> nothing in it that seemed in any way related to security. Every one of > those database entries could have been there -- and probably were there -- > for the convenience of airline passengers. In particular, I'm referring > to the ability to check in online and print your own boarding pass. For > business travelers who use only carry-on baggage, it's a *major* > timesaver. I've been on flights where I had to wait 45-60 minutes (or > more) just to get my boarding pass, independent of any security screening.
But what does this have to do with anything? It doesn't take a database to "print your own boarding pass". On the vast majority of ticketed services, your printed ticket IS your boarding pass. Like trains, theatres, concerts, ferries, buses... So, Steve, what you're saying is that the airlines threw an extra hurdle in their customers' way for some years, then decided to take it away for certain customers. Well, not really take it away -- just let some of you use a computer with a printer to kludge around it. And you mistook that for progress? They could have just printed the seat numbers on the ticket, and actually honored the seat numbers on the ticket; that would be REAL progress. The best plane service in the nation was the old Eastern shuttle that ran between DC and NYC and Boston. You showed up -- no tickets -- and walked on board. It left once an hour, all day, like a train. The fare was collected on board, the same way the stewards go down the aisle and serve drinks. It cost everybody the same price. None of today's endless crap. John --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Cryptography Mailing List Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe cryptography" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]