ID check at MCO

[CarolA]

I agree that the ID should match, but keep in mind that SOMEHOW this passenger GOT to Orlando.

And HOW WERE YOU PROTECTED???? That "no fly" list is a joke. All the person in question has to do is get a new ID. (Think that's hard, not really ask a college kid.) Sorry, but the hassle we go thru does not protect us ANY MORE then we were before. The NO FLY list generally does NOT have SS# so... if your name and the "no fly" are the same unless they REALLY think it's you, all they do is extra screening.

Depending AT ALL on those ID checkers for your security is equal to depending on a McDonalds server. Let's just hope the TSA folks actually DOING the screening are more accurate. The ID checkers are folks hired BY the airport. (Remember that supposedly that was NOT enough right after 9/11, but NOW it is????)

What should have happened is that the ID checker should have just flagged both the OPs husband and someone's Grandmom for extra review. That's what they do if you forget your ID. You do get on, it just takes a while.

For the ID checker to start quoting 9/11 just means that she had NO OTHER good reason but an attitude. (Kind of like my hairstyle deal....)

 

[Lewisc]

Exactly. The screening agent probably just had an attitude. It's possible he was recently written up for being lax and is now going overboard but I agree with your conclusion. Just take Jim/James aside and give him SSS screening. Problem solved.

The NO FLY list generally does NOT have SS# so... if your name and the "no fly" are the same unless they REALLY think it's you, all they do is extra screening.

What should have happened is that the ID checker should have just flagged both the OPs husband and someone's Grandmom for extra review. That's what they do if you forget your ID. You do get on, it just takes a while.

For the ID checker to start quoting 9/11 just means that she had NO OTHER good reason but an attitude. (Kind of like my hairstyle deal....)

 

[CarolA]

Actually when I complained at Nashville, I specifically asked if anyone else ever bothers to. Got told that they GET no complaints so they assume thier service is acceptable. (I suggested they start WATCHING those folks interact with passengers. I also suggested that the man who made nasty comments about my hair be REQUIRED to clean his fingernails. There was a huge build up of DIRT on his nails! JUST GROSS!) I think most people just put with the rudeness etc. because they are in a hurry.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I think most people just put with the rudeness etc. because they are in a hurry.

Bingo! That or they feel like "sheep" being herded through a slaughterhouse gate and it's better not to make noise so you won't get yanked aside for their "special" screening.

Having culled my memory I do recall one somewhat embarassing incident I had in Detroit. Had to switch from United (cancelled flight) to NWA. Ended up going thorough 3 security checkpoints to finally get to the gate (long story) only to have the NWA gate agent say "anyone transferring from United has to go through another screening."

This "screening" involved taking off your shoes, having a rather thorough pat-down (umm, does this pat-down come with dinner and a movie afterwards?) plus a "wanding." To add insult to injury, they required us to remove our belts. That would have been ok, but my pants would not stay up without it and I have to remove the belt, put it on the table, hold my arms straight out. You can guess what happened. And yes, I warned the security guy that this would happen!

The kicker: this was in FULL VIEW of the gate, the terminal, God and the whole city of Detroit (or so it felt).

Thank goodness my tidy-whities were sun-shiney clean!

I must have supressed this memory pretty well.

 

[Pinnie]

The kicker: this was in FULL VIEW of the gate, the terminal, God and the whole city of Detroit (or so it felt).

Thank goodness my tidy-whities were sun-shiney clean!

I must have supressed this memory pretty well.

And to think I wasn't flying out of DTW that day.... Dang, sorry I missed that!


pinnie

 

[Tigger_Magic]

And to think I wasn't flying out of DTW that day.... Dang, sorry I missed that!


pinnie

Don't be sorry. There were many people running to the restrooms to wash their eyes. A few were asking where they could find some bleach.

 

[DebbieB]

There was someone in front of me at LAX a couple of months ago who did not have ID. They marked her for full screening, which I assume meant she had to be wanded and her luggage hand searched. I saw her later at the gate so she got through.

 

[NotUrsula]

TSA's website tells you to bring a gov't issue ID, because that makes the process simpler and quicker, but that statement is not actually law. Notice that TSA says that "passengers without proper ID may be denied boarding"; it doesn't say that they *will* be denied boarding. http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1044.xml

The law that sets up TSA's authority does not require them to see an ID to let you through the checkpoint. TSA's mandate is to make sure you are not carrying anything that is banned from an aircraft. The requirement to provide gov't issued ID is actually airline policy which TSA is carrying out on the airlines' behalf; the airline has the last word on whether or not failure to present ID will keep you off the plane. These policies were recently challenged in the Gilmore case, and were upheld, but it is still the airlines' call.

