Woman Boarded Delta Flight Using Strangers Boarding Pass
#31
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
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So let's see--
1. ID checks are a critical element of TSA security ("Identity Matters") and therefore MUST be conducted.
2. When the ID check process fails, TSA says identity doesn't matter because the person and their luggage were screened anyway.
3. Neither the press nor the general public can muster two brain cells to rub together and call out this obvious contradiction as evidence of the uselessness of the ID check as a security measure.
Instead, all we get are proclamations of how this is a serious "security breach" by those who seek monetary gain through fear-mongering.
1. ID checks are a critical element of TSA security ("Identity Matters") and therefore MUST be conducted.
2. When the ID check process fails, TSA says identity doesn't matter because the person and their luggage were screened anyway.
3. Neither the press nor the general public can muster two brain cells to rub together and call out this obvious contradiction as evidence of the uselessness of the ID check as a security measure.
Instead, all we get are proclamations of how this is a serious "security breach" by those who seek monetary gain through fear-mongering.
#32
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: YUL
Programs: ✈ AC 1MM / S100K - SPG Lifetime Platinum = BONVoY Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,508
One time, I successfully got through security with a boarding pass from the same flight two months earlier. It turns out that I accidentally pulled out the old boarding pass from my carryon. It wasn't caught until it beeped at the gate and, even then, the GA didn't realize what happened. She just thought that the computer had printed the wrong seat assignment somehow. She crossed out the seat assignment and printed the new one on the boarding pass.
It wasn't until I got on the plane and looked at the boarding pass that I figured out what happened. The funny thing is that the TSA screening area was not at all busy (only 2 or 3 people in line) and the TSA agent carefully scruntized my boarding pass (putting checkmarks by all the relevant info including the wrong date).
Back in the day (before ID was checked), errors like the OP's happened a lot particularly to people with common names. They would often get sorted out on the plane (or never sorted out).
It wasn't until I got on the plane and looked at the boarding pass that I figured out what happened. The funny thing is that the TSA screening area was not at all busy (only 2 or 3 people in line) and the TSA agent carefully scruntized my boarding pass (putting checkmarks by all the relevant info including the wrong date).
Back in the day (before ID was checked), errors like the OP's happened a lot particularly to people with common names. They would often get sorted out on the plane (or never sorted out).
#33
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: CVG
Programs: DL DM; UA PS; Marriott Platinum; SPG Platinum
Posts: 27
My wife had a significantly delayed flight from CVG to LGA. In the Skyclub, she asked to be switched to another flight, but the agent said she was already on that flight and "reprinted" a boarding pass. When my wife boarded the flight, someone else came and said you are in my seat. The GA came on board and asked to see her ID. Turns out both of them had the same first name and last name. Everything ended up fine as both of them departed on that flight.
#34
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The boarding pass could have been printed by an agent. The agent may have chosen the wrong passenger by accident. On the other hand, she could have entered her name into the kiosk and the kiosk chose the wrong name.
If two passengers with the same name are on the same flight (with the same destination), this is an easy mixup if you are using a check-in method that does not require a frequent flyer number and/or the PNR locator. It used to happen all the time before online/kioks checkin.
If two passengers with the same name are on the same flight (with the same destination), this is an easy mixup if you are using a check-in method that does not require a frequent flyer number and/or the PNR locator. It used to happen all the time before online/kioks checkin.
#36
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
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The SkyCap screwed up.
I'd blame her as well, but I rarely check my BP anymore, especially cuz I have it on my phone.
TSA screwed up in that they should be checking names (based on their rules). (Whether or not that rule is justified is something else entirely.)
No security breach, because she was screened as well as TSA can screen anyone. Even if she shouldn't have gotten PreCheck on her own, between the TSA randomly sending people through it anyways AND Pre being what proper security should anyways look like, with no added benefit of the "enhanced" security, no security breach.
And GA did nothing wrong - especially on a domestic flight, they don't always need to be checking IDs (though maybe they should start, but not as a security policy - more as financial thing, to make sure they're only boarding the appropriate people).
