Originally Posted by
graraps
I imagine that it would be pretty easy to forge a FF card of an airline that you never fly (e.g. LA if you're a shorthaul BA flyer) and convince the dragons that their computer's dodgy and doesn't display correct status. Plus, should you fail, they won't confiscate your card (can you imagine them saying "this card is property of an airline based 5000 miles away whose planes I've never seen and who doesn't even fly here and we'll return it to SCL just so you have to wait for three months for a replacement?"

) ...
I have seen expired AA cards on the desks of 'entrance operatives' many times. Maybe they counter blag by saying it's BA property by proxy...
BA almost always ask for the card, despite having a direct link to the system checking my status. Conversely, AA have never asked for my card. A boarding card has always been enough.