Showing ID is certainly easier, and only someone who likes being a gadfly would refuse to present it when they had it, but as others have mentioned, there is an alternative procedure that doesn't require ID. There kind of has to be, if you think about it -- having a wallet stolen while travelling is hardly all that unusual. Since we issue domestic ID at the state level, requiring a method for replacing it whilst away from home would be very burdensome on the states.

 

[ohiomom28]

my first time flying in 1996, my boyfriend forgot his ID at home and they refused to let him onboard. We had to rebook on another flight the next day and pay $50 each!

 

[Ted and Holly]

Next question:

Given the circumstances, would the person who prints boarding passes do one up right away for DH, or would that person or some other airline employee nearby be just as rude?

Would a letter to the airline after the fact do any good?

What could the airline to about this? The boarding pass had the name Jim on it. Obviously the name Jim was given to Northwest. The driver's license has the name James on it. Again, obviously that name was given to the DMV. TSA had a problem with the name difference. From the sounds of it, this was at the security entry, I would be surprised if there was a Northwest employee anywhere near there.

Ted

 

[maxiesmom]

How's this for scary--last time I flew with my sister we had to go to the counter person at the gate to confirm our seats. After doing whatever she needed to do she handed us back our id's, only she gave me my sisters and her mine! When she saw us trading them she then told us how we could probably use each others id and not get caught! Made us both very uncomfortable. And should I say that I am 3 yrs younger and 4 inches taller than my sis? Just how hard are they really looking at the id's?

 

[Showe]

What could the airline to about this? The boarding pass had the name Jim on it. Obviously the name Jim was given to Northwest. The driver's license has the name James on it. Again, obviously that name was given to the DMV. TSA had a problem with the name difference. From the sounds of it, this was at the security entry, I would be surprised if there was a Northwest employee anywhere near there.

Ted

You are correct. THere were no NW employees involved in the matter.

Somewhere down the road NW has my husbands name as Jim and James both..... my husband has flown extensively for business for over 10 years. He has never had a problem like this before. I would venture a guess as saying he has flown NW airline 99% of the time too. I don't feel necessarily this whole thing was a BIG issue but just a big nuisance. The security check person was defintely making a fuss about it and we just couldn't figure out the significance of the Jim/James thing and why she had to bring up 9-11 and get in our face out it.

We learned our lesson though. He will have to travel with ID that says Jim and James on it from now on to avoid any similar experiences.

 

[TDC Nala]

whoa... this is a reminder to me to never register for any flights as "Cathy"

 

[amejr999]

ID checkers are employees of a private security company contracted by an airport or airline (usually the airline that has the most gates in the concourse, but not at MCO). Their main purpose is revenue protection for the airlines; they don't like it when you use someone else's ticket. Therefore, if you have a problem with one, complain to the airline. If you have a problem with a TSA screener (officer), get a TSA supervisor, demand a complaint form, and fill it out on the spot. If you have an issue on-the-spot with TSA, you can have them call for your airline's ground security coordinator, who typically has a lot of pull with TSA.

If you think they actually do anything, I would suggest going through Newark once- I don't think any of the ID checkers speak english, let alone are able to read IDs. The only reason TSA should want to see your ID is if you set off an explosive detection machine twice.

(Can you tell I don't like TSA? )

 

[DisnsyDog]

Regarding the OP. It sounds like someone was having a power trip. Jim or James that is ridiculous. The only goal of the whole boarding pass check deal is to insure that you are supposed to be flying on that ticket. As a former Airline agent we used to send people who had their wallets and ids stolen through security based on a filed police report. Because if you are on vacation and had your id stolen you just can't walk home. Also every airport is different becasue the TSA's verify ids based on the rules for the airline that employees their company. And every airline has different rules some more relaxed than others.

 

[PaulaSB12]

Considering the type of people who have found that they are on the no fly list its some what daft. How about Ted Kennedy

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/08/20/MNGQ28BM1O1.DTL

I do know that this is due to the terrible act of the planes being flown into the wtc, but remember that american citizens funded the IRA and the US government gave "political aslyum" to known terrorists!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CarolA]

At airports like Orlando, Atlanta, Nashville, etc. the checkers are generally employed by the airport since they don't just serve one airline. (Its part of the fees the airline pays)

The sad truth is that having had to have a ticket reissued since my TA booked it Last name, first name I can tell you that the airline CAN and may charge. (The TA claimed it was NO problem, I made her call the airline with me on the line where the airline said it would be a problem and cost us money, TA fixed it then which prevented the charges. And this was my work TA)

As I said depending on ID check proves nothing... Ladies how many of you match the weight on your DL (or for that matter the hair color?)? I have had them never even look at ME, just see if the ID matches the ticket..... Your security comes from the screening not that idiot ID check. That's just part of the "hassle" factor.