08 Jan Seven Lessons from the LaGuardia Security Line for Your Planning Cycle
Seven Lessons from the LaGuardia Airport Security Line as You Look Ahead to the Annual Planning Cycle for Your Organization
I had the pleasure of flying Southwest Airlines last week with my daughter as we returned home from NYC after moving her into her dorm for the fall semester. She was planning a quick trip back to Houston after transitioning from her summer dorm to her fall dorm at NYU.
As I always do, I planned ahead and arranged a car service to get us to LaGuardia with plenty of time to account for Manhattan traffic and potential delays at baggage check and security.
Our car arrived five minutes early, and we left Gramercy Park with nearly two hours before our flight’s departure. My daughter, who has been making this same trip every few weeks since starting at NYU, questioned why we were leaving so early. I reminded her that I’m a planner by nature and like to build in contingency time for the unexpected.
She accepted my explanation with a slight eye roll, then immediately commented on how backed up the Holland Tunnel appeared to be. A small smile crossed my face. I had planned for the unknown. I said nothing.
Halfway through the tunnel, the traffic suddenly cleared, and our driver made good time all the way to LaGuardia. We both wondered why there had been a delay at all.
As we pulled into the airport, I glanced at my watch again. We had arrived in less than 30 minutes. I briefly wondered if we had left too early and if she had been right all along. I still said nothing.
We unloaded our luggage and used the skycap to check our bags since there was no wait. As he lifted one of the bags, the handle broke off. This required reworking the luggage tag and having me sign off that the damage existed prior to loading. It caused a small delay, but nothing significant.
After entering the terminal and heading toward Gate B, we encountered a long security line. My daughter was surprised, as this was unusual based on her prior experiences. The line appeared to be at a standstill.
Within minutes, the line behind us grew rapidly. We looked at each other, and she reassured me that it would move quickly. We still had over an hour before boarding.
What followed felt like a small theater of life and a lesson in planning for the unknown.
After standing in the same spot for nearly ten minutes, travelers began walking by asking where the end of the line was. They were directed far down the corridor. Many took it in stride once they realized how long the line was. A few became anxious and voiced concerns about missing their flights.
One woman stood out. She told a passing TSA agent that her flight to Detroit was departing soon and that she was going to miss it. Shortly after, two other women expressed similar concerns. The agent pointed them to the end of the line and explained that nothing could be done.
My daughter and I looked at each other and wondered why the Detroit-bound traveler had cut it so close. I assumed she had been lulled into thinking the LaGuardia security line would be short, based on prior experience—much like my daughter’s.
A few minutes later, another TSA agent appeared. Based on his attire and badge, he seemed higher up the organizational chart. His reaction was immediate and unmistakable. After a few choice words and a gasp, he disappeared. Within minutes, the line began to move.
As the line advanced, we saw the Detroit traveler again. She continued pleading her case with the TSA agent checking boarding passes. At one point, the entire line was held up while two agents explained that nothing could be done. Allowing one person to cut the line, they explained, would disrupt the flow for everyone else.
My daughter and I again wondered why she felt her time was more important than those who had been waiting patiently. The agent suggested she speak with the airline, but that did not stop her from continuing more loudly and insistently.
As we moved through the queue, we noticed the two other anxious women had found another solution. They had gone back to the ticket counter and convinced their airline to change their boarding passes to the priority boarding line.
The Detroit traveler, meanwhile, continued arguing and announcing that this was the last flight of the day and that she had to be home that night.
In the end, my daughter and I cleared security with about 20 minutes to spare before boarding. We even had time to grab a quick bite. As our plane pulled away from the gate, we noticed another plane departing. We wondered if it was the Detroit traveler’s airline.
We wondered whether she had made the flight or whether she was still insisting that TSA and the airline had wronged her.
Since my daughter is in college, I look for moments like this to share lessons she might carry into her personal and professional life once she’s off the family payroll. Here are a few takeaways from the day:
- Plan ahead. Give yourself plenty of time. Advance planning reduces the need to react.
- Don’t assume the future will follow past patterns. Unexpected events can slow progress, sometimes without a clear explanation.
- Things break. When they do, expect delays and additional steps before moving forward.
- The world is dynamic. Others have their own priorities and timelines. Yours is not always the most important.
- Negotiate alternate solutions. When faced with the unexpected, find a path forward without disrupting others.
- Prioritize. If timing matters and options are limited, don’t let scope creep compromise your goal.
- Be nice. Owning mistakes and staying humble often encourages others to help.