The TSA In PSC
06-05-2011, 10:50 AM
#1
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Joined APC: May 2006
Position: C-172
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The TSA In PSC
My husband and I have been all over the world visiting such wonderful cities like London, Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt, Budapest, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Lisbon, Dublin, Auckland, Manila, etc etc. We have been through airport security many times, and been manhandled, had our integrity and motives for travel questioned, and our luggage ransacked. We are not terrorists or drug dealers or into human trafficking. We are just plain people who work hard and pay taxes.
So it was that we flew Horizon from SEA to PSC a couple days ago to attend a conference. [Don't ask me why the Bar Association chose such a remote place to have a conference when there are perfectly good places closer to home]. We have never been to the Tri Cities in our long lives, but there's always a first time.
We had no problems leaving Seattle. We produced the same boarding passes and the same driver's license. The TSA woman was actually friendly and smiling and wished us a good trip! Coming home this morning, however, the TSA pulled my husband aside because his name on his boarding pass did not match the name on his driver's license. His full, legal name is Frank and his middle name is James, but he prefers to be known as Jim. His passport says he's Frank, but his driver's license says he's Jim. Whenever we travel, we are told to use the name on his passport, so I booked his ticket using Frank.
The TSA questioned him as to why he told Alaska that his name is Frank when his name is really Jim. They even called in Rosie, the supervisor, to handle this because they had never seen this problem before. They made him pull out other identification to prove that Frank and Jim are one and the same. Alas, medical insurance card, AARP card, Costco card all did not work. They wanted to see his passport, but we left that at home since we were just going to Pasco, for God's sake. They were about to do a cavity search on him when they apparently decided suddenly to change their minds (assuming they have working minds).
In a few days, we are flying Virgin America to SFO. I hope we don't have the same little annoyance. Actually, I hope we do because I dare the TSA to do a cavity search on my husband.
So it was that we flew Horizon from SEA to PSC a couple days ago to attend a conference. [Don't ask me why the Bar Association chose such a remote place to have a conference when there are perfectly good places closer to home]. We have never been to the Tri Cities in our long lives, but there's always a first time.
We had no problems leaving Seattle. We produced the same boarding passes and the same driver's license. The TSA woman was actually friendly and smiling and wished us a good trip! Coming home this morning, however, the TSA pulled my husband aside because his name on his boarding pass did not match the name on his driver's license. His full, legal name is Frank and his middle name is James, but he prefers to be known as Jim. His passport says he's Frank, but his driver's license says he's Jim. Whenever we travel, we are told to use the name on his passport, so I booked his ticket using Frank.
The TSA questioned him as to why he told Alaska that his name is Frank when his name is really Jim. They even called in Rosie, the supervisor, to handle this because they had never seen this problem before. They made him pull out other identification to prove that Frank and Jim are one and the same. Alas, medical insurance card, AARP card, Costco card all did not work. They wanted to see his passport, but we left that at home since we were just going to Pasco, for God's sake. They were about to do a cavity search on him when they apparently decided suddenly to change their minds (assuming they have working minds).
In a few days, we are flying Virgin America to SFO. I hope we don't have the same little annoyance. Actually, I hope we do because I dare the TSA to do a cavity search on my husband.
06-05-2011, 11:42 AM
#2
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Joined APC: May 2011
Position: Pain in the a$$
Posts: 82
My husband and I have been all over the world visiting such wonderful cities like London, Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt, Budapest, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Lisbon, Dublin, Auckland, Manila, etc etc. We have been through airport security many times, and been manhandled, had our integrity and motives for travel questioned, and our luggage ransacked. We are not terrorists or drug dealers or into human trafficking. We are just plain people who work hard and pay taxes.
So it was that we flew Horizon from SEA to PSC a couple days ago to attend a conference. [Don't ask me why the Bar Association chose such a remote place to have a conference when there are perfectly good places closer to home]. We have never been to the Tri Cities in our long lives, but there's always a first time.
