TSA's Voluntary Segregation Campaign

The Wall Street Journal's "Middle Seat" columnist, Scott McCartney, reports today on the Transportation Security Administration's new "Black Diamond" program, under which the agency is testing the concept of using separate airport screening lanes for "expert" travelers, casual travelers and families. (The terminology comes from the phrase ski resorts use to designate expert trails.)

Agency officials were skeptical about the idea when fliers suggested it, but now they're high on the concept. The approach approach seems to ease both the flow at security checkpoints and travelers' anxiety. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to matter which lane travelers pick (TSA officers often route people to shorter lines); the mere process of sorting themselves makes things go more smoothly.