is it illegal to hire someone to fly under your name?
May 13, 2009, 11:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: AA Plat- 2MM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold\
Posts: 188
is it illegal to hire someone to fly under your name?
this would make a nifty money-making operation for your frequent flying friends. i wonder if they can book a ticket in their name, i get a refundable ticket and go through security. cancel the refundable ticket and fly with my friend's ticket.
thoughts?
thoughts?
May 13, 2009, 11:22 am
#3
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Milton, GA USA
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite
Posts: 19,040
and... I am pretty sure the airline would close your account and confiscate your miles if they ever caught you.
May 13, 2009, 11:29 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Silver; SPG Gold; Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 409
On a related note, why don't airlines allow you to purchase a ticket, not fly and get the miles? This would benefit the airlines because they then could either resell the ticket (this could be built into the agreement if the person does not fly) or fly without the added weight of the person and his/her baggage.
May 13, 2009, 11:29 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NOVA
Programs: IHG Rewards Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, UA/DL/AA Back of the plane...
Posts: 4,612
May 13, 2009, 11:31 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
It's certainly against airline rules, but as far as illegality is concerned, no posters have yet cited any law that would be broken.
May 13, 2009, 11:31 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: PIT
Programs: Delta Skymiles
Posts: 174
I've often wondered the same thing. I'm not so sure that it's illegal, it might breach their contract of carriage, but you're not using any fake identification to get past airport screening. I recall seeing an ebay listing offering this same sort of service.
May 13, 2009, 11:34 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: new york, ny
Posts: 1,373
Lets see. someone get caught flying with a ticket in another person's name. do you know how the CIA treat suspected terrorist?
May 13, 2009, 11:38 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Silver; SPG Gold; Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 409
May 13, 2009, 11:40 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: 80 countries across the world
Programs: some, * alliance, OW, ISIC,
Posts: 1,336
It is not illegal if that person has your consent to fly domestically since that person is not impersonating you to cross borders. A written statement endorsed a notary. However, TSA may decide to nit pick and find some charges to place onto that person if they have a tip-off.
I know that some airlines are ok with such things, normally those that have an unfavourable earn/burn ratio. But its not something that i would discussed openly until stricter controls are in place to kick out the airline revenue protection reps.
I know that some airlines are ok with such things, normally those that have an unfavourable earn/burn ratio. But its not something that i would discussed openly until stricter controls are in place to kick out the airline revenue protection reps.
May 13, 2009, 11:52 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 2,080
"Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both."
You can't make an airline reservation without making or (causing to be made) some kind of wire communication. Frequent flyer miles are property, and obtaining credit for miles flown by others violates the statute by imposing liability on the airline that it would not otherwise have borne. There are quite a few cases discussing this issue in various contexts; here is just one: US v. Mullins.
The facts of this case do not match your hypothetical exactly, but the principles apply. The scheme you describe could certainly be prosecuted as wire fraud.
Last edited by Ready2Go; May 13, 2009 at 11:53 am Reason: Add quotation marks
May 13, 2009, 12:07 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC/Northern NJ
Programs: 1K - UAL, Platinum DL, Marriott, Hilton, SPG
Posts: 1,815
I great idea in theory. As you can obtain miles, or have an alibi if you murder someone, etc. HAHA
However, the plan fails if your flight is detoured or emergency situation and everyone needs to recheck into security area. While this is infrequent it can happen with summer storms, mechanical difficulties, etc. so your flight from DFW to ORD is landing in ST. Louis and must show ID to check in to different aircraft.
However, the plan fails if your flight is detoured or emergency situation and everyone needs to recheck into security area. While this is infrequent it can happen with summer storms, mechanical difficulties, etc. so your flight from DFW to ORD is landing in ST. Louis and must show ID to check in to different aircraft.