Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
THe accountability (or more accurately, the liability) piece is more important that being able to charge the passengers extra. It also allows the airlines to deflect resulting customer issues back to the TSA ("not our fault - you have to deal with TSA").
Some might compare it to making a pact with the devil.