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Quick and Easy? Surely You Dont Mean LAX...

Come fly with me, LAX won't be so bad anymore

By Annie Geffroy

| Tuesday, Dec 8, 2009 | Updated 1:00 PM PDT

Quick and Easy? Surely You Dont Mean LAX...

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The new screening system will help to allieviate long lines and make traveling more enjoyable. Well, at least as enjoyable as the airport can be.

Recently, LAX was named the third worst airport in the world (behind Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle), a title that was likely won due to overwhelming congestion at security. LAX is also home to the third most-delayed individual flight in the nation -- Southwest Airlines to Phoenix.

But before you get too upset remembering your last hour-long shoeless beltless stint at the metal detectors -- there’s hope.

The 6^th busiest airport in the world has just received a $150 million from the Transportation Security Administration to install an automated baggage screening system.

So what does this mean for you, weary traveler?

Instead of being screened inside the main terminal area, bags would be screened behind the scenes, cutting lines and wait times for the thousands of passengers who travel through the airport each day.

So you’re less likely to be reenacting the airport scene from “Home Alone.”

“Reducing long lines and long waits in the terminals will make passengers both happier and safer,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

According to the Daily News, the explosive detection machines that are currently in the lobbies will be removed. This new technology eliminates the need for each bag to be manually screened for explosives.

"Passengers will begin to see a much more streamlined approach in the terminal lobbies while our transportation security officers will use the latest screening technology," explained Vera Adams, deputy federal security director at LAX.

This screening system is already in place in Terminal 3 at LAX and will be extended to the Tom Bradley International Terminal within the next few months.

The project, which is taking place in Ontario airport as well, is expected to be completed in 2012 and will cost $670 million. With this grant, LA has $300 million for the initiative so far.

This effort, combined with the proposed $1.13 billion remodel, could make jet-setters rank LAX among the best airports instead of the worst. And locals will certainly appreciate it too.