TSA allows me to board a plane with my ID and someone else’s boarding pass:
I had an interesting experience with TSA yesterday. I was boarding a plane in Seattle and the TSA decided to visit the gate and check ID’s against boarding passes as the plane boarded. This doesn’t happen often, and I am sure it is just a practice designed to lessen predictability it really wasn’t a big deal.
But, when I arrived at the airport and checked in my boarding pass indicated I needed to get my seat assignment at the gate. So, I did and Delta issued me a boarding pass. I did not pay close attention to it other than the seat number and zone for loading.
Obviously I used that boarding pass to go through the TSA line where the TSA checked my ID and boarding pass. The glanced at the boarding pass, then at my ID, and let me through only saying “Have a good flight.”
Interestingly, the Delta agent taking my boarding pass noticed an error as she scanned it, but told me they would figure it out on the plane if there was really an issue. When I went to sit down it turns out Delta had issued me someone else’s boarding pass and the gentleman was in the seat. Yes, it was his seat; both his boarding pass and my boarding pass had his name on it.
This turned out to be of little consequence for me as I was assigned another seat. Remember, I missed the name details on the boarding pass, as did Delta (which is interesting in and of itself since they noticed an error but let me on the plane anyway).
BUT, how did the TSA – the very agency designed to protect against this, miss it. They were at the gate specifically to check IDs against the boarding passes. TSA didn’t even blink an eye and I was on the plane with my valid ID and someone else’s boarding pass.
Perhaps the TSA is too focused on patting down 3 year olds instead of minding the details.