To ensure higher priority for premium members in an SQS design, what is the recommended solution?

Creating two queues and programming EC2 to poll the premium queue first is a recommended solution for ensuring higher priority for premium members in an SQS design. This approach allows for a clear separation between the different types of message processing, enabling the system to handle premium member messages with higher priority by specifically targeting that queue.

By implementing two queues, you can set different configurations, message retention policies, and processing logic tailored to each member's priority. Polling the premium queue first ensures that messages meant for premium members are processed without unnecessary delays. This design allows for one type of message (premium members) to be handled more expeditively, optimizing for their needs while still accommodating standard members in a separate queue.

The advantages of this method are particularly useful in real-time applications or services where timely responses are essential for premium users. Furthermore, it enhances the ability to scale, as you can independently manage the flow and performance of each queue based on the requirements and volume of traffic for each member type.