If I remember correctly, C3 had two lines - one for those that HAD their pass and could go in when the doors opened and another line for those that NEEDED their pass. Once those individuals got their pass, they just wondered into the mass of people already past them. I thought there was some complaining about the people that needed to pick up their pass, (they got to go straight into the convention afterwards and a lot of people where still streamming in from being wrapped around the block for 1/2 mile) but I am not sure.
So FalconClones, you might want to make sure you are in the right line....just in case they handle it the same way at C4.