Today I called the FAA to ask them about their security programs.  I spoke
to Gail Richardson (at some security department?  reachable at 1-800-322-7873).
Here is what she said.

I asked about passengers who are not checking any bags -- specifically,
whether the FAA requires the airlines to check photo ID of such passengers.
She said ``no'' -- photo ID is not required (by the FAA) if you fly with
only carry-ons.

(I found that very interesting!  I'd heard conflicting stories from the
airlines on this issue.  Did you folks already know this?)

I asked if she could cite me the regulation/FAA security directive which
said that.  She said she didn't think she could.  I asked if it might have
been FAA Security Directive 96-05.  She said yes, it was.

I asked if SD96-05 was still the controlling directive on photo ID requirements,
or whether any new directives/regulations on the subject had been issued.
She said that SD96-05 was the latest and greatest (on the subject of photo ID).

I asked ``is it true that airlines are only required to ask for ID, not
required to require it?''.  She said no, that is not the case -- airlines must
ask for ID, and they must look at it, and compare the name and photo on it
to the ticket and to your face.

(I found this interesting because it seems to contradict what the FAA wrote
in a letter to Robert Smith, dated March 13 1996.  Perhaps the letter was
written before SD96-05 came out.  I didn't press her on this, although in
retrospect I should have asked more questions.)

She talked a bit about selectee status; how if you don't show ID, they will
perform extra security measures.  She wouldn't tell me about what those
security measures were.  I asked if it was anything other than having my
carry-on bags hand-searched, my checked luggage positive-bag-matched, and
a little sticker on my ticket.  She wouldn't say.  I asked if she thought
I should expect any other ``disruption that I might notice.''  She said no,
she didn't think so.

She emphasized several times that, of course, some airline's policies may
well be stricter than the FAA requires.  (We knew that.)