> You can't fly anonymously and, as far back as I can remember, never could.

You're young then. Flying anonymously was the norm. You could go to any travel agency and buy tickets cash. They had a name on it but it didn't matter, put any random name. Or have someone else buy it and give you the ticket, that was fine too.

Getting past security was back then only about actual security (screening for weapons). You did not need a ticket nor an ID of any kind. Then board the flight with that ticket you had from wherever.

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rkomorn 19 hours ago | parent [-]

Didn't you have to show ID at check-in (which you could not do online) at least by the 90s? Maybe my memory's tainted by a high ratio of international flying.

That technically didn't prevent someone from giving away their boarding pass once they had it, of course.

	▲	jjav 8 hours ago \| parent [-]
		No, not in US domestic flights in the 80s or 90s. International was different since the airline had to check you had a passport (and visa if applicable) for the destination country.