How to board a plane without ID -- be a pageant queen
Privacy advocate hero John Gilmore -- who doesn't fly because he doesn't want to show his ID -- should wear a pageant sash next time he wants to fly without showing his ID. That's what this beauty contestant did.
From the New York Post:
New York airports are now making security exceptions for graceful girls with big smiles. A tipster who saw the first episode (airing tonight) of MTV’s new reality show, “Pageant Place,” told us that when Miss Universe Riyo Mori forgot her ID while trying to board a flight from JFK to Bloomington, Ind., she convinced a TSA agent to let her through - by flashing her sash. “First she showed her head shot, but it didn’t work . . . so then she just pulls out her sash and the agent sent her through to security,” gasped the snitch.Link
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Honestly I don't know what Gilmore is bitching about -- how hard is it for him to just go ahead and flash a little sash at the gate? Is that so much for a TSA agent to ask for?
Great - yet another way that thin and beautiful people are holding back us average looking fatties. That's it; I'm making me a sash that says "Miss Sys Admin 2007" and see if it'll get me through security...someplace...
While I am normally all for equal treatment under the law, I think the TSA agent letting Ms. Mori on the plane without much hassle was a good thing. Not because I think she deserves special treatment for being Miss Universe, but because she was a person VERY UNLIKELY TO BE A TERRORIST. That is really the only function of the TSA, stop terrorists from taking control of or destroying airplanes. I wish they would treat more then just beauty contest winners in such a logical manner, but maybe if we start with the beautiful, eventually such fair treatment will trickle down to children under 6, grandmas, and then to the rest of us.
Wow, they did the right thing. Let somebody on that forgot their ID that was not a terrorist. Do they still stop Ted Kennedy though?
Most terrorists don't travel with multiple-camera setups and professional A/V crews, either. That probably helped a little.
A few strings were likely pulled behind the scenes, not to mention some editing of that footage. It's a "reality" TV show after all.
The reality show footage doesn't show her getting through security, only getting checked at the ticket counter. What I noticed here though is that although they said to google her, she showed various forms of ID, etc. she never once removed a pair of oversize dark sunglasses...
From the TSA's Registered Traveler guidelines:
Once an applicant qualifies as an approved Registered Traveler participant, the traveler is able to take advantage of the benefits of the RT program which are expected to initially include:
• modified airport configuration to minimize RT passenger wait times, including dedicated or integrated lines and lanes
• enhanced customer service for RT participants, such as divesting assistance, concierge service for luggage, and parking privileges
• discounts for service or concessions
• the ability to use a sash as a form of identification
Whoa, whoa , whoa!! Its not hard to board a domestic US flight without a driver's license! Twice in the past three years, I have lost my driver's license just prior to boarding airplanes: once in Norfolk, VA and once in Oahu, HI. Both times, the nice TSA folks listened to my story, then pulled me out of the line for some additional wand-waving. Afterwards, I was on my happy way. Granted, I am a white, middle-aged midwestern American with a nice, generic Irish name, but hey: isn't Gilmore one as well?
Creesto is correct. My wife realized she had left her license at home when we got to the airport for a trip. Told the woman behind the counter, who put a little sticker on her ticket. Then TSA basically took her aside for an uneventful scan, and we were on our merry way.
Of course, Gilmore knows that he can travel without ID. His lawsuit was at least partially about wanting to read the law/rule/regulation that requires him to provide ID. Most of the hype and case itself seemd to be about the right to travel anonymously (which has been more or less upheld), but there's still the lingering question of why we can't read the law/rule/regulation that requires the production of identification.
How does one ask one's representatives for an explanation of the situation when one can't point to the text of the constraint?
(I was joking about Gilmore btw, I have nothing but respect for him and the lawsuit he filed.)
Keep in mind that reality shows often script things like this to keep the show interesting. My guess is that the producers had a word to the check in guy to pretend that she didn't have her ID and to show the sash for a bit of ZOMG LULZ factor, but off camera she did have her ID and checked in fine.
just so you know, most reality shows are scripted
Checking ID's is not for security but so people can't sell tickets they don't need to others.
Anyway everyone knows that terrorists are ugly people with funny accents.