Are YOU on the no-fly list?

[latteromden]

I learned, travelling this weekend, that my family is, indeed, on the no-fly list. Why? Well, I was an intern for the Kerry campaign, and then there's DU, and my entire family is very liberal - I don't mean to be so paranoid, but we've never DONE anything.

It could always be a fluke - people with our names, but we'll apparently never know. Have you ever been held back at the airport because of being on the no-fly list?

[Streetdoc270]

1. WTF?

How do you find out? (other than being escorted off the plane) I doubt that there's a published list, but there has to be a way and an appeal process to get off...

[EVDebs]

2. Nixon had his 'enemies list' and so does the Bush crowd...

They've got your information now going overseas to Bahamas in the Total Information Awareness project morphing into CAPPS II with Ben Bell

"Total Information Awareness Goes Offshore"

http://www.zmetro.com/archives/000901.php

Republicans and their 'helpers' in the Dept. of Defense etc are out to do funandgames to their political enemies. How do you think Sen Ted Kennedy ended up on their no fly list ?

I assume being registered anything but Republican is an indicator, but Greens seem to be of particular interest to these guys.

"The No-Fly List--Is a federal agency systematically harassing travelers for their political beliefs?"

http://www.inthesetimes.com/issue/27/02/feature3.shtml

""It appears, however, that this is only part of the story. Most of those who have been singled out for special interrogation and searches of their luggage and their persons, at least those who have gone public with their experiences, clearly are not “threats to aviation.” Indeed, many have been ardent advocates of nonviolence.""

Reminds me of the military harassment of Dr ML King Jr (...don't even get me started on his father's harassment from 1917 !). The military will do this and get away with it as a 'national security' issue. Just like they got away with Tienanmen Square and the Red Army...SHAME ON THEM.

[karlrschneider]

3. I bet I am given some of the emails I've sent to Chimpy, but then I fly my

own plane so it isn't really a concern. :evilgrin:

(Not actually -my- plane, I just drive it)

[orpupilofnature57]

4. the C.I.A has got all DU names, and if they read all of them, then

Bite my ass,you fascist shubers

[Rex]

5. Citizen, we ask you to step away from the computer...

you will be scanned for immoral thought patterns.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

34. LMAO

[immoderate]

6. I am half expecting it.

Not yet though.

--IMM

[merh]

7. So you can't fly anywhere?

I don't fly if I don't have too and haven't been on a plane since 2000.

Do they prevent you from flying or just make your check-in hell and hold you back for a prolonged period of time?

[uppityperson]

8. How did you find out your family is on it?

Story please. Thank you.

[Gman]

9. These bastards have got to go

We live under a right wing revolutionary government. When you oppose revolutionary governments, this is what happens.

Wake up, people. We no longer live in America. How long till people figure that out?

[Deja Q]

21. Once people disagree, then they'll figure it out.

Dunno. Maybe there's a bright side to confomity after all.

[sweetheart]

10. How does one know

What does it mean anyways. Does it mean you can't fly from a USA
airport and must go to canada to fly anywhere? Does it mean you can
only fly if you hire a private charter? Does it mean you can only
fly international and not domestic? I find it all a bit absurd.

Seems like anyone with a drivers license can do more damage with a
few gas cans making a giant car suicide bomb... but rather flying is
just a form of institutional harassment.

[tx_dem41]

11. I would assume you know you are on a NO-fly list, because you were...

not allowed to fly?

[uppityperson]

12. I hate these kinds of threads

Teasing brief writeup with no specific information. Are you for real or are you just trying to stir things up? Were you really stopped from flying? Are you trying to get other people's stories? Or are you just dropping a couple lines in the hopes of stiring things up? I'd like to hear a real story and sorry if this offends, but I don't get this.

[tx_dem41]

14. I'm with you Up....

Being a frequent flyer, I hear these stories all the time, but they never seem to pan out.

[tyedyeto]

25. My s/o got another frequent flyer round trip awarded to him......

2 days before he went to the airport for a trip home and was told he is on the no-fly list. So, being a FF doesn't mean jack to the TSA.

[tx_dem41]

30. I never said it did.

My dealings with the TSA though have always been positive. Much better than the private companies before.

My question for you....what does being on a "no-fly list" mean? Does he literally not get to fly...ever?

I have been tagged for screening several times. Its easily predictable (one-way ticket, making the reservation within 24 hrs of departure...quite understandable) and not a hassle at all. Take your shoes off before you get in line and that eliminates about 90% of the problems. Easy.

[tyedyeto]

32. We don't know at this point...

the airline employee told him to try using a combination of his 1st, middle and last names and see if that helps. His is such a common name. Example: R. John Smith instead of Robert Smith. His is such a common name that it may or may not work. This just happened 1 1/2 weeks ago.
We have also spoken to Sen. McCain's Tucson office but they don't seem to be doing anything.

