My name is on the no-fly list

[Newsjock]

I was just informed of this by my 68-year-old father, who was detained and interrogated in an attempt to fly this weekend. (He utimately was allowed to fly.)

He and I share the same legal name -- and it's a painfully common name, horribly "American," one no doubt shared by thousands of people. (And for all the obvious reasons, I can't say the name here.)

He was told this will happen to him -- and me -- every time we try to fly. All the more reason to never, ever, ever fly in the United States ever again. Airlines, I hope you're reading this.

Perhaps I'm the one they're after.

[NJCher]

1. I quit flying awhile back

Too annoying, all these checks, searches, etc. It is appalling that you are on the "no-fly" list. I am sorry to hear this.

I used to fly to a red state to see my family but no more. They'll have to come see me since I'm boycotting visiting all red states until republicans are out of power.


Cher

[BlueEyedSon]

6. Unfortunately its the only practical way to get to the democracies in the

EU...

[LiberalAndProud]

2. I wonder if John Smith is on the list.

[fudge stripe cookays]

18. He was my dad,

and he's dead unfortunately, so no. Definitely no on that guy.

[asthmaticeog]

3. Why do you hate freedom?

[American Tragedy]

22. What the hell is happening in your sig picture on the left?

Whatever it is, it doesn't look legal.

[asthmaticeog]

24. It's from Kubrick's "The Shining."

I photoshopped it from a still I found here:
http://www.retrocrush.com/scary/61.html

[American Tragedy]

25. Wow I totally didn't remember that!

I have seen that movie at least three times and I don't remember that sequence.

[asthmaticeog]

27. It's onscreen for like 3 seconds.

Blink and you miss it.

[flygal]

29. *smack head* THAT's what it is!!! I knew I'd seen it - good one ;)

[firebee]

4. The Airlines don't care.

They're being subsidized by our tax dollars.

[Newsjock]

5. True

OK, I hope all the businesses in tourist destinations read this. Those "small businesses," in fact -- and we're not talking lumber companies. Want some wood?

[hlthe2b]

8. Congress MUST take this up...

I don't know that I am on a "no-fly" list, but I have been detained by one airline (and never others). While I could not get an answer, of course, something flagged and the fact I was flying an extended leg of a trip on a one-way ticket was the ultimate focus of suspicion.

Those who have to travel on business MUST get involved with this. There is nothing more embarrassing than to be traveling with work colleagues--or even your boss-- and be targeted in this way.

We should all put pressure on Congress to address this disgrace. Pretty soon, it will be us wo have to sneak across to Mexico just to fly internationally!

[sherilocks]

17. That happened to me when I returned my daughter's

car and flew back, one way. I got searched, patted down and had a stick prodded up between my legs. The only joy I had was when they searched my carry-on luggage which containced mainly my very dirty, smelly underwear and sweaty clothes. That was over two years ago and I haven't flown since.

[AndyTiedye]

7. You Should Ask Senator Kennedy How He Got His Name Off the List

though it is probably impossible with anythng less than his connections.

[hlthe2b]

9. How was your father ultimately allowed to fly? Was he given

any advice on how to deal with this in the future?

[Newsjock]

15. He convinced them

... that he wasn't a terrorist. He didn't give me details on what questions were asked. After I stop seething, I will try to get more information from him -- unless, of course, they told him he's not allowed to talk about it.

With the CIA purge and stuff like this, we're becoming more like the Soviet Union every day.

[Deja Q]

10. A blood relative of mine had her bags checked BOTH times.

I thought nothing of the arrival trip as the luggage for all was 90 minutes overdue.

But the departure trip was when she went back to her home and I'd given her some photos I'd taken. I had no idea that close-ups of flowers, animal critters, and sunset pictures of a couple small bridges that lacked any detail were harmful, but oh well. I know they need to do their job, but isn't that a bit extreme - a 3 week delay for some photos that have less detail on them than a Dixie brand paper plate? (She had a couple other gifts as well, maybe the feds misconstrued those too.) I dunno. It is better not to take chances of course, and they certainly did not know the context of the items, but 3 weeks seems silly.

[crispini]

12. I've had my bags REPEATEDLY checked.

However, the combination of small electronics and sex toys probably sets them off.

Hypothetically.... that is, IF I packed such things, THAT would probably set them off.
heh
heh
heh

[ace2u_in_MD]

11. I also had a bad experience last week...

I had a last minute meeting to attend at Kirtland AFB in NM. Due to the last minute schedule, I ended up being booked fling one airline out, and another one back.

This resulted in what they consider 2 one-way tickets purchased less that 7 days from flying.

I was pulled out for "Additional Screening", then told to go with a TSA officer for interviewing. They were grilling me telling me that legitimate business plans more than 5 days in the future.

