Zurich Airport Security - a question
 

On Wednesday of this week I flew Swiss from Gate D31 to Manchester on the late afternoon flight. (It was, incidentally, an excellent flight on an Airbus 321 (OO)). Those that know Zurich will know that you will have already passed through security and the main airport lounge to go through passport control to the D Gates lounge area.
When boarding commenced we were only required to have our boarding pass scanned at an electronic gate to access the aircraft. Surely, the identity of the passenger has to be matched to the boarding pass/ticket prior to boarding to ensure that those who are supposed to be getting on, actually do?
My wife thought that security at Zurich was much less rigorous than the outbound journey from Manchester when all belts and, in my case, shoes had to be removed.

I flew through ZRH multiple times last year and always had to show my passport at the gate

I suspect that reconciling your passport and boarding card at the gate may be an airline-specific commercial requirement (nothing to do with security), so it could well depend on which carrier you are flying with.

Not long ago I flew AGP-AMS with Transavia. The usual scan of the boarding pass to access security, navigate the worlds biggest perfume shop and turn right to the gate. Boarding card only at the gate and no passport check at AMS. I know it is a Schengen trip but passport free travel?

I have flown several Schengen trips from different airports. Not all have checked I/D at the gate. As said above, it depends on the individual carrier's policy. Remember that there is no border control between Schengen countries. Since pax all go through airport security there is no real valid reason to check I/D. Sure, it means that someone could travel on another's ticket. So what? They will still have gone through security.

That's what I was thinking. Within Schengen taking a plane shouldn't be any different to taking a car bar security. And if someone has been through security then what matter the ID check?

Last year I flew ARN-AGP with SAS. At check-in machine used LH Miles & More card no boarding card printed. At gate the only check was same card and then given a small 'bus ticket' size of paper with seat number and name printed, presumably to prevent any dispute about allocated seating on board. No photo ID required at anytime.