Here is a new one for me today at CLE (Cleveland, OH).

Have ID and boarding pass checked by contract worker at entrance to checkpoint queue. Get to end of queue and a TSA worker checks the boarding pass. Normally, no ID is required for the TSA check at the end of the queue (normally just look for �SSSS�), but today the TSA worker announces that new policy mandates that any computer generated boarding pass from e-check in requires a secondary ID check to enter. I had to pull out my drivers license again.

I guess the TSA decided that boarding passes printed through e-check in is higher risk than those printed at the airline kiosks.

Lastly, I also want to note that I was NOT required to remove my shoes for the CLE checkpoint. Strange, I thought the new SOP required removal of anything less than thin flip-flops. On Thursday of last week I was required to remove these same shoes at EWR. I have been flying out of CLE every week since the end of February and I have never had to remove my shoes. I love flying out of CLE.

Yuk! Printed out boarding passes are easily faked, but the question is why an ID check would remedy that situation? After all, if I'm going to the trouble of faking a boarding pass, I'll probably remember to put the same name on it that's on my ID, right?

weird. Actually, I don't know how they could address the issue of faked boarding passes other than to require all boarding passes to be printed on airline ticket stock. That would certainly make BPs harder to fake but the airlines would have a fit to lose all the money they've saved with online checkin, not to mention losing their investment in the IT necessary to do it.

I'll admit that to avoid being stuck with SSSS on the return flight of a code-share, I'll make fake boarding passes to use on the return, since I'm almost 100% likely to get SSSS if I do a codeshare (e.g. CO on the outbound, NW on the return). Then I take my normal SSSS boarding pass, circle the SSSS in red, scribble my initials next to it in blue or black ink, and I can board the plane normally.

I've done this 3 times before. It works great. But there's NOTHING about my identification that could safeguard against my psuedo-terrorist tactics of avoiding unnecessary probing and disrobing.

I think a good idea would be to machine-read BPs and gate passes in the queue rather than use a visual check. Scan the barcode or magnetic stripe on the BP, just like at the gate. Gasp, that technology could also beep and flash a red light to indicate SSSS--thus eliminating the problem of 1) tipping off SSSS ahead of time and 2) cranky FTers who photoshop SSSS-less BPs. The technological hurdle is making either the reading technology or the BPs themselves standard in some way in terms of barcode format or mag stripe data, esp. at checkpoints serving multiple airlines or an entire airport.

I don�t really understand it.

The only risk that I can think of related to e-check in boarding passes is potential manipulation of the boarding pass. If the boarding pass is manipulated anyways (removal of SSSS, etc.) doesn�t it stand to reason that the name on the boarding pass can be modified also to ensure that it matches the ID? I don�t see what double review of ID for e-check in boarding passes ONLY proves.

Lastly, didn�t all the hijackers from 9-11 have government issued IDs?

Presumably, one with superior reasoning skills won't understand this. I sure don't. I'm assuming that by your title of MgmtConsult you also have good reasoning skills, and thus can't comprehend an uncomprehendable situation.

It is ridiculous. I assume the reason for checking boarding passes in the first place is to limit the number of people who pass through the checkpoints (thus speeding up the process for travellers). One now has to kiss good bye outside of security. That is fine and reasonable.

But checking boarding passes is NOT a measure that buys any more security. And doublechecking computer printed boarding passes (without scanning them etc) does NOTHING for security.

Any TSA'ers have insight on this they can share?

i can't think of anything more minimal than just checking ID's and the name on the boarding pass.