I have flown out of Denver a lot over many years and have never seen the lines that are now routine. The new advice is to add another hour to the previously recommended arrival time of two hours before your flight takes off.
I take very few flights that last as long as the three hours we are now asked to devote to standing in line, struggling with weak wifi, paying exorbitant prices for a snack or coffee, and all the other indignities that modern flying imposes on us.
It is impossible to not see those incredible lines winding around baggage claim and think of cattle patiently waiting their butchering. Oh, and then we get to remove our shoes based on one failed terror attack from long ago.
There are few visible agents or security folks or just airline personnel helping keep things orderly and calm, which may mean that there are no answers for passengers who simply want to know why things have gotten out of hand so quickly. It may mean that the airport can't find enough employees willing to work for a pittance (like shuttle drivers).
Whatever the cause, these endless security lines indicate the slow crumbling of American infrastructure and the abandonment of former standards of service.
I did not mention the endless renovations ongoing at DIA, though what they have to do with the back up is not clear.
But here's the kicker: DIA is now the third-busiest airport in THE WORLD right now, despite the humiliations, the endless shuffling from place to place, the filthy restrooms, and so much more.
So why would those in command be too interested in changes, or even sharing explanations for odd behaviors?
When I was in the Air Force, the classic cliché shared as we stood around waiting for the next orders was "Hurry up and wait."
In modern America, we seem willing to suffer almost anything the big corporations impose upon us.
Well, unless we are asked to wear a mask or get a vaccine.
Freedom!
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