Originally Posted by
HSVTSO Dean
In theory, the markings (I obviously can't speak for some other airports' "scribbles," but in HSV it's the initials of the TSO working at the TDC position) are for the benefit of the airline gate agents, so that they know the person came through the checkpoint and was screened.
In theory.
I know it actually works like it's supposed to here in Huntsville; if a passenger is boarding the plane and presents a boarding pass that doesn't have the markings on it, then the gate agent doesn't allow them to board. Instead, they call us at the checkpoint, and we go to the gate to verify that they've been screened.
On the other hand, I've also read some threads here on FT where the gate agent didn't notice/didn't care about the non-presence of the markings on the boarding passes.
As a frequent flier, I routinely go through security using the boarding pass I printed at home the night before, then go to the Red Carpet Club and either get an upgrade or a better seat, resulting in issuance of a new boarding pass, i.e. one sans squiggle. I've never, not since the beginning of TSA, had a gate agent challenge the boarding pass. I'm not saying you're wrong about HSV, but it certainly isn't the case with respect to any of the airports that I fly through.