Sorry I mistook your original post....can I plead lateness of the evening?

[tx_dem41]

33. Sure.....sometimes I plead "No coffee yet"

:-)

[latteromden]

15. I was just looking for other stories. I'll tell mine, although it's brief:

We were at the airport last night, coming back to Minnesota from DC. We were not actually stopped from flying, but we WERE held back for ~45 minutes and informed that we were on the no-fly list. It happened on the way to DC from MN, too. It just seemed awful suspicious that WE were on the list, and I was looking to see if anything similar had happened to other members here. I'm not trying to stir things up or claim it's all a government conspiracy - like I said, for all I know, it could have been a name mixup, but it's especially annoying to have to go to the airport three hours early in order to make sure we'll all be able to board and get cleared.

[ultraist]

16. Same thing happened to my husband!!!

He was held up at the airport and told he was on the no fly list. He asked what that meant as we needed to get to our gate and they informed him that they simply needed more info, such as his SS#, address, reason for travel, etc. After a long drawn out process and gathering of personal info, they informed my husband that it seemed that it was another man with the same name that was actually on the no fly list. It was a real PITA and I didn't think we should have had to provide his SS# to the airline clerk, but she demanded it and said if he refused, he would not be issued a boarding pass.

Apparently, they do a special search of those on the no fly list before they either let them fly or don't. If you refuse to cooperate, they will not let you fly, thanks to the Patriot Act. They do NOT have to tell you WHY.

[tyedyeto]

28. Airlines don't even need to ask for additional info .....

my honey wasn't asked for anything, just that the name was on the list and that's all they needed to know. His is a common Anglo name (John Smith, William Jones, Robert Johnson or any combination thereof).....not your run-of-the-mill terrorist type name (not that I'm into profiling). The airline told him that every common name such as his would be denied boarding.

[tx_dem41]

31. "Denied" boarding?

So he didn't get on the flight, I assume from your phrasing? And, now he can never fly again?

[uppityperson]

22. Thanks for the story. Your name anything like TedKennedy?

Thanks for the story, sounds like a real bummer. I hate this crap. Sorry for bitching earlier, but I've seen people start threads with the idea of just getting people riled up. So thanks for continuing with the story. Is your name anything like Edward Kennedy as he was having trouble too? For real. Good luck.

[Piperay]

13. How would I know???

I never fly so I don't know. :shrug:

[intheflow]

17. Were you flying out of Denver?

The guy in front of me at the United desk had the same problem. He looked innocent (and certainly white) enough to me. Meanwhile, I've attended every protest in this city for years and flew no problem.

I think if you have a common name, or are of Arab descent with th name to prove it, it makes you more vulnerable. :(

[davsand]

18. Nary a problem this last weekend.

We flew into Las Vegas (several articles have been on here about that particular airport) and had no problems either way. Hubby is public person (labor leader) and I am also known as a progressive Dem partisan (have held office for a few years now.) We never had anybody turn an eyelash at either airport we were in.

Oddly enough, we were flying into Vegas for a conference my husband was attending with people from progressive organizations from all over the US...

:shrug:


Laura

[bvar22]

23. Hey Man,

They let ANYBODY fly to Vegas.

In fact, Nevada is where they are going to set up the re-education camps for us.

[tyedyeto]

29. To Vegas, yes, but outta there.??? that is where my honey was told he is

on the 'List'.
He has been flying into and out of there every week for the past 9 or 10 months on business and 1 1/2 weeks ago he was put on the list.

[lectrobyte]

19. I get frisked etc. every time I fly -- code S or some shit like that.

[gorbal]

20. I had no problems in August

I don't know if anything has changed since then, but in August they barely gave me a second thought.

I get the idea they checked me out already or something. I'm probably on some sort of "completely safe" list. I should be anyway.

[tyedyeto]

24. Not me...but my S/O is and he has a VERY common Anglo name

He learned this as he was coming home after a biz trip and the airline told him his name is on the No-Fly list. They did allow him to return home but now he will have to use his full name or a combination of his 1st, middle and last name to fly again.

I think putting common names on the list is TSA's contribution toward this admin to get a national ID system in place.

[elcondor]

26. I flew to the convention this summer,

and did not have any trouble flying. I've never had any trouble, in fact, and I volunteered for Kerry and have posted here for over two years.

[nickgutierrez]

27. Yeah, I'm on it.

Or, at least, I was.

Advanced Search is down so I can't look into the archives, but I posted a thread in the lounge about this not quite a month ago.

I can't shake the same suspicions you stated -- however, this didn't happen to me back when I protested the war pre-invasion, and if this is the case, why is it just happening now?