[Osiris]

You don't even need photoshop to modify your boarding pass.

(These steps work with Opera, I'm not sure about other browsers) 1. Go to print your boarding pass 2. View source 3. Modify any information (such as adding something to show First Class/A-List/etc) 4. Click Apply Changes to make the changes to the HTML show up in the page 5. Click Print

A perfect boarding pass with any information you want.

What could someone do that's on the watch list? By a ticket under an assumed name, then print out two boarding passes, one with their real name that matches their ID, then another with the assumed name.

Since the no-fly list check is only done when the ticket is purchased, use the real ID with real name boarding pass at security to get through (they won't check you against the list). At the gate, go ahead and give them the real boarding pass with the fake name (they won't check your ID at that point).

* I am in no way advocating that you do this, just that it's possible and demonstrates a weakness in security

[apaprocki]

Do you have references that the list is only checked at purchase time? As for the security hole.. you have a credit card under the assumed name as well? If they were smart they could simply flag first time fliers and anyone who flies under a ticket purchased by someone else for extra checks. Cash ticket purchases require real ID at the ticket counter or Western Union and presumably you'd get checked there as well.

[Osiris]

All the TSA agent does is compare your ID to your boarding pass. Being a frequent flyer, I can say that I've never seen anything to indicate they have even the capability to compare a name to the no-fly list database, let alone being able to do it for all passengers.

I did read an article a while back that explained the TSA no-fly check procedures but I can't locate it.

[maaku]

It's possible that when the pass is scanned at the gate by the airline employee, the original name might be displayed on their monitor (just guessing--I have no idea if it is), and an astute employee might notice the name change. However I can't remember the last time an airline employee at that stage has paid any attention to anything at all.

[quanticle]

What original name? The only name the airline gets is the fake name that the terrorist provides. The only name the TSA gets is the real name from the ID and the boarding pass. The airline and the TSA don't communicate with each other. All the TSA checks is that you have a boarding pass and an ID. They don't verify that the boarding pass is valid (i.e. that you're an actual passenger on a flight scheduled to depart that day).

EDIT: In case it's not clear, the terrorists prints a fake boarding pass to get past TSA, and keep the "real" boarding pass in their pocket for the airline.

[dalke]

If that's a concern, print one pass for the TSA check (with a name which matches the id) and another pass for the gate check (with a name which matches the ticket).

[ianferrel]

It's trivially easy to get a credit card under any name you want. Most credit cards will generously offer to give you more cards with your family members names on them. Just make up a name and you get an additional card with that name.

The bill still comes to you, but that's on the credit card company's end.

[philwelch]

Here's a story about someone doing exactly that, not to buy airline tickets, but to wreak other havoc with "Michael Jackson"'s credit card: http://www.zug.com/pranks/mj/

[apaprocki]

I've recently ordered two additional family member credit cards (two different card processors / companies) and both of them required a SSN# for the additional member. Can anyone claim first-hand knowledge of their credit card company not requiring a SSN# for an additional cardholder?

[X-Istence]

I've had a Bank of America Visa Credit Card where I added a second person and the name was wrong (I had given the correct information over the phone), no SSN necessary. I have a Capital One card and no SSN was required when I got a secondary card made with my full real name on it.

[GuiA]

I'm in the US with a visa. When I opened my bank account (Capital One), I told them I didn't have a SSN yet and they opened it anyway.

The clerk told me I would have to give them my SSN when I got it, which I never did (half because I forget and half because the less information I give about myself, the better off I am)- that was about 2 years ago.

[ianferrel]

I have a Chase Visa card with a Southwest Airlines tie-in for a fictional person (they offered an extra 5k airline miles at signup if I got an additional card for a "family member"). No SSN was requested.