The gate-check catch of those without proper docs (if any) are meant to facilitate sending the person back to a prior country (and perhaps fine the airline). If the person got to clear local passport control or evaded passport control into the zone in another jurisdiction, then packing up the person to the sending country becomes a slower and more expensive process if it is even possible at that point.
Originally Posted by
UltraRant
They also do this all the time in OSL. Last week when I can back from GIG via FRA there was a passport control at the arrival gate. We were warned by the LH staff that there was an extra passport control and advised to keep our passes ready to show.
Last year I think I saw this happen at least a dozen times. There doesn't seem to be a pattern or a specific flight where this applies.
There is a pattern, just not a pattern necessarily recognized by everybody. If it was completely random, it would be even less reliable in doing what it is meant to try to do.
Not a debate, just facts from someone intimately involved in or otherwise aware of these matters over many years.