Videos to ease airport security

Eric Leake

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004 | 9:03 a.m.

Before they reach a metal detector, passengers at McCarran International Airport will be greeted by Carrot Top, Lance Burton, and at least one Star Trek Klingon, all offering advice to get them through security checkpoints more quickly.

Those celebrities and others star in a series of 11 video clips that debuted Tuesday on monitors positioned above security lines.

Clark County Aviation Director Randy Walker said that if people are better prepared, they will more quickly move through security.

"And the whole key is, you can be prepared while you're waiting in line," Walker said. "Our goal is to never have a machine waiting on a person."

McCarran is the seventh-busiest airport in the country, Walker said, and only one airport in the nation handles more passengers beginning or ending their travels.

A projected 40 million passengers will be processed through the airport this year, with as many as 42,000 on one busy day, Walker said. With those numbers, he added, savings of a few seconds per passenger can take hours off of wait time.

McCarran, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors authority collaborated on the series of video clips.

McCarran invested $1.5 million in the 25 multi-purpose, computer-linked flat screen monitors that will show the videos. Talent and production were managed by the convention authority.

Rossi Ralenkotter, LVCVA president and chief executive, said the local celebrities donated their time to "Vegas-ize" what may have otherwise been standard security announcements.

People are more likely to listen to information if they're entertained, he said.

"The vignettes are designed to give that information and put a smile on everyone's face because no one does it like Las Vegas does it," Ralenkotter said.

The series extends airport efforts to decrease delays by expanding security checkpoints and placing additional security screeners near the head of lines to prep passengers during peak hours.