Originally Posted by
no2chem
Checking entry requirements and ID check are two different requirements. People keep referring to have to scan the passport, that's just an automated way of entering the text at the bottom of the passport into sabre 4DOCS/... My passport doesn't scan so they always hand enter it anyway.
The AAgent can accomplish an entry check requirement without the person physically present. In fact this sort of stuff is done at the club all the time: I can do the doc check for my wife at the lounge with the agent while she's eating,etc and they won't necessarily even ask to see her to verify her picture matches, and of course no beep at the gate. They just punch in the passport to make sure it's matched what we've already entered online. I would be surprised if this hasn't happened to anyone else, on/off FT.
I honestly don't know what "law"/"rule" people think is being broken here by my suggestion. Which to be clear is to hold the child's passport at JFK, docs clear the child remotely with a remote match over video and double verify when the child arrives and hand them the passport. Maybe someone can actually cite something?
Again, I repeat that I don't think an AAgent will do it because they've been trained to not problem solve and use common sense..
I would think that one reason for the check would be to verify not just the validity of the passport but also that it is actually in the traveler’s possession. I know that AA has another shot at doing this check before the international leg departs but I could understand them not wanting to take any chances. You can certainly argue that the rules are too rigid, but unless there is a well-defined process for performing such a remote check, doing so as an exception has the potential to create more problems than it solves.