We had no problems leaving Seattle. We produced the same boarding passes and the same driver's license. The TSA woman was actually friendly and smiling and wished us a good trip! Coming home this morning, however, the TSA pulled my husband aside because his name on his boarding pass did not match the name on his driver's license. His full, legal name is Frank and his middle name is James, but he prefers to be known as Jim. His passport says he's Frank, but his driver's license says he's Jim. Whenever we travel, we are told to use the name on his passport, so I booked his ticket using Frank.
The TSA questioned him as to why he told Alaska that his name is Frank when his name is really Jim. They even called in Rosie, the supervisor, to handle this because they had never seen this problem before. They made him pull out other identification to prove that Frank and Jim are one and the same. Alas, medical insurance card, AARP card, Costco card all did not work. They wanted to see his passport, but we left that at home since we were just going to Pasco, for God's sake. They were about to do a cavity search on him when they apparently decided suddenly to change their minds (assuming they have working minds).
In a few days, we are flying Virgin America to SFO. I hope we don't have the same little annoyance. Actually, I hope we do because I dare the TSA to do a cavity search on my husband.
So it was that we flew Horizon from SEA to PSC a couple days ago to attend a conference. [Don't ask me why the Bar Association chose such a remote place to have a conference when there are perfectly good places closer to home]. We have never been to the Tri Cities in our long lives, but there's always a first time.
We had no problems leaving Seattle. We produced the same boarding passes and the same driver's license. The TSA woman was actually friendly and smiling and wished us a good trip! Coming home this morning, however, the TSA pulled my husband aside because his name on his boarding pass did not match the name on his driver's license. His full, legal name is Frank and his middle name is James, but he prefers to be known as Jim. His passport says he's Frank, but his driver's license says he's Jim. Whenever we travel, we are told to use the name on his passport, so I booked his ticket using Frank.
The TSA questioned him as to why he told Alaska that his name is Frank when his name is really Jim. They even called in Rosie, the supervisor, to handle this because they had never seen this problem before. They made him pull out other identification to prove that Frank and Jim are one and the same. Alas, medical insurance card, AARP card, Costco card all did not work. They wanted to see his passport, but we left that at home since we were just going to Pasco, for God's sake. They were about to do a cavity search on him when they apparently decided suddenly to change their minds (assuming they have working minds).
In a few days, we are flying Virgin America to SFO. I hope we don't have the same little annoyance. Actually, I hope we do because I dare the TSA to do a cavity search on my husband.
So you're aggravated at the TSA because of your mistake?
06-05-2011, 12:02 PM
#3
I'm a man of my word.
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Devil's Advocate
Posts: 2,883
You're new here right? Here's a little piece of advice: Think twice before flaming a moderator.
And the TSA is a complete waste of space. Your example, vagabond, is proof of that considering they hassle y'all, then just let you go. What's the point of going through that much trouble just to let Frank/Jim go? Wouldn't it just be easier to apply common sense and understand that it's fairly commonplace for men to be addressed by their middle names?
Another example: the TSA at IAD refused to let me and my crew through the employee checkpoint because she had never heard of my (regional) airline. The dialogue went something like this:
the TSA agent: I've never heard of your airline, you can't come through here.
Me: We fly out of here everyday.
TSA: Do you have a ticket counter here?
Me: Yeah, it's called "United."
TSA: Well, you're not United.
Me: I know, we fly as United Express.
My captain: We need a supervisor.
All the TSA agents within earshot, in unison: SUPERVISOR!
Me: What about these guys (another regional), they don't have a ticket counter here either?
TSA: They can't come through either.
Me to the other crew: Sorry guys, just trying to prove a point.
The other crew: Don't sweat it. This needs to get sorted out anyway.
Long story short, the supervisor showed up, took one look, and said, "Come on through guys."
And the TSA is a complete waste of space. Your example, vagabond, is proof of that considering they hassle y'all, then just let you go. What's the point of going through that much trouble just to let Frank/Jim go? Wouldn't it just be easier to apply common sense and understand that it's fairly commonplace for men to be addressed by their middle names?
