New security checkpoint at SJC...

...and boy, were they glad to see me.

'Cause very few people are coming to see them. I was the third through their gate this morning. No one else was in line when I was there.

SJC doesn't have the brightest layout, and construction isn't helping matters. When the shuttle bus from longterm parking let us off at Terminal A, it dumped us out in front of one of those outdoor baggage check lines. I didn't have bags to check, and I was having trouble finding the entrance to the airport itself, to bypass all that.

Then I saw this sign. Express security checkpoint, this direction. Well, that sounded nice, even though it pointed way, way, way the heck down the sidewalk - a block or two's worth of walking. But my bags are light - I try to travel with no more than I can physically carry - and so I headed off in that direction. Nobody else was, but I figured I was still most of an hour early, easily enough time to backtrack if I wasn't in the right place.

I followed sign after sign, and finally there was an actual building entrance. And right inside was the security gate. I apologized for not yet having my bags assembled in the right configuration - I'd been figuring on time standing in line to get my shoes off and liquids baggie out and suchlike - but they were very patient and welcoming, having, well, little else to do. They were so cheerful - a customer!

I think they may have just opened today. They seemed miffed that the people at the main curbside baggage check weren't sending people in their direction. I suggested that they get the longterm parking shuttle drivers to stop in front of their doorway, and to announce the separate entrance for no-checked-bags, and they seemed to really like that idea. Who knows, maybe they'll implement it!

Anyway, time to go queue up to board. Off to visit redneck_queer, abahjake, twylightdove, bootblackingboy and b00jum for the weekend! :-)