Originally Posted by
TortillaChip
Hah, quoting for posterity. Your realistic scenario is holding up an aircraft for 20 mins to check everyone's ID for a rogue companion!!
I'll offer $20 through PayPal for anyone who can post documented proof of negative action taken as a result of their companion boarding without them, including charging the companion full fare for the flight, etc.
Would you pay $20 for proof that Southwest has held up a flight for 20 minutes checking ID's when the passenger count was incorrect?
While it's true that the costs of a 20 minute delay exceed the immediate benefit, the long-run benefit is that fraudsters know that they can't get away with it so they don't try. It's basic game theory.