iFly BOI

Slowly the sun inches it's way up behind the clouds. At the west end of the runway planes are departing with regularity. In the distance the line of arriving flights dot the sky like Christmas lights hung from an invisible string.

Entering the circular ramp for the parking garage the sign says there are 6 spaces available on level 2. With time to spare and a small garage the decision to see if one of the six is available comes easily. Exiting the corkscrew ramp there are five stalls to the right blocked off for construction. Darn this is going to be harder than it looked. Maybe those stalls aren't counted. Driving down the center row no spaces appear but a couple is walking towards the terminal with roller bags in tow. Not a good sign. Reaching the end of the row and making a right hand u-turn back towards the terminal the full spaces click by. Every once in a while there's a small car next to a big one providing a moment's hope then dashing it.

The shadows give the first clue. An actual space. Right near the door. Just as quickly those hopes are dashed by the blue paint on the ground and the wheelchair icon. Continuing down the row another space appears. This one is labeled Compact Car Only. Not only that but the adjoining spot with the same label is filled to overflowing with an extra-large SUV. Two down, or is it three, when did that couple's car get counted? Making another u-turn to go down the final isle there is a spot that is open. Not the ideal spot with its external facing orientation meaning the rain predicted this week will end up getting the car but a spot that I can come back to if nothing else opens up. Of course it's the last section of the last row where the ideal spot shows itself.

As I gather the bags from the passenger's door the thought hits me. What a pleasant surprise it would be if Boise now supports TSA Pre-check. The Pre-check program has been expanding recently though mainly at larger airports. But how much sense would it make at small airports? A lot. At a glance the pre-check program could be pretty easily integrated with the lane used for checking flight crews who have much the same routine as pre-check passengers. Arriving a the screening checkpoint, however, the only indication of the pre-check program's existence is the three beeps as my boarding pass is scanned. Then it's on down the chute with everyone else to get the groping by the proctologist in training. Oh well it was a nice thought for a minute.