...and It's Big Enough for Everybody

ANN doesn't air its ideas of 'how to get through security,' until after they're public knowledge. It's our sense of civic duty -- and we don't need to give people even more ideas. However, once the method has hit the general press, we don't mind pointing out the ridiculously easy methods that bad guys could use, to cause trouble. [We figure the bad guys can do their own thinking; but we must somehow be expected to do the thinking for the TSA --ed.]

We write these things, because we know the TSA reads us, and, since they don't return our phone calls, this is the only means of communication we have available.

The Scotsman has pointed out another of the (we thought, obvious) holes in airport 'security:' e-ticketing.

Alistair Jamieson writes that, "...forged photocopies of ticket receipts could be used to gain access to secure departure areas in terminal buildings." His paper tried it, and admits succeeding at least twice, even though such shananigans are felonious there, as they are here.

In order to get into the 'sterile' areas of airport terminals, PAX must show that they really belong on those flights -- no well-wishers, greeters, family -- nobody who isn't on a flight, is allowed to the gate areas. The accepted method of assuring that those who do enter, actually hold tickets, is to verify the possession of a ticket, before letting the suspect, er, passenger, through the screening gauntlet.

Jamieson notes the obvious: "The introduction of electronic tickets by some airlines means scraps of paper can be used to get through security screening to the sterile 'airside' parts of airports..."

Gee -- how hard is it, to make up one of those e-tickets? Do you reckon the TSA's crack screeners can tell a real one from a phony one?

ANN now predicts "ticket-matching" will be added to the process. The suspect, er, passenger, will have to wait even longer, as his ticket is verified "real," making computer glitches even more-important than they already are. A suspect, er, passenger, will have to show not only identification, but will have to wait until the TSA can verify that he's flying on that flight, on that airline, on that day -- and that he's the only one holding such a ticket.

There are a million stories in the Naked City...

FMI: www.tsa.gov