why cant you pay cash and just get on a plane no questions asked? interstate anyway. I understand why international travel, has to be this way.

linking you to your luggage? use a number.

trying to stop criminals from moving about the country? trying to stop criminals from disturbing the flight? Are either of those really valid enough reasons to try and watch everyone as a whole?

Next of kin notification type thing in case it goes down? why not opt out? I'm sure someone in your family would know already you were flying, and if they didn't you probably have all the more reason to not tell a bunch of strangers.

So why is it? I realize there are ways around all of it, but thats for people with money and a "reason"*. I'm concerned about the little people like me who don't have a reason to hide from anyone, but do not exactly like the idea that everyone get data collected from them.

Edited to add:
*not that has to be a bad one, but probably usually is. Remember, the public is *supposed* to be trusted as a whole.

As far as I know (and I could be wrong - this is one area of law in which I am completely clueless) there is no law requiring airlines to collect info on who is on what plane and where they're flying.  I think they just do it as a matter of company policy.

So they make sure it's really you using all those frequent flyer miles.

Actually, you don't have to show ID. When they ask you for ID just say you don't have any. They'll bitch and moan and maybe walk you to the gate, but you'll still fly.

More people should do this.

Eric,

Hell, you listed good reasons for it.  Let me ask, "why not"?  Who cares?  This is a private carrier service and if they want to know who they are serving it is up to them.  

James

Exactly. I don't have any reason not to tell them, and personally it doesn't bother me that they ask me, it's when I think about the fact they do it to everyone. Maybe if we all just quit blindly accepting things that have no reason or logic nah....can't slow down for anything, can't question why, can't argue about it. we are pretty much conditioned the way they want us, they've all just got to wait for the oldest 2 or 3 generations to die off and the weak and obediant will bow to every control, put on them by anyone.

Welcome to Capitolism. Not that I'm against it! Every big corporation wants your personal info, and now a days all they need is your name and date of birth or any of your state supplied catalog numbers (SSN, DL, etc.). I hear the Government likes to keep tabs on you too! In  America, YOU are an open book. Unless you live in a small cabin out away from people - in that case you become an open book only when you get caught doing something that brings attention to yourself (blowing things/people up, brandishing weapons while wearing camo clothes, etc.). Then you become the 'oft sought after, soon to be endangered "Survivalist" OOOOH   AAAAAH. All of a sudden you get visitors.
BTW this is not meant to be crass humor  directed at the recent LEO/Civilian killings here in California. I'm sorry anyone wound up dead in that case.

I dont mind telling them.  Its their company and if you don't wanna tell them they have the right to refuse you service.  Last I checked there was no law stating that they must allow you to fly.

no law either that says wal-mart has to sell you ammo without taking id and logging a name and address. Ready for that? It's not a big problem itself, but part of a growing one.

Buy your own jet and you won't have to tell anybody who you are when you get on. You can take all of the carry on luggage you want also....

Michael

THEY, are watching and tracking every move. You can't win, LOL [smoke]

So they know what to put on the body bag and who to notify.  Also, they need to have names of those that are going to sue thier a$$ when they crash.

You can anonymously....just use your other I.D.  [smoke]

This is a topic that I know about.

The ID is because the airlines like to have each piece of luggage on the aircraft accounted for.  It is a security issue.  Also they like to have an accurate manifest of passengers in case of a problem.