Practical Travel Safety Issues - Changing tickets with another post-security?

Just playing with a thought here.


Let us say that I fly from AAA to CCC via BBB, AAA-BBB-CCC on UA, and someone I know only flies BBB-CCC on DL. The flights from BBB-CCC depart within 30 minutes of each other. Both of us will be able to meet post security in the terminal at BBB (I will be clearing security at AAA, the other person at BBB).

Now the question is, could we hypothetically change tickets with each other so that the other person completes my part of the ticket from BBB-CCC, while I fly on his DL ticket from BBB-CCC?

As far as I know there is no more ID-check at the gate for domestic flights, so it is not very likely that they will catch us doing this, right?

You could. But ID checks are sometimes done at gates. And if caught, expect to hear on the local news - "next, at 11 - a major gap in Airport Security found". with images of worried mothers saying "i think that's crazy someone could get on the plane with someone else's ticket - I mean, who knows what that guy wanted to do (I don't know, something crazy like get on a plane and off a plane?)

Even though this is a revenue issue, not a security one, and the ticket user is 99 percent not a terrorist. And he would need to get into the sterile area with a BP or gate pass that went through the no-fly list stuff...

This method is used by people smugglers all around the world to move illegal immigrants and refugees.

1. Where did you hear that there aren't ID checks at the gate? TSA is running a lot of random secondaries at the gate.

2. This is largely a revenue, not a security issue. Both pax have been cleared through a checkpoint, so the immediate consequence would be ticket cancellations and the like.

3. Depending on whether TSA decided to pursue the matter, it could do anything from proposing up to an $11,000 civil fine or it could refer the matter for possible criminal prosecution. Such an action would probably result in being subjected to a lot of extra scrutiny for a long long time.

Yes you could, though if there's another ID check at the gate that will be an issue, or should something happen that requires them to clear the terminal and rescreen everybody.


See this thread

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/checkpoints-borders-policy-debate/926095-gate-searches-still-aaarrrhhhggg.html

about gate checks for ID, with some listed as recently as last week.

1. Where did you hear that there aren't ID checks at the gate? TSA is running a lot of random secondaries at the gate.


Have flown quite a few US domestic flights and I have never experienced a second ID check at the gate.

Please follow as the thread moves to the apt travel security forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

This method is used by people smugglers all around the world to move illegal immigrants and refugees.
Indeed, it's only recently that the UK government discovered a loophole in travel from Brussels by Eurostar. (Well actually they've known it for years but haven't bothered to do anything about it)

Someone with a right to enter the UK buys a ticket to the UK, the one who doesn't buys a ticket to Lille. The one with the ticket to Lille doesn't undergo immigration checks at Brussels (itr's like pre-clearance) whereas the other does. Once both are on the train they swap tickets and the illegal travels into London safe in the knowledge that there aren't any more checks.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/8943417/Illegals-immigrants-can-exploit-Lille-loophole-to-get-in-to-UK-on-Eurostar.html

Have flown quite a few US domestic flights and I have never experienced a second ID check at the gate.

I've never won the lottery, but I believe people do.

Indeed, it's only recently that the UK government discovered a loophole in travel from Brussels by Eurostar. (Well actually they've known it for years but haven't bothered to do anything about it)

There are other ticket swap loopholes that have existed at Heathrow and Gatwick for years, with full knowledge of the powers that be. Its only in the last 10 years that the actual will to plug the holes has developed.

There are other ticket swap loopholes that have existed at Heathrow and Gatwick for years, with full knowledge of the powers that be. Its only in the last 10 years that the actual will to plug the holes has developed.

Along similar lines, see my thread from a couple of years ago: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1085827-slightly-ot-common-travel-area-arrivals-into-lgw-south-terminal.html

Is this still going on, do you know, B747-437B ?

Just playing with a thought here.


Let us say that I fly from AAA to CCC via BBB, AAA-BBB-CCC on UA, and someone I know only flies BBB-CCC on DL. The flights from BBB-CCC depart within 30 minutes of each other. Both of us will be able to meet post security in the terminal at BBB (I will be clearing security at AAA, the other person at BBB).

Now the question is, could we hypothetically change tickets with each other so that the other person completes my part of the ticket from BBB-CCC, while I fly on his DL ticket from BBB-CCC?

As far as I know there is no more ID-check at the gate for domestic flights, so it is not very likely that they will catch us doing this, right?

Assuming you do the swap, both of you still wind up in CCC (do you have some special affinity for DL and your friend for UA?)
If TSA is doing a gate check (and tsa still does these), the agents would be in place at the (respective) gates well before departure, so you would know that this is happening and continue on your original itns. instead of doing a swap.

You could do it, but why would you? Usually, the BP swap is done if you're trying to make an earlier flight. Give someone already checked in a few bills to sit around the airport and take you're later flight, you take their earlier flight.

But, swapping out airlines, that may get a little dicey, since who knows what happens if the flight is canceled, diverted due to mechanical issues or something of that nature. In the OPs case, I wouldn't do it across airlines, although it wouldn't be because of TSA or anything.