It's surprisingly easy to alter anyone's airline reservations

[Haystack]

they figured out how to force the various portals to the Global Distribution System to let them know if they’ve guessed someone’s reservation locator code, which they can use to arbitrarily alter your flight plans, sending you to different cities,

…so that they can greet you at the terminal with an omnipotent air.

Ah, hello Senator. I suppose you are wondering why I’ve brought you here today…