What's the point of government officials checking IDs on domestic flights?

score:5

Accepted answer

The reason ID is checked in the United States is be satisfy the current rule that only ticketed passengers can enter the departure area. Matching ID to Boarding Pass is just the easiest way to do this.

As there are no departure controls leaving the United States, there is no Domestic vs International aspect.

Prior, neither Boarding Passes or ID were checked at the terminal entrance.

Due to APIS, Big Brother already knows you're flying so it's not really a 'Papers Please' situation.

Upvote:5

That is actually not correct; in the USA, you can fly domestically without an ID.

Here is a link to TSA's website that explains it: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification (scroll down!)

If you read up on TSA regulations (and read other questions/answers regarding this topic), you will find that it is allowed - although they certainly don't make it easy.
You will need to answer a lot of questions and might need some extra time, and depending on the TSA agent, he might simply send you away (incorrectly). Certainly not a recommendable experience, but legal.

The ID checks at security are to verify that only people actually flying are allowed into the secured zone; simply to reduce the total number of people that need to be scanned and processed - in the old times, often half the family and some friends would see people to the gate.

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