A couple of discussion threads on very much the same question a few years ago...

Using Someone Else's Ticket

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/check...ements-id.html

These are not "rules", these are good old-fashioned federal criminal laws which have been on the books for many years, some well before recent anti-terrorism statutes.

1. It is only a misdemeanor offense to gain entry to a secure area by false pretenses, such as by purchasing a ticket which you do not intend to fly at the time you make the purchase. Usually only prosecuted in connection with more serious felonies dealing with the situation here. But, nonetheless something to think about for the people who flippantly tell you to do it to beat some air carrier out of a couple of bucks.

2. It is a felony to gain access to a secure area under a false name. Lots of law on "false name"

3. It is a felony to board a commercial aircraft under a false name.

OP says he is only musing about this. But, what is one person's musing turns into someone else's assertion that they heard that people do it all the time and it's fine.

Thanks for referring to those threads. I vaguely recall reading them at the time they were active. I'm not convinced that the OP's hypothetical exercise violates any terrorism related laws. The fact that his friend passed by security legally means that the TSA deems he is clear to fly on an airplane.

I think it seems quite likely to work out just fine. Sure, IRROPS could mess up your routing, but I think there is no way the airline would know your friend used your boarding pass. Especially if the gender and age were close.

Having no checked bags, and both going through security properly would negate most safety cincerns.

You are aware that neither of will make it back to your original cities on that ticket, right?

I wonder if something happens to the flight your friend takes: Would your status show deceased base on airline records?

They use dental records to identify people who are burned beyond recognition.

re OP, no it's not illegal, just seems silly to go through all that trouble to save a few bucks; $134 is not that much!

For $65, why bother?

This thread is currently in the "mental exercise" phase.

As such, specific numbers are nothing but noise.

The key issue is the legal standing of what the OP proposed.

Some posters were quick to cast judgment on this matter (I.e. "illegal"), but failed to support their assertions. Are you able to set the record straight?

@OP: Thanks for giving us something to ponder.

The hidden-city piece by itself is more of an ethical discussion. I think we all agree that this isn't illegal in a criminal sense and the OP could complete his plan of exiting in Chicago without any issues whatsoever. We have our 1000-post thread here somewhere about ethics (on both the part of the airline and the passenger) and what actually might happen to you if you decide to start flying hidden-city itins regularly.

But I'm pretty sure the 2nd bit - flying under a false name - is actually illegal. IANAL, but this seems rather clear to me:

On one hand, the act of making an intentionally false statement at the access point could be considered illegal. (e.g., handing the TSA agent a boarding pass and your real ID when you know you will not fly that BP.) We certainly have FT threads about buying a refundable ticket to use a lounge, and we all know you wouldn't get caught doing this. On the rare chance that you did, you'd probably get told "don't do that again" and that would be the end of it. But compounding that act by making a 2nd false statement (handing an airline agent someone else's BP) kicks it up a notch...now you've committed two acts and actually flown, something I think the Feds would take a lot more seriously if you got caught.

Is all this really worth a savings of $65?

Read in context the portion of 49 CFR 1540.103 you quoted seems to apply to fraud with regard to the security program required of airport operators, and identification/access badges (access/identification medium) for airport employees and other authorized people, that are required as part of the operator's security program, not to passengers access or travel.

There may be some other regulation that does apply to passengers but it doesn't appear that this is it.

Twice in the past 12 months I (and the rest of the pax) have been asked to show ID as well a boarding pass for domestic flights. Once out of PHL, once from SEA. No idea how common the practice is, but it would definitely cause problems for the friend if his ID and boarding pass didn't match.

To address the first part...NO. Not illegal. It's called "Hidden City Ticketing" and is pretty common. While not illegal, the airlines hate it because it causes headaches and they do have a right to ban you. So don't do this with an airline you fly often, and most importantly DON'T DO THIS OUTBOUND ONLY. Meaning, if you have to get yourself home on the return ticket (although you probably don't have one because you are at ORD not MIA) , you may not be able to because they will have cancelled your reservation as a no show. For the return, go on a different carrier. And yes, as you said, don't check luggage. Most importantly, make sure you don't end up forced to gate-check it. Make sure it's small and it fits.

As to the second part...it won't work. Your name is on the ticket and TSA checks ID's at security. If your friend tries to get airside using someone else's boarding pass they are likely to be turned away...if not detained for questioning.

Someone I know accidentally pulled their fake ID to get through TSA and it worked without issue. Maybe an idea for your friend if one act of fraud isn't enough for ya - hypothetically of course.

Of course you should not do this.