Originally Posted by
danielonn
With the recent Stoaway Passenger caught on a Southwest SJC-LAX flight why can't the TSA do something like Lufthansa Does whereby at the gate you must insert your boarding pass in order for the boarding doors to open. Perhaps to take it one step further you may be asked to swipe your ID and boarding pass as well to open the door.
At the security checkpoints there could be a similar setup like on the Metro whereby you are asked to Swipe your ID and scan or insert your boarding pass in order for the Control Gates to open to allow access to the security screening area.
If the machine cannot confirm the identity then it would sound three beeps and the TSA agent would have to check the Boarding Pass and ID and then if it all is OK would swipe his or her TSA ID Card and enter a 4 digit pin for the control gates to open.
If a passenger does not have a boarding pass then they would not be allowed through the Control Gate into the Security Area.
When exiting the airport secure area towards the boarding area perhaps the passengers would be required to hold onto their boarding passes which is why a second copy would be printed until they are in the baggage claim area. This way at the exit checkpoint they would swipe their Boarding Pass and ID and if there was any issue the airline could flag the passenger and they would be taken to a holding area until the issue was cleared or proper authorities were caught. This would avoid anyone trying to commit an illegal act.
For instance if a passenger in 3 A was caught stealing a jacket of a passenger seated in 1 A all the Gate Agent would have to do is enter the PNR/ID and send a message which would flag the exit checkpoint. Cruiselines are having you scan your SeaPass when you leave and board the ship. If there is a problem there would be a Bell that sounds and you would be held until you were cleared.
If for some reason the passenger accidently forgot his boarding pass the exit Security Screener could look up the itinerary with the last name and flight# or routing etc.
What are your thoughts about this type of system?
Nothing about the TSA contributes to security, so there are no security breaches to be prevented. The system the OP suggests is cumbersome and complicated and tends toward false imprisonment.
I have an idea. Why not have some kind of agent at the gate scan each passenger's boarding pass as they approach the gate to board.