Swiss International Airlines - LX/LH Security Lapse at TGL ?

On April 16, flying on LX 967 TGL/ZRH, something extremely unusual happened, which I consider to be a substantial security lapse:

After checking-in online and receiving the BP on my mobile phone, at no point during the whole process of dropping bags and boarding the flight was I (or any of the passengers as far as I can judge) asked for any kind of identification. I do realize that both Germany and Switzerland are part of the Shengen area, but strictly from a security standpoint I was not aware that one could still board a plane without identifying oneself :td:

Maybe the fact that the BP was on my cellphone was a factor, but the phone could have been intentionally stolen by somebody wishing to cause trouble.

As a completely opposite policy, boarding today a LX flight from Zurich to the UK (again with a mobile phone BP), my ID was checked three times, once as I dropped my bag, once at the entrance to D gates by Swiss Immigration (Non Shengen destination) and once upon boarding after an announcement that the last check was at the request of UK authorities ^

Pretty usual at some German airports I would say...

Recently I was flying LUX-MUC-LUX with a colleague on the same ticket.
We did OLCI the night before for LUX-MUC. At LUX our ID was checked two times: just before security an at the gate for boarding.

On the return MUC-LUX, we did checkin at the airport. Only identification form used at CI was my M&M Senator Card. ID of my colleague was not checked at CI. Even at the gate for boarding no ID-checks at all.

At german airports, only ID checks I always have for Schengen flights is identification with my M&M card.

So, not specific for LX flights...

Ever seen the automatic boarding gates at MUC or FRA? Just scan your BP and board...

Europe is not the paranoid USA with their TSA morons ! Here you are generally treated as a human being rather than a suspected criminal.

Europe is not the paranoid USA with their TSA morons ! Here you are generally treated as a human being rather than a suspected criminal.

^ Santé Fendant, let's be happy to be in Europe ! Even security and efficiency can keep a human face.

but strictly from a security standpoint I was not aware that one could still board a plane without identifying oneself :td:


I'm not quite sure how knowing who you are really enhances security.

Maybe the fact that the BP was on my cellphone was a factor, but the phone could have been intentionally stolen by somebody wishing to cause trouble.

Here we go again, the US security brainwash of keeping everybody safe again...

Short version - It's normal, and there was no security lapse.

Long version:
For domestic or intra Schengen flights (inc. Germany to Switzerland) there is no requirement to check you ID before the flight, and this is normal procedure for many airlines. You went through the normal security checks and there is no EU equivelent of the no fly list - there was no security lapse.

For journeys outside the Schengen area (inc. Switzerland to UK) there is a requirement to check that you have the correct documentation to enter the UK. As you must go through immigration on arrival, the ID checks before hand are confirming that you have the correct passport or visa, as the airline will be fined if they fly someone to the UK that doesn't meet the entry requirements.

Some airlines (e.g. reyanair) will check ID on domestic or intra schengen flights as a revenue protection measure (i.e. to make sure the person flying actually purchased the ticket).

Short version - It's normal, and there was no security lapse.

Long version:
For domestic or intra Schengen flights (inc. Germany to Switzerland) there is no requirement to check you ID before the flight, and this is normal procedure for many airlines. You went through the normal security checks and there is no EU equivelent of the no fly list - there was no security lapse.

For journeys outside the Schengen area (inc. Switzerland to UK) there is a requirement to check that you have the correct documentation to enter the UK. As you must go through immigration on arrival, the ID checks before hand are confirming that you have the correct passport or visa, as the airline will be fined if they fly someone to the UK that doesn't meet the entry requirements.

Some airlines (e.g. reyanair) will check ID on domestic or intra schengen flights as a revenue protection measure (i.e. to make sure the person flying actually purchased the ticket).

^

Thanks for the post. And it´s part of the freedom in a civilized society that only the police or border/customs protection üersonal is allowed to ask you for an official ID.

Otherwise we would live in a totalitarian society if you need a government issued ID for everything and anything.

Even the check-in agents of air berlin had to learn this lesson some years ago not to deny passengers on an intra-German flight who don´t want to hand over their passport or ID card when carrying a reservation confirmation :D

I also had this very recently on ZRH-WAW-ZRH. Never showed my ID.

Of course, this also means that intra-Schengen air reservations are now practically transferrable... :)

Of course, this also means that intra-Schengen air reservations are now practically transferrable... :)


Not theoretically. When you book a LH ticket online the system asks you "how would you like to identify yourself" and gives the credit card used for purchase or the M&M card as options. But of course they never check.

This is just one thing that makes me love so much Europe - except the UK of course.

This is just one thing that makes me love so much Europe - except the UK of course.

+1 ^. But enjoy it while you can. With certain countries now starting to question the Schengen agreements (mainly for internal populist motives I assume) we might be going backwards rather than forwards over the next few years.

And to the OP: I'm glad that you survived your flight... :D

I am happy Switzerland joined Schengen.

Schengen is great - it's just like the "good old days".
Less airport stress, good for business, good for everyone.
It makes almost the whole of Mainland Europe boundary free.

I was once inside a cab at Berlin Tegel within 3 minutes of parking-brake on when flying ZRH-TXL.
Now try doing that at LHR or MAN :D:D

Sure, I guess some people will abuse it, but those kind of people would abuse any law even if we had passport checks before and after every Swiss->Germany flight. There are criminals everywhere - even in Switzerland...

On April 16, flying on LX 967 TGL/ZRH, something extremely unusual happened, which I consider to be a substantial security lapse:

Welcome to the free world!