Fraud involving frequent flyer points is incredibly common, and all too often, people don’t get caught, and don’t face punishment. Well, here’s the other extreme (thanks to View from the Wing for flagging this)…
Continue reading: Stolen Air Canada Aeroplan Points Leads To Montreal Fighter Jet Escort
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Seems like the airlines need to be cleared in advance to dump fraudsters out over the ocean. Problem solved.
Impersonating other person is a much more serious security threat than a intoxicated thug using the N word.
Yet they didn't divert.
Because they're not on a power trip.
They assessed the threat and act accordingly.
Power trip diversions because crew is unrealistically threatened by something that is not a real threat NEEDS TO END and be held accountable for overreacting.
"It’s not that unusual for people to travel with a stolen identity..."
Really? What are the data on this?
It's extremely curious and concerning... All the passengers who board Canada-bound TPAC or TATL flights undergo additional passport and boarding card verifications BEFORE they can lineup at the gate for the boarding procedure s. It's mostly to make sure all the passengers have proper documentation to enter Canada, in case they're not Canadian citizens.
Time will tell, of course, but the fact that the person was using not just someone else's miles to book ticket in his real name - but also was traveling using the miles owner name makes it unlikely that he is just an innocent victim..
Completely agree with TDG's point — this person entered Canada with no verified real identity and that alone should be disqualifying. What's even more alarming is that they were simply released back into our society. Who are they really? Why Canada? And what are they doing right now? The fighter jets and the arrest made headlines, but a summons doesn't make our communities safer. This bad actor is now walking freely among us — and that raises far more questions than this story has answered.
"One certainly wonders how someone was able to steal someone else’s identity on a transatlantic flight. Passport verification is required at the immigration checkpoint on departure and to board the plane, so did he have fake documents, or did he have another sneaky plan I’m not thinking of?"
I won't go into details publicly and I don't know Brussels Airport well, but I can tell that it isn't very hard, for someone who wants it, at some European airports to board with a ticket which isn't on your name.
All that and the person was released with a summons. Just verifies my suspicion that most of the "security" is a scam and con.
I dont understand why the plane took off if they gate agents noted the issue during the boarding process?
Damn, that has to be the most click-baitey title I've ever seen from OMAAT.
The stolen Aeroplan points had nothing to do with the jet escort.
C'mon now.
I think the fact that you felt the need to respond like this says a lot more about you than me. I missed a detail in a story that I read quickly. But in your case, instead of being helpful, and saying, hey, maybe you missed the fact that it was two separate flights, you decided that you just HAD to be a condescending dick.
"this person entered Canada with no verified real identity"
No, they didn't. No more so then if I hop in a rental car headed toward Canada after telling Avis I'm someone I'm not.
Nope, I pointed out that if you did read properly you would find an answer.
You read quickly and missed an important point. Ergo, Reading is your problem at school.
There's an assumption here that the man used a false passport. However, names are not unique, so he could just have the same name and found he could access the other person's Aeroplan, which having used Aeroplan is wholly unsurpirising.
So instead of throwing their arse in jail they released them with a summons.
No wonder scams and stolen identity frauds are multi-billion$ industries.
How does this make sense that someone from a source across the Atlantic arrived in Canada using a false ID and they weren't immediately deported back to where they came from???
Something is really off about this story.
Whining because you’re butt hurt over an article headline *you* felt was click-bait is such a beta male thing to moan about. Go touch some grass
Names are not unique but passport numbers are, and it is passport numbers that airlines use for international flights.
Canada is a super liberal left-wing country without a functioning criminal justice system. Even if you murder someone in cold blood it's highly unlikely that you'll face any punitive actions. I'm not even sure there are correctional facilities in Canada.