Originally Posted by themicah
Except that verification for BP purposes is very different than calling purposes. To fly on a BP, you have to show ID to the airline contractors before you're allowed through security, so they know you're the person with status.
When you call, they ask you for your PIN (not just your FF#) because they wnt to verify it's actually you and not somebody who happened to find a BP in the trash bin by the baggage claim that said "elite" on it.
I can generate a BP which shows my elite status just by going over to a kiosk... I don't have to show an ID to anyone to get that elite plus BP. Is it so hard to imagine that I could enter an elite DL FF # on a NW phone and have the same recognition? No PIN needed. Come on, don't be so confined with how the system is right now! Think more how it SHOULD be.
BTW, most elites are pretty sensitive to leaving used BPs lying around with their names, FF# and status.