John Tierney: “Yesterday United Airlines and Argenbright Security were embarrassed to admit that they cleared a man through Chicago…”

“Yesterday United Airlines and Argenbright Security were embarrassed to admit that they cleared a man through Chicago O'Hare Airport with seven knives and a stun gun. After enormous public outcry and international media exposure, they vowed to immediately take corrective action. Yet only a couple of hours ago, they failed again. A woman named Marianne went to Dulles Airport this afternoon to board a United Airlines flight to San Francisco. Marianne checked in at the United ticket counter, showed her ID, and cashed in miles from her account for an upgrade. United issued the upgrade, checked her luggage and issued Marianne a boarding pass. From the United ticket counter Marianne proceeded to the Argenbright security checkpoint. She presented her ID and her boarding pass for inspection. Argenbright checked her through security. Marianne arrived at the United gate. Again she was asked to show her ID and her boarding pass. Again she was cleared through security. Marianne boarded the plane and sat in her seat. A few minutes later, a man boarded the plane and said, 'you are sitting in my seat.' Turns out, United had issued them both the same boarding pass--2 passes with the same name--HIS name--Lester. United took Marianne off the plane, and told her that United had no record of her name in the system despite the fact that she had used miles from her account to get the upgrade; that there were 2 boarding passes issued to Lester and no seat listing for Marianne.”