Another problem with the airlines before 9-11:  ineffectual anti-terrorist proceedures.  The only check the airlines made of passengers before boarding (outside of the security check point) was to check IDs at the gate.  Why did they check IDs?  Certainly not to find out if you were a terrorist, it checked to make sure a market for low cost tickets didn't develop.  IF they didn't check, people would buy the low cost ticket, mark them up a bit and resell them to business travelers faced with high prices.  Who would do this?  Travel agents.  The airlines have been on a campaign against travel agents over the last two years.  They slashed the fee paid to travel agents from $20 to $10 in the hope that they could put them out of business.  [John Robb's Radio Weblog]

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