Anyone else having trouble flying?? -- Twice I've been given a run around

[Emillereid]

when I've tried to get boarding passes. The first time 3 weeks ago I hoped it was just a fluke -- I tried to use the electronic boarding pass thing for a flight to Baltimore -- the information about me and my flight came up correctly but then it said I'm denied etc. The clerk then had to see my picture ID, and get a supervisor to look at me and my ID and override the system -- it took about about 30 minutes. On my return from New York yesterday, the same thing happened. I asked the supervisor why I was having trouble and she said it was for security!!! Now I do have passionate views against Bush and his fascist policies -- but I am a pacifist at heart and have NEVER ever advocated anything remotely violent. I was politically active in the 60s, but was never arrested. Presently I am politically involved with my local democratic club and attend peace marches, exchange views on the internet etc., but by no stretch of the imagination could anyone seriously think I'm a security risk. Christ, I'm a 55 year old nutritionist with three children who lives in an affluent suburb of LA and spend most of my time doing medical research!!!

I'd love to know if anyone else has been having these problems. Is there anyone we can complain to?

[LisaM]

1. Were you on United?

I think they just have a bunch of pissed off employees right now.

[Emillereid]

4. I was flying America West, not United! It definitely had nothing to do

with the employees -- it was something about me coded into the computer!

[prodigal_green]

2. Talk to Ted Kennedy

He is on a terrorist watch list and has been stopped from boarding several times. Yes, Ted Kennedy. Seriously though, contact his office and see if they can help you, even if he is not your Senator.

You're being targeted because you are a liberal.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/19/kennedy.airlines/

<snip>
A spokesman at the Department of Homeland Security said Kennedy was pulled aside and put through secondary screening before being allowed to fly. The spokesman said the senator was put through secondary screening because there was a "name likeness" to somebody who was of concern.

The same scenario played out two more times before Kennedy's staff finally called DHS officials, according to Kennedy's office. "They promised that steps would be taken to take him off the list," Smith said.

But the same mistake occurred a few more times, Smith said, and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge "called to apologize" that the situation had not been rectified.

Smith said the senator mentioned his experience at Thursday's hearing to Undersecretary of Homeland Security Asa Hutchinson because the lawmaker wants to "make sure innocent Americans are not being unfairly treated" by new security measures.

</snip>

[movonne]

3. This is outrageous...I have not had trouble because I don't fly.. Look

what happened to Kennedy...

[TheSuaveOne]

5. Hmmmm...

I flew last week and didn't have any problems...actually it went pretty smoothe...la

[bobbyboucher]

15. Of course you did. She/he must be lying.

Thanks for the input.

Smoothly.

[Shoeempress]

6. Your from LA thats one of the problems. Obviously you must immediately

move to a more acceptable state,like Texas. Shame on you for living in a liberal oasis. Further, a Nutritionist, obviously at odds with the campaign contributors like McDonald's. And peace activist, Puhleeese. Obviously against god's own appoint son who chose to fight this holy war in Iraq, Who are you to question him. You just didn't realize how suspicious you are.

[truthspeaker]

7. They don't care if you have no history of violence.

All activists are suspect. That's their attitude

Besides being an affront to civil liberties, it's a waste of law enforcement resources as far as I'm concerned.

[LiberalEsto]

8. You're not alone....

Senator Ted Kennedy and Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) both had trouble trying to get on flights within the past month or so. Kennedy was told his name resembled that of someone on a Homeland Security terrosit watch list. It happened to Lewis too, I think.

My background is pretty similar to yours -- I protested the Vietnam Warand the current B*sh war, and I contribute comments to progressive Democrat websites. I too am a non-violent person. But I got fired from a job in July that involved a lot of Homeland Security contract work. I never got a clear reason why I was canned without warning, just that "it's not a good fit." I suspect Homeland Security checked my background and demanded that the contrator company get rid of me. Unfortunately, I can't prove it.

In rethug America, it is no longer necessary to be a wild-eyed terrorist to be perceived as a threat to this regime. All you have to do to get put on their sh*t list is to be a Democrat, speak out, attend protests and sign petitions; in other words, exercise your rights under our Constitution.


Where do you go to complain? Why not send letters to Kennedy, Lewis, John Kerry, and the ACLU? Do a letter to the editor of your local paper. Call your member of Congress. VOTE.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

9. I haven't been hassled

but then all of my family are a bunch of Repubs (I'm the "black sheep" of the family) who donate lots of bucks to the Repub Party. My name is very similar to my mothers so if she ever gets hassled - all hell will break out becasue my mother is NOT one you want to piss off.

[Red State Rebel]

10. I get searched almost every time...

Over the summer I fly one way 3 or 4 times because I go on and off tour with a Drum & Bugle Corps. Every time you fly one way, you get searched - it drives me nuts. Do you think the potential hijackers might have figured this out and would buy round trip next time????

[Emillereid]

12. I had a round trip ticket!

[Emillereid]

11. I just sent the following email to Kennedy --

Dear Honorable Kennedy,

I understand that you were recently subjected to 'extra' security surveillance while flying. In the past three weeks I too have been pulled aside for 'special' treatment. I have twice been 'denied' a boarding pass although the electronic boarding pass machine obviously has my name and my flight information correct. In fact, after displaying my name and flight information, the screen simply says that I am denied the boarding pass. I have to give picture ID to the clerk who has to get a supervisor to look me and my ID over for a while and then override the system. When I asked the last supervisor why my boarding pass was being held up, she said it was for security purposes.

Now you have to understand I am no security risk! Unless having liberal, progressive views and working in the democratic party makes our current President feel less secure in his job. I have never advocated violence and am a pacifist at heart preferring the Gandhi/King approach to social and political change. I do however have strong views that the current administration's policies are anathema to a free and democratic republic -- and for love of country I have been ardently working against the war in Iraq and for the election of John Kerry.

I would like your help in removing my name from the list I'm on and in investigating and publicizing the Bush policies of harassment of good, upstanding American citizens whose only crime is holding progressive, liberal political views!

[peace4all]

13. good thinking

good letter

[sldavis]

14. we have that problem

My husband is a "name match" according to the TSA, so he has to go through special precautions. It supposedly doesn't mean that you yourself have been identified as a security risk, but someone with your name has. We've called and tried to get him removed, but the TSA says there's no way around it. I imagine many other people have the exact same problem, because he has a VERY common name.

[DoNotRefill]

16. I stopped flying....

it was taking longer to get through the security checks (and I always seemed to get singled out for extra scrutiny) than it took me to drive. If my destination is less than 48 hours away by car, I'll drive. If not, I don't go.

F*ck the airlines...