Originally Posted by
InterFlyer
I checked in at the airport. This nation is not a territory, and my passport was checked when I landed but not when I departed. I did pass through all of the normal security systems (magnetometer and bags were scanned), they just never checked any kind of ID.
From a customs and immigration standpoint, I think it's probably a UA issue if they board someone without verifying that they have a valid passport, because it's my understanding that anyone without a valid passport will likely be denied entry to pretty much any country in the world, leaving UA with the problem of returning the person to their country of origin.
Originally Posted by
InterFlyer
Really? So someone, say on the no-fly list, gets a hold of my reservation and boards in the plane as if it were myself. That has nothing to do with UA and nothing to do with security, right? The UA employee at the check-in counter never saw my ID (and never asked for any, not even to hand me the bag tags).
Yes, really.
So long as you and your luggage are screened properly to be sure you're not carrying weapons or explosives, it doesn't matter who you are, it's safe to allow you aboard an airplane.
Originally Posted by
InterFlyer
Yes, but how would they know if I am who I say I am if they never saw or asked for any ID?
Again, that's a UA problem, not a security problem. If UA boards a passenger who is illegally using someone else's ticket, they're the ones who are losing revenue. But even for revenue protection, an ID check has limited value, since a ticket thief could be using a fake ID.
Just because you have a multipass that says you're Corbin Dallas doesn't mean you're actually THE Corbin Dallas.
Of course, if more than one person shows up claiming to be Corbin Dallas, the proper procedure, IMHO, would be to pull all of the Corbin Dallases aside and determine which is the genuine article, and which are imposters illegally in possession of fraudulent ID documents. At that point it becomes a criminal issue involving the police.
But if only ONE Corbin Dallas shows up to check in for the flight, then it's not such a big deal if his ID isn't checked prior to boarding, as long as he and his luggage are properly screened for weapons and explosives.
Originally Posted by
InterFlyer
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying, UA didn't check my ID at check in (and I checked in at the counter in the airport). There was no TSA agent checking boarding passes/IDs either.
So what? The only potential negative to that is that UA may have allowed a non-paying passenger to board under someone else's ticket.
In short, I believe this is a legitimate issue for the airlines, to prevent stow-aways, illicit ticket transfers, and potential international admission refusals. But it's not a security issue at all.