It's more useful to use a revenue ticket with someone else's name in order to pool FF mileage and/or status...

Can anyone enlighten me about what's so dangerous to produce an ID at check-in ? Do you really think they won't be able to track your movements by not showing a government issued ID ? I'm a roadwarrior, too, but I really really don't understand where the problem is ? Is it because it's in the US constitution (like carrying guns - we all see where this has lead to...) ?

Most people can not even spot a fake ID, so why bother using a real one flying domestically.

Nothing.

The posts here are attempting to answer a question less simple and further removed from one regarding inherent danger, and that is: "Why should I be required to procure an ID to fly?" IOW, what purpose does showing ID serve? (And to whom?)

The overwhelming consensus seems to be that it serves a purpose for the airlines' bottom line to some degree or other, but it serves nil-to-none in terms of airline security. If someone can prove that it does, we're all about enlightenment here.

So far, no such argument has made any sense. The mere acting of flashing a piece of picture ID that matches you in person doesn't do anything in and of itself to prevent bad things from happening to a commerical airliner.

Oh dangerous? Nothing, but maybe a slippery slope.

What if the grocery stores required you to produce ID at the store before you can buy food, whether you use cash or any other form of payment?

What if your gas station required you to show ID before you can buy gas?

What if all of that only resulted in a minor inconvenience - big deal.

Then what happens if the national spy program gets ingrained, and citizens are required to report on each other for suspicious terrorist activity, and ID checks are used as evidence of suspicious / illegal activity - ie buying gas at 3am?

Little things lead to big things. It may not be a big deal, but why are people so willing to give up little rights?

May I see your government approved ID, as I have not seen it prior to today?

My husband was just in LAS for a meeting. One of his co workers had her wallet lifted from a fanny pack in one of the casinos. All her ID (picture DL etc) were in it. She flew with a the Las Vegas Police Report as ID. And, get this, she skipped the TSA conga line by going to a "special line" (my husband's words) while he waited 30 minutes.

I completely agree when you want to fight the BS inherited by the TSA or DHS, but there are so many other incidents (little less dangerous than flying) where you show your ID (not sure about you in the US when writing a cheque at Safeways, but here in the UK when that was possible, you had to produce an ID when handing a cheque to the shop owner or cashier, and then you're arguing showing the ID at flight check-in... - or what's about opening a bank account... ).

And hey, do you really think they're not able to track you just because you do not show your ID ???? To come back to the example buying gas at 3am and being tracked, guess what they use... what's about your credit card number ?? If they want to track you (and I'm sure there is one of the lovely agencies doing that already), they do not necessarily need the photo ID, but I think it's a good idea to show it when you want to board a plane, or at least I don't think it's a big deal in doing so.

In the US, there are very few instances where you can be required to produce ID of any kind, much less a Government issued photo ID or Social Security Card. We don't have a national ID card, nor do we have a requirement to get or carry a state ID card.

Most of us have driver's licences, of course, but the way our credit system works, it's possible to easily commit identity fraud with just a driver's license and a credit card. So, to limit my exposure to identify theft a second time, I show my DL only when I'm compelled to -- which is only when I operate a vehicle. Others who want to see ID for a reasonable purpose get my passport.

Those who want to see ID for an unreasonable purpose (such as "validating" a credit card transaction) get nothing. My credit cards all have my picture on them, so the "argument" that it's for my protection is specious.

Why do you think this is a "good idea"??? What purpose does this serve other than making work for someone? There are already means in place to ensure you have no bombs, weapons, or water.

Then why showing your ID then when opening a bank account, why having an ID at all ? Why number plates for your cars ? Why drivers licenses ? Sorry, but I really don't get it where not showing an ID increases your personal freedom while probably everybody is already tracked by a loyalty card (don't you have a Safeways card ? or a Delta/AA/UA/whatsoever card ??). You are already monitored !

Don't get me wrong, I fully support you when we're talking about the BS invented by the TSA, or we could start talking about the humiliating process when one as a tourist wants to enter the US (fingerprints, photos: hello ???), pre-transmitting of all sorts of data before boarding a flight to the US [by the way also for US citizens], but complaining about flashing an ID during check-in process ?

http://www.aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf

Enjoy

Yeah, the Patriot Act changed the requirement to open a bank account. It requires anyone who opens an account to provide a tax identification number and government ID that shows either nationality or residence. It also requires the application to provide a physical address. Before that, though, all we had to provide was a TIN.

Otherwise, an American citizen who doesn't drive and who only has banking accounts that pre-date the Patriot Act doesn't need a photo ID at all. Even to get a new job, a Voter Registration Card and Social Security Card are sufficient identification.

Well home break-ins tend to go way up when people are traveling away from home. Telling people you'll be traveling away from home and giving them your address (which is what you're doing when you show an ID with your address on it at the airport) would decrease your security.

Great video!

Ummmm... Unless you're flying international you don't have to have any identification...