Dulles Airport and e-ticket itineraries
 

I was under the impression that e-ticket itineraries could be used, instead of a boarding pass, as proof of travel in getting through airport security. My boss, in fact, has gone through Dulles Airport security by simply showing a printout (from the Delta website) of his itinerary, when he had a flight with no baggage to check.

I tried this on Monday night with no luck. When I got to the front of the line, the security guard told me I had to get a boarding pass. I questioned this a little, then went to USAirways to check in. I asked the agent there and he said no, the security guard was wrong, I just needed a printout of an itinerary.

So the agent gave me my boarding pass, and we went back to talk to the security guard. He tried to explain to the security guard that I was allowed through with an itinerary, and the guard waved it off and let me through after checking my ID.

Now, I was pretty sure that an itinerary was all I needed to get past security. But I double-checked the Dulles website and found these two items:

* Only ticketed passengers or authorized, badged personnel will be allowed through security checkpoints. You can help expedite this process by having your ticket readily available prior to entering the security screening areas. Special arrangements can be made with your airline for accompanying children and those needing special assistance to get to the gate.

* E-ticket travelers should check with their airline to make sure they have proper documentation. Written confirmation, such as a letter or itinerary from the airline acknowledging the reservation, may be required

So does this mean that Dulles Airport is, indeed, special, and that my boss was simply lucky to get through with just an itinerary? Isn't it SOP to let people with an itinerary who are travelling on e-tickets through? I'm confused now.

Hi: We went thru Dulles about a week ago with a boarding pass, then also my husband went thru a couple of days ago with just his e-ticket printed iten. Both ways were no problem. For the flight overseas a few days ago, he was only taking a small carryon and since the lines at the premier checkin were even long, the ticket agent told him to just proceed to the gate. He did with no problem. Again, as everyone is saying, these people that they have working the security scanners and lines at the airports, are not the most well trained people. Did you hear the news report yesterday, that 92% (don't quote me on the exact %) of the people hired to man the scanners and security check points at Dulles, are non US citizens, and therefore have no info on file for background check? Since the 9/11 incident, they have been able to find out that many, many of them who work(ed) at Dulles security in various places have had criminal problems in the past. It just was not obvious since they have no SS# or files. Don't misunderstand me; I am not saying that people who aren't US citizens should not have a job; its just it makes you wonder in certain positions, if it is safe to hire them. Smallworld

Well, I can report that even phone agents at United don't seem to know. They told my mother tonight that the printed paper would *not* be enough and that there was no curbside check-in. Even at Dulles I believe both of these are false. The e-ticket receipt printed from the web site is supposed to be enough, and although I've seen plenty of info pages regarding new rules, none of them make special note of Dulles. United should be in a position to know, as they are the dominant carrier there; too bad they don't inform their phone agents better.

Well if the phone agents don't know, I am glad we didn't even bother to ask;;;; we just showed up with our itineraries on travel agent letterhead, and 3 times, in the last 2 weeks, that has been sufficient to either use curbside, or proceed straight to the gate at Dulles. Smallworld

This is a pretty old thread but I thought I'd resurrect it since the info has changed. FYI, Dulles is no longer allowing you to use an itinerary to get through security--it MUST be a boarding pass. See here for additional info:

http://www.metwashairports.com/dulles/index.htm

A friend of mine missed her flight the other day because she didn't know this had changed. Since she had an e-ticket and no bags to check, she showed up about an hour before the flight and went to get in the security line. The guard at the entrance told her she needed a boarding pass, so she turned around and went to wait in line at the E check-in machines. Unfortunately, by the time she made it up to the machine the 45 minute pre-flight window had passed and the computer told her she could no longer check in this way. She then proceeded to the ticket counter, which also had a long line. By the time she got about halfway to the desk she knew she had missed her flight.

I don't know why they decided to do this, but it's going to add significantly to pre-flight time for those traveling without checked baggage. Does anyone know of any other airports with this policy?

More and more airports are doing this. TSA is making this policy. The reason supposedly is that it is more secure and eliminates the random gate security checks that so many people dread.

The computer can select you for an extra search at the checkpoint using your boarding pass, so that the random gate checks are unnecessary, according to the TSA.

So get used to getting your boarding pass before going through security. More and more airlines are letting you print your BP at home on your computer before going to the airport, and more self check-in machines have popped up recently.