- Last summer, I had the privilege of experiencing priority airport security after booking a business class JetBlue ticket.
- I anticipated a quicker passage to my gate, but to my surprise, it took about the same amount of time as regular security.
- While it was a nice inclusion with my airfare, I personally wouldn’t invest in it again.
Business-class airfare is universally known for its luxurious travel experience.
With amenities like lie-flat seats and gourmet meals, flying first class guarantees the most comfortable journey possible. Additionally, it typically grants expedited security access.
During a recent flight in JetBlue’s Mint business class, I had the opportunity to enjoy the perks of first-class travel. While the in-flight luxuries exceeded my expectations, the priority security process left much to be desired, and I don’t foresee investing in it again.
Upon arrival at JFK International Airport in New York in June for my JetBlue flight to Paris, I was met with a winding security line. As an economy traveler, it wasn’t surprising to see a long queue for TSA.
Confidently, I felt excited knowing I would bypass the regular security line for the first time. However, as I got closer, my initial excitement turned into disappointment. What I had anticipated to be a seamless experience through expedited security turned out to be a winding line only slightly shorter than the regular queue.
In shock, I gradually made my way towards the TSA checkpoint, exchanging glances with a family who shared my surprise. We briefly commiserated over our shattered expectations before continuing to wait.
After finally making it through and heading to my gate, the process had taken approximately 30 minutes—not excessively long, but longer than expected.
While JetBlue’s website states that priority security aims to expedite passengers to the gate, I didn’t perceive it to be significantly better than regular security. Security efficiency depends on the number of travelers at any given time, and guaranteeing a speedy checkpoint is not within the company’s control.
Although having priority security included with my ticket was a nice touch, it may have been more useful on a day with fewer travelers. Overall, I found the perk to be underwhelming and do not plan on splurging on expedited security in the future.
