Originally Posted by Cyba
I don't think they bothered with it too much. I remember an argument with a UA customer (dis)service agent in DEN summer of 99 who told me that they only tried to match luggage to the manifest if they had reason to believe there was a security risk and that therefore they didn't do it as routine. Perhaps she was trying to pull the wool over my eyes but the fact that she even tried that argument on suggests that things were somewhat more relaxed back then.
But did the OP mention anything about luggage?
On UA before 9/11, if I tried to standby on earlier flights and didn't get on that plane, taking my originally booked. My luggage would be off to the side of the carrosel when I showed up back at MCI, no waiting for the luggage, it would come in on the earlier flights.