Originally Posted by WayMaker
I remember when ID was not required at all to fly domestic routes. If I recall correctly, with the advent of deregulation in the 70's, special fares were introduced that required a round trip ticket. Suddenly airlines were motivated to have an identity check. And shortly after this, if I'm not mistaken, one had to supply a photo ID at check in. Am I remembering the sequence correctly? Even if I have the story wrong, the motive for airlines to check IDs is only partly about security.
Up until 1985 at least, my company at the time had stacks of unused tickets that any one of us flying could and would use. IDs were NEVER checked, and on top of that, we would routinely take them to different airlines and use them on a standby basis. Those were the days...
