NoStressHere

Wow - I must live in a different world or zone.

I have given my phone number to:
every bank for our 30+ credit cards
every frequent flyer/hotel account - that must be well over 30 of them
maybe another 50 vendors from online purchases

the list goes on and on

I get less than a handful of junk phone calls a week... sometimes none. And I have never bothered to add my number to do not call lists.

joshua362

Do consider yourself lucky! Once it happens, the floodgates open IME. The amount of calls I get on a daily basis on a VOIP business line is staggering. Caller ID can only help ID a portion.

1980-1990's we used to move around a lot and that meant a new phone number each time. And a move meant a visit to Home Depot or similar for new house stuff. My ex would enter a drawing for a $20 gift card or some other crap with the brand new phone number and within 2 days the phone would start ringing from the local newspaper and other businesses...

NoStressHere

With just a few thoughts, you can easily answer this question.

When was the last time someone asked for your ID as you were boarding a plane?

flyer4512

Last summer by TSA at the gate as was everyone else on my flight

NoStressHere

Yes, that does happen from time to time. I have not encountered it in over a year. Thinking it was at least 50 flights ago the last time I encountered it.

Again, let's put on our thinking cap for just a second. Assume you had a boarding pass that did not match your ID - and you saw that TSA was standing there checking ID's. What would you do?

Problem solved, right?

smmrfld

flyer4512

In my case the TSA tapped me on the shoulder and asked for my documents, I was leaning against a column waiting for my flight when TSA showed up. Do you think TSA is going to ask you for your boarding pass and ID at the gate and if you don't have either they are going to just say oh well and move on ? That's funny, do you have a "thinking cap" as to what a person does at that point , RUN perhaps? Just don't drop that "THINKING CAP" !!

Regardless of what flight you board you have to get past TSA............So they do know who is flying and that was my point.

I'm done, you can argue your fictitious scenario with someone else..............next time I fly I'll ask someone to swap boarding passes , in fact maybe they should play that over the PA system when they tell you not to accept packages from a stranger ...............and don't trade/sell/barter boarding passes.

What would that common sense be , RUN ? .............If you are past security without a boarding pass and ID that match ( and did not tell TSA you forgot your ID and thus had additional screening) you have some explaining to do as to how you got there and you are going to be in for a LONG day.

If this was a real world problem there would be MANY more gate checks.

exwannabe

It is still very rare.

For a domestic flight one could easily enter the airport via another ticket under their real ID, then fly on the faux name.
I

justhere

Don't take it personally. Many people think the way you are thinking because they've never considered possibilities that they wouldn't engage in. To answer your questions:
Leaning against the column I would just tell them I'm not on this flight, just hanging around waiting for my flight. I would show them the ID and matching ticket (probably refundable) that I used to enter the secure area. As the TSA gate checks are far and few between, not really something I'd worry about. No need to run.
Yes you have to get past TSA to enter the secure area, but they don't know for sure who is flying. Once inside the secure area you might decide to leave. They don't know who left and who actually boarded (domestic flights). Once you've cleared TSA, the only security that the airline is really concerned about is revenue security. They don't want you selling the cheap ticket you bought, and now can't use, to a last minute traveler. But as we've been trying to show you, all it takes is for me to buy a refundable ticket, get through security, refund my ticket and give you $100 for your boarding pass. You leave the airport and I get on the flight.
What's fictitious is your belief that they know who is flying. And they won't announce over the PA because they don't want to give people ideas.
As has been pointed out, you use an ID that matches the ticket you use to get through security. Doesn't mean that someone else can't use your boarding pass to get on the plane.

Don't be fooled by the security theater that is the TSA. And the ID check they do is really somewhat of a holdover from when the ID check was for revenue security. The fact that you are carrying an ID that matches your ticket really doesn't make you any less of a threat. Anyone that would be known to the TSA as a threat would be a moron to use their real name.

sbrower

It is a real world scenario because it does happen. But it is not a "real world problem" because it doesn't matter very much.

LegalTender

It matters a little.

Airlines need to restrict the ability of passengers to resell tickets. Otherwise, passengers would resell unwanted tickets on eBay.

toomanybooks

NoStressHere

Not sure what you are talking about. It currently is very difficult to buy "unwanted" tickets anywhere. There are surely a few people that might be playing games, but it must be rare. After all, they still have to find a way to get through security. It can be done, but too much hassle for most people.

Are you saying this goes on?

LegalTender

Tickets are non transferable here, but more common in Europe.

Brokers re-sell once the airline collects a name-change fee.

lougord99