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Slate.com says internet checkin is a security threat
http://www.slate.com/Default.aspx?id...5F2053C2C6CFF7
A Dangerous Loophole in Airport Security If Slate could discover it, the terrorists will too. By Andy Bowers A home-printed boarding pass is generally checked only twice at the airport: 1) Right before you go through security, a security guard checks your boarding pass against your government-issued ID, making sure the names match. This check does not include a scan of the barcode, in part because the same security checkpoints process passengers for multiple airlines with different computer systems. Occasionally a second security guard at the metal detector will double-check the boarding pass, but again, not by scanning it. 2) Once you get to your boarding gate, the barcode on the printed pass is finally scanned just before you enter the Jetway. However, as the boarding agents remind you over and over, you no longer need to show your ID at the gate. (The TSA estimates 80 percent of U.S. airports have done away with ID checks at the boarding gate.) I've noticed that many passengers still have their driver's licenses or passports in hand as they approach, remembering post-9/11 enhanced security. But the agents cheerily tell them to put their IDs away—they're no longer necessary. Do you see the big flaw? At no point do you have to prove that the person in whose name the ticket was bought is the same person standing at the airport. Recently I've seen the contract ID checkers write a small scribble on my web-checkin boarding passes with a colored pencil after they do the ID check (I wasn't SSSS'd, and this has happened a couple times in the last two months- I have no idea what the scribble is actually supposed to signify). That wouldn't reall stop the double boarding pass scam, though, because you could duplicate the mark on your "real" boarding pass. |
As if showing ID has anything to do with real security.
If anyone at Slate really believes that their discovery reveals a real security threat, then there is very little real wisdom among the writing staff at Slate. |
Anyone can "doctor" up an old online boarding pass to get to the gate so what good will ID be?
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Actually anybody young looking can tell the TSA agent "I'm under 18" and never need an ID- conceivably two college students could swap BPs and pretend to be under 18 and go on the other flight.
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"Security" has nothing to do with this. The only thing this story proves is that the guv-mint isn't doing as good a job as it could at spending our money enforcing the airlines' ticket non-transferability clauses.
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What a pathetically stupid article. I guess everyone is an "expert" these days :rolleyes:
Even without online check-in there are so, so many other ways to get around the BP checking process. And of course, checking ID != security. This guy has had too much of the kool aid. Unfortunately, I can't find his e-mail address listed, otherwise I'd direct him over here for some learning. |
This is about the dumbest thing I have seen (that's saying alot) in awhile...what are these people smoking? Do they honestly think that someone can print out a fake boarding pass, show up at the airport, clear security and then board a flight without the airline have a confirmed reservation and matching ticket for that boarding pass? What happens in Slate's mind when the passenger presents the fake boarding pass and the gate agent's computer has no record of a ticket and reservation?
To quote John Stossel, 'give me a break'. |
What a stupid stupid article written by an uninformed alarmist. Dumb too since he's flying coach. :D http://www.slate.com/Default.aspx?id=2113123&
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
This is about the dumbest thing I have seen (that's saying alot) in awhile...what are these people smoking? Do they honestly think that someone can print out a fake boarding pass, show up at the airport, clear security and then board a flight without the airline have a confirmed reservation and matching ticket for that boarding pass? What happens in Slate's mind when the passenger presents the fake boarding pass and the gate agent's computer has no record of a ticket and reservation?
Basically, I rather believe Slate thinks that the "security theater" (Bruce Scheiner invented that phrase, IIRC) of ID checks is real security. I think there's more security theater than real security going on in airports these days, which is why I posted the article here... |
There's a small point to be made here. Let's assume TSA is serious about CAPPS/SF. Given that the BP is the means with which TSA accomplishes the mission of CAPPS/SF, not to mention the legal means by which non-employees can access the sterile area, it does seem a little silly that we let the BP get printed out in a less secure, easily forged environment. (Remember all those discussions about photoshopping out the SSSS?)
That brings us back to the different, bigger point: it's nigh-on impossible to guarantee that a person presenting themselves for boarding is who they say they are, given the ease of acquiring false identity documents. That issue alone makes a name-based "security" system like CAPPS/SF or checking photo ID highly suspect. |
Originally Posted by mizzou65201
There's a small point to be made here. Let's assume TSA is serious about CAPPS/SF. Given that the BP is the means with which TSA accomplishes the mission of CAPPS/SF, not to mention the legal means by which non-employees can access the sterile area, it does seem a little silly that we let the BP get printed out in a less secure, easily forged environment. (Remember all those discussions about photoshopping out the SSSS?)
Then, of course, there's the whole can of worms about whether someone can just get a fake ID and travel under a fake name. |
Originally Posted by Traveller
What a stupid stupid article written by an uninformed alarmist. Dumb too since he's flying coach. :D http://www.slate.com/Default.aspx?id=2113123&
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I think the posts about fake IDs are right on. To make a fuss about where a boarding pass is printed is abit silly when I can drive to certain neighborhoods in LA and come away with a perfect copy of a CA driver's license showing the name of my choice for about $100...with which I can build a whole new identity, let alone do some traveling with it.
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The other day I overheard a spoiled princess endlessly ranting about her flying experience (starting with blaming UA for fog at PDX that delayed their flight 3 hours).
She was called to the podium at my flight due to an equipment change to obtain a new b.p. (they swapped a CRJ700 for a CRJ700 with F and E+ seating). After getting her new b.p., she ranted loudly to everyone in the seating area: "They didn't even ask for my ID! Oh, I feel SOOOO safe!" and then went on to b*tch and moan about it for a good twenty minutes about how this (trading in b.p.'s for a new seat w/o asking for ID) was going to allow terrorists to board planes, etc. This girl is the perfect example of why the public is so quick to accept every new "security" measure; she and those like her actually think that they do any good. |
Originally Posted by bocastephen
I think the posts about fake IDs are right on. To make a fuss about where a boarding pass is printed is abit silly when I can drive to certain neighborhoods in LA and come away with a perfect copy of a CA driver's license showing the name of my choice for about $100...with which I can build a whole new identity, let alone do some traveling with it.
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