Nov 21 2008
San Francisco Airport - Most Family Friendly for Security!
Since the security regulations were tightened and increased procedures between check-in and departure gates put into place, travel for those with children - especially small children - has been a headache. For most travelers, getting out of shoes, unpacking their laptop, surrendering the half-bottle of water and economy sized sun cream tube has been hassle enough. Add two pre-schoolers who can’t get their own shoes off, who don’t understand why teddy has to go into a machine, and there’s enough stress to send any parent running for a packet of headache pills!
Those friendly folks at San Francisco Airport however have had a flash of inspiration. How about we move the families out of the normal lines where they get stressed because of the frustrated passengers waiting in line behind them, and give them a dedicated security line? Wow! It doesn’t happen often but I have to say I’m impressed. I’m a mother who flies regularly with 2 small children (plus laptop), and I have to say that this is the most interesting and positive piece of travel news I’ve heard in a while.
Currently this is only available at San Francisco Airport, but hopefully as more airports realize how logical this is, they will follow the same path. Getting children through an airport safely isn’t the easiest job for parents. Listening to single passengers sighing with impatience as you force teddy out of your toddler’s hands, the shoes off your preschooler and advise the security official that yes, you will open the laptop just as soon as they give teddy back to your now screaming toddler, takes the joy out of traveling. I can only hope that other airports around the world jump on this bandwagon as fast as they jumped on the opportunity of removing our open water bottles thus ensuring we buy more once we’ve cleared security! In the meantime, perhaps those of you who complain about the length of time we families take to get through the required security checks could be show a little more compassion, after all one day in the future it might be you who needs a little extra time for one reason or another!