I then pulled out my ID and told them that I had to be at Kirtland, and I will be filing an incident report with my security staff and the agency director.

I was sent on my way without an additional word, and an attempt to keep their ID badges out of my view. I had already noted the names during the Interview.

And I fly about once a month. I REALLY look forward to being on the TSA list from now on...

[crispini]

13. "legitimate business plans more than 5 days in the future."

Hahahahahahahaha!

Uh, you don't know MY company. Damn, I'm surprised every single employee doesn't repeatedly get detained by TSA.

And doncha know the airlines just loooooove those expensive last minute tickets....

[Missy Vixen]

14. Oh, this is hilarious

>I was pulled out for "Additional Screening", then told to go with a TSA officer for interviewing. They were grilling me telling me that legitimate business plans more than 5 days in the future.<

Do these folks know anyone in the software industry? DH has had as little as TWO HOURS NOTICE before being sent on a business trip. (The excuse: "You're only going for the day.") The latest trip is international, and he had a whopping three days' notice.

This is FUNNY. Then again, DH had quite an issue at the gate on his last trip when he tried to carry on his CPAP machine. He showed the screeners the federal paperwork allowing medical appliances to be carried on regardless of the regulation number of carry-ons. No dice.

Julie

[HuskerDem]

16. congratulations!

If there are enough of you with the same name you should think about a class action lawsuit! There's sure to be a lawyer somewhere in the country interested in picking it up. It should get pretty good press coverage. You could do your nation a service, plus, wouldn't it just FEEL GOOD to sue the bastards?

On edit: When I say sue the bastards I mean the damn govt. about the list, not the airlines themselves.

[seabeyond]

19. 6 months after 9/11 i was flying off to florida

with my family. two little kids. and the intimidation a male tried n me simply cause, literally simply cause, in my small town airport at 6:30 in the morning with my two little ones eyes huge, i say fuck the airlines

stepping into a prison system of loss of all rights.

[anarchy1999]

20. I had my experience last Sunday, I was selected for the "special search".

I had checked one bag and was carrying one on along with my purse. I had to remove my shoes, everything was sent through x-ray, I was patted down. Several TAS people went through everything in my carryon and purse. They asked me what my occupation was, why was I going where I was going. And success, they found a tiny phillips head screwdriver in my carryon. I had two choices, I could have them pull the bag I had checked and put it in there or I could let them keep it.

Interestingly enough, they didn't take my metal nail file.

Just this morning my hubbie and I were talking about this experience. I was seriously disturbed and my hands were shaking by the time I was finally given permission to continue to fly.

We are planning on going to Denver for Christmas and we will more than likely drive. This BS people are being put through to fly is nothing but social programming getting everyone ready for "Citizen, may I see your ID".

It's too bad so many airlines are going under. I wonder why?

[demosincebirth]

21. I haven't stepped off the ground since 9/11

[American Tragedy]

23. Maybe it isn't you, if your name is so common

Can you even think of any reason why or how the government would have your name?

[Left Is Write]

26. I don't fly.

The last time I was on a plane was August of 2001.

I'm sure someone somewhere considers me a subversive.

[LisaL]

28. I absolutely hate flying. I hated

it before 911 and I hate it now.
And if my name was on a no fly list, I wouldn't have to fly.
Lucky you.

[m berst]

30. parallels

I just read "I Will Bear Witness" by Victor Klemperer, a diary of the years 1933-45 in Dresden's Jewish community.

In late 1944, after years of persecution and deportations, arbitrary arrests, beatings, and executions, and with most of the members of the community having disappeared or having been murdered, people still were clinging to denial. Klemperer was always stunned to hear people's response to the latest arrest - "well, he must have done SOMETHING wrong or they wouldn't have arrested him."

Once comforting illusion has been divorced from stark reality in people's minds, there is no limit to how far apart the two can get.

[TheFarseer]

31. I get my bags riffled through everytime I fly also

I told the guy that I had gotten checked at every stop over and he said my name must be on a list. I have a REALLY American name so I feel your pain, man.

[Nikepallas]

32. Get the word out! This is not fair to people! THey have the no fly

list and now they want airlines to hand over passanger list.... I say BOYCOTT the airlines and give your business to AmTRAK or GreyHOUND or something like that. If enough people do that Airlines will get the message REAL quick. Put in better protocols

[neomonkey]

33. How low is the bar nowadays to get on that list?

I haven't had occassion to fly in years. I might next year however. My dissent has been limited to donating a few dollars here and there to liberal causes, publicly expressing my disgust with Bush, the right-wing, etc. I wouldn't consider myself a "dangerous radical" my any measure of the imagination. I would be curious though