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Black Diamond Self Select Lanes

Helping Passengers Move at Their Own Pace

Our Approach

TSA is listening to passenger feedback to improve the checkpoint experience. That is why TSA launched the "Black Diamond" self-select program in Salt Lake City, Utah in February 2008. Since then the program has rapidly expanded. To date, 50 airports have implemented Black Diamond. The goal of self-select is to enable expert travelers who know TSA procedures well to go through checkpoints quickly and efficiently, while giving families and others with special needs more time and assistance.

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Airports With Black diamond Self-Select Lanes

Read about our International Harmonization security measures.

The self-select lanes are modeled after familiar ski icons that guide travelers to choose the appropriate trail/lane based on their skill level. Green designates the queue for families or beginners, blue is for casual travelers at the intermediate level, and black diamond is reserved for expert travelers who know the TSA rules and arrive at the checkpoint ready to go through efficiently.

Since implementing the program, expert lanes have seen an average 21 percent increase in throughput (with some as high as 40 percent), while the alarm rates for Family lanes are down an average of 11 percent

An added benefit is that self-select is lowering stress and anxiety levels among passengers, and helping to calm the checkpoint environment. Lower stress is good for security so it is a win-win for the traveling public and transportation security officers.

To learn more about Black Diamond lanes, watch this video.

What Kind of Traveler Are You?

Expert:

Photo of Expert
  • Frequent traveler who knows how to get through checkpoint quickly & efficiently
  • Very familiar with TSA procedures and always prepared
  • Understands 3-1-1 liquids policy

Casual:

Photo of Casual Traveler sign
  • Somewhat familiar with TSA procedures
  • Travels a few times a year
  • Not "expert" level and does not want to be rushed at the checkpoint

Family/Medical Liquids:

Photo of Family/Medical Liquids sign
  • Families with small children and/or strollers
  • Passengers with special needs who may require special assistance or extra time at the checkpoint
  • Passengers new to flying and not familiar with TSA procedures
  • Passengers traveling with more than 3 ounces of medically necessary liquid

How to be an Expert Traveler, No Matter What Lane You're In

Whether you're looking for skills to brave the "Expert Lane" or hoping to speed your trip through security in any airport, here are some tips the experts use that will benefit no matter what checkpoint lane you're in:

  • DO: Wear slip-on shoes. Laces and zippers will slow you down.
  • DO: empty your pockets and put loose items in your purse, jacket pockets, or carry-on bag while before you get to the checkpoint.
  • DO: place magazines, snacks or souvenirs purchased in the airport in a carry-on bag or purse before you get to the checkpoint. Consolidating your items before they go in the bins will help you recompose quickly and clear the checkpoint exit area.
  • DO: have your liquids baggie out of your carry-on, and make sure you don't have any loose liquid items in your purse or carry-on bag. Notify a security officer if you have any exempt liquids so an officer can provide additional screening if necessary.
  • DO: put your shoes and coat in the first bin and any carry-on bags in other bins. Then after your bins go through the x-ray, you can slip your shoes and coat on while waiting for your other items to come out.
  • DO: put your laptop bag in the bin before your laptop. Then as the bins come out of the x-ray, just slip it back in, zip and go.
  • DO: put your bins on the belt for the x-ray machine vertically versus horizontally. This allows the security officers to view more than one image at a time, and helps speed up the process.
  • DON'T: try to put shoes or boots with zippers or laces on right when you take them out of the bins. Move to the side to let other passengers take their items and go.
Did You Know?
The average traveler takes up four feet of space at the checkpoint taking roughly 32 seconds to divest their belongings and 42 seconds to compose at the end of the checkpoint. These numbers may seem insignificant for one traveler, but when you consider that about 2 million passengers go through checkpoints everyday it adds up.
 
Belts, wallets and cell phones are the most common items that alarm on a passenger when passing through the metal detector.
  
Did you know?
42% of the checkpoint bottlenecks are caused by delays in composing after screening.
  

Got Feedback? If you've gone through one of the self-select lanes, we'd like to hear what you think on our blog. Go to www.tsa.gov/blog and let us know.