Wrong Boarding Pass at CVG
 

Three weeks ago I had a Delta flight from Cincinnati to Shreveport LA. After getting my Delta counter issued BP I proceeded to security where two different people checked my ID and BP. While waiting at the gate I happened to notice that my boarding pass had someone else's name on it! I took my ID and the BP to the boarding agent and informed her about the discepency. BIG issue! She called TSA and the Cincinnati police and after questioning (during which time the plane took off) The Delta agent said "You have to go through security with a boarding pass with you own name on it." Duh, If I were up to no good would I point out the error and volunteer my ID to the gate agent?

Two questions and a comment:
1)Are there any basic requirements for the guy that sits in a chair and who's sole function is to check IDs and boarding passes?
2)If I had John Doe's BP did he have mine, and if so, how did he get on the plane?

On my three flights since this incident I have been SSSS'd all three times Coincedence? Don't think so, I probably on some kind of list now as a "bad guy" for a mistake the airline made. And no, I didn't get emotional, the ticket agent's supervisor said I was very calm given the circumstances and that most people would be quite upset.

Welcome to FT. Sorry you had such a bad experience.

It's very likely John Doe boarded the flight with your BP without ever noticing and made it to his destination without incident, especially since they failed to resolve this incident prior to your flight's departure. Check to see if you got mileage-credit for the segment in question; if you did, it's a good indicator someone took the flight. If not, they probably messed up your BP but not anybody else's.

They called the police over this issue? I would have had a hard time not laughing out loud.

Seriously, you should complain to DL about the way you were treated by the GA (gate agent), focusing on the overreaction that caused you to miss your flight and illogic of rescreening an already-screened pax. (It's a wonder they didn't go off their rocker and evacuate the terminal.) Demand substantial compensation for missing your flight. Threaten to stop flying DL unless they comply. Don't back down.

If you continue to get SSSS'd on non 1-way non-last-minute flights (i.e., flights you would not normally get this on), you should quickly complain to both DL and the supposed TSA ombudsman for dealing with these issues. Both will likely blame the other on the problem, but if you are persistant, you might make some progress.

If you fly enough to test the SSSsystem, try flying without your FF # on a roundtrip (to see if you get SSSS'd) and/or flying under a different combination of your first/middle/last initials/names (i.e.., J Quincy Doe instead of John Q Doe). See if that makes the SSSS go away. If/when you get no help from the airlines/TSA, consider either a new FF account or changing the name on your FF account or both, whatever is needed to make flying less painful for you. This technique has helped some of the "David Nelsons" who get flagged by the no-fly list (worse than the selectee list, instead of getting SSSS they have to talk to the police every time they fly).

Good luck. On behalf of America, I apologize to you for this disgrace.

P.S. Hindsight is always 20/20, but next time, lose the wrong BP and tell the GA you "accidentally flushed your BP down the toilet and need a new one." After reading your story, that's what I'll do if I'm in a hurry to make the flight.