I'd blame her as well, but I rarely check my BP anymore, especially cuz I have it on my phone.
TSA screwed up in that they should be checking names (based on their rules). (Whether or not that rule is justified is something else entirely.)
No security breach, because she was screened as well as TSA can screen anyone. Even if she shouldn't have gotten PreCheck on her own, between the TSA randomly sending people through it anyways AND Pre being what proper security should anyways look like, with no added benefit of the "enhanced" security, no security breach.
And GA did nothing wrong - especially on a domestic flight, they don't always need to be checking IDs (though maybe they should start, but not as a security policy - more as financial thing, to make sure they're only boarding the appropriate people).
#37
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No one who blame her. Nobody! It was not her fault, but it's not Skycap fault. He have be careful. Don't let the Skycap anymore mistake again. He have to be careful and don't put a different name onto the computer system. Go easy on her.
#38
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Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
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Why do you not blame the Skycap?
#39
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Colorado
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,745
Ticket printers at the counter often jam or the agent prints 2 or the wrong one. There was a study done that is very reliable that says visual inspection like TDC with the conditions that are akin to TSA are only accurate 70 percent of the time and there is nothing that can be done to improve it.
#40
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
Ticket printers at the counter often jam or the agent prints 2 or the wrong one. There was a study done that is very reliable that says visual inspection like TDC with the conditions that are akin to TSA are only accurate 70 percent of the time and there is nothing that can be done to improve it.
#41
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Some have commissioned proofreading-against-copy studies in other contexts, and I'm pretty sure that the TSA won't have better results than professional proofreaders -- and that is for word to word checks in an "appropriate" manner.
When it comes to positive or negative matching of ID's face against a present person, studies have indicated that failure rates are material and in the low double-digit range even for "trained" passport control personnel.
I have little doubt that an ordinary two-year old child is at least as reliable at proper facial-recognition outcomes as an ordinary DHS employee checking ID without use of FRT.
The claim that nothing can be done to improve outcomes at the TDC is a claim rooted in myth. But to fix it is not worth it, and the best fix is to scrap TDC.
When it comes to positive or negative matching of ID's face against a present person, studies have indicated that failure rates are material and in the low double-digit range even for "trained" passport control personnel.
I have little doubt that an ordinary two-year old child is at least as reliable at proper facial-recognition outcomes as an ordinary DHS employee checking ID without use of FRT.
The claim that nothing can be done to improve outcomes at the TDC is a claim rooted in myth. But to fix it is not worth it, and the best fix is to scrap TDC.
#42
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,776
The less busy the TSA TDC dog and pony show, the worse the TSA-equivalent of "proofreading"? Either way, this shouldn't be a surprise given the labor force utilized in this role.
the best fix is to scrap TDC.
The entire TSA setup is a joke
#44
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Originally Posted by ou81two
Then anyone can access the secure area.
Originally Posted by ou81two
Given that this policy is standard throughout the first world, I have to scratch my head and ask if they know better or if you do.
#45
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,776
Care to prove anything you say? I fly most weeks. I've never had water taken from me inside of security. That includes in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The changes you have mentioned would let people who are part of a conspiracy enter an airport to coordinate things from the inside. The current system makes sure that anyone who gets in the airport has a ticket and ID that match and as a result that ticket has been run through the Secure program. Changing this would mean that people like known terrorists could easily get access to all of our major airports. It's presently very hard for them to do that. You post on a security forum and don't get this?
Have any other great ideas? Maybe we can do away with those pesky and uppity ATC's next.
The changes you have mentioned would let people who are part of a conspiracy enter an airport to coordinate things from the inside. The current system makes sure that anyone who gets in the airport has a ticket and ID that match and as a result that ticket has been run through the Secure program. Changing this would mean that people like known terrorists could easily get access to all of our major airports. It's presently very hard for them to do that. You post on a security forum and don't get this?
Have any other great ideas? Maybe we can do away with those pesky and uppity ATC's next.