Morning Note

Until this week, Delta Air Lines allowed members of Congress to receive special treatment just because they are politicians. The perks included the ability to skip TSA lines, a dedicated desk to book trips, and the luxury of reserving seats on multiple flights on the same day. But no longer.

Delta announced the cancellation of its VIP program for lawmakers on Tuesday, saying it will begin treating House and Senate members like regular old passengers. The ongoing Department of Homeland Security partial shutdown, which has caused airport security officials to lose their pay, prompted the move. 

"It’s past time for the government to make sure that TSA officers, U.S. Customs clearance officers at airports and air traffic controllers are paid for the job they do,” the company’s CEO said in a letter to Congress earlier this month.

Until that happens, lawmakers should experience the same airport pain as normal citizens. 

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