A Delta passenger traveling from Miami International Airport claims he was able to pass through four security checkpoints, including TSA PreCheck and CLEAR, using a stranger's boarding pass. The incident, which occurred on July 7, began when the passenger, identified only as B.R., noticed discrepancies with his own boarding pass during check-in.
B.R., a tech entrepreneur, stated that the Delta agent incorrectly listed his service dog as not included in his reservation. He also observed that his assigned seat had been changed from 3A to 2A. Despite these issues, the agent made the necessary adjustments for the service dog but left the seat assignment as is. B.R. was then issued a paper ticket and proceeded to the security line.
He recounted that he successfully navigated TSA PreCheck, including a facial recognition process, with the incorrect boarding pass. A point of contention arose at the CLEAR Plus security lane, a private membership service that uses biometrics. B.R. stated that his profile did not initially appear when his boarding pass was scanned. Airport staff then requested his phone number, and upon providing it, his CLEAR membership was reportedly found.
An employee from CLEAR then escorted him to TSA PreCheck, where another employee scanned the boarding pass, which did not match his identity, and allowed him through to the X-ray screening area. "It's shocking that I was able to go to a facial recognition system operated by the TSA and gave me a green pass after the guy scanned my boarding pass, which was not the correct passenger," B.R. told The Post.
B.R. eventually realized the error when he noticed the departure time on the boarding pass—7:30 p.m.—did not match his scheduled flight of 3:30 p.m. He also saw a different name on the ticket. After alerting an employee, his bags were transferred, and he was placed on the correct flight. Delta representatives reportedly expressed surprise at the situation and suggested an investigation.
Delta issued B.R. an apology and 40,000 SkyMiles. In an email, the airline stated, "We have been in touch with the customer directly regarding their check-in experience. Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our customers and we are investigating internally to understand what occurred."
According to Keith Jeffries, a former Federal Security Director at Los Angeles International Airport, while the event is unusual, it does not represent a significant security risk. Jeffries explained that TSA's primary function is to verify passenger identity and assess risk levels, a process that occurs even before passengers reach security checkpoints. Airlines, on the other hand, focus on ensuring passengers have a ticket for a specific flight. "TSA is making sure 'you are who you say you are, and that you are screened to the level required of who you are,'" Jeffries said.
Jeffries further clarified that CLEAR's system is designed to expedite passengers who are already vetted by TSA and have a flight that day. He characterized the incident as an inconvenience rather than a security breach, stating, "So this is not a security risk. It's an inconvenience."