed was explained they no longer needed to be removed, I began to internally cry. My frequent traveler safe-zone had been invaded.

Now, being a person filled with regularly, somewhat overzealous dashes of hope and optimism I would not be deterred on this outbound flight and thought – “It has to be a fluke. My return trip will be much better.”

To my dismay, outbound Las Vegas a similar experience occurred. And, as I silently pleaded at the TSA Agent, over the heads of the invaders, “Let me go through, PLEASE! I’m good to go.“  A part of my frequent traveling-self began to mourn.