Another example: the TSA at IAD refused to let me and my crew through the employee checkpoint because she had never heard of my (regional) airline. The dialogue went something like this:
the TSA agent: I've never heard of your airline, you can't come through here.
Me: We fly out of here everyday.
TSA: Do you have a ticket counter here?
Me: Yeah, it's called "United."
TSA: Well, you're not United.
Me: I know, we fly as United Express.
My captain: We need a supervisor.
All the TSA agents within earshot, in unison: SUPERVISOR!
Me: What about these guys (another regional), they don't have a ticket counter here either?
TSA: They can't come through either.
Me to the other crew: Sorry guys, just trying to prove a point.
The other crew: Don't sweat it. This needs to get sorted out anyway.
Long story short, the supervisor showed up, took one look, and said, "Come on through guys."
06-05-2011, 12:10 PM
#4
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Joined APC: May 2011
Position: Pain in the a$$
Posts: 82
You're new here right? Here's a little piece of advice: Think twice before flaming a moderator.
And the TSA is a complete waste of space. Your example, vagabond, is proof of that considering they hassle y'all, then just let you go. What's the point of going through that much trouble just to let Frank/Jim go? Wouldn't it just be easier to apply common sense and understand that it's fairly commonplace for men to be addressed by their middle names?
And the TSA is a complete waste of space. Your example, vagabond, is proof of that considering they hassle y'all, then just let you go. What's the point of going through that much trouble just to let Frank/Jim go? Wouldn't it just be easier to apply common sense and understand that it's fairly commonplace for men to be addressed by their middle names?
06-05-2011, 07:50 PM
#6
Chief Jeppesen Updater
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: Executive Transport Driver
Posts: 3,080
Regardless of whether we like their policies or not, the TSA has published plenty of guidance about this particular topic and how your name needs to match the gov't issued ID presented when you travel.
The big issue now is whether or not your husband has been "flagged" by the TSA which will result in more headaches in the future.
06-05-2011, 08:13 PM
#7
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Joined APC: May 2011
Position: Pain in the a$$
Posts: 82
06-06-2011, 01:05 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: Hiding under the counter
Posts: 276
This time around, I'd say it's probably a valid comment. (And just to be clear, I'M NOT new around here, and enjoy the info and viewpoint that vagabond brings to the forum).
Regardless of whether we like their policies or not, the TSA has published plenty of guidance about this particular topic and how your name needs to match the gov't issued ID presented when you travel.
The big issue now is whether or not your husband has been "flagged" by the TSA which will result in more headaches in the future.
Regardless of whether we like their policies or not, the TSA has published plenty of guidance about this particular topic and how your name needs to match the gov't issued ID presented when you travel.
The big issue now is whether or not your husband has been "flagged" by the TSA which will result in more headaches in the future.
I'll add that the airline should have caught the discrepancy at check-in. It only takes a minute to adjust a pax name to be accurate. We do it all day long for pax that make the same mistake.
06-06-2011, 10:38 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,861
My husband and I have been all over the world visiting such wonderful cities like London, Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt, Budapest, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Lisbon, Dublin, Auckland, Manila, etc etc. We have been through airport security many times, and been manhandled, had our integrity and motives for travel questioned, and our luggage ransacked. We are not terrorists or drug dealers or into human trafficking. We are just plain people who work hard and pay taxes.
So it was that we flew Horizon from SEA to PSC a couple days ago to attend a conference. [Don't ask me why the Bar Association chose such a remote place to have a conference when there are perfectly good places closer to home]. We have never been to the Tri Cities in our long lives, but there's always a first time.
We had no problems leaving Seattle. We produced the same boarding passes and the same driver's license. The TSA woman was actually friendly and smiling and wished us a good trip! Coming home this morning, however, the TSA pulled my husband aside because his name on his boarding pass did not match the name on his driver's license. His full, legal name is Frank and his middle name is James, but he prefers to be known as Jim. His passport says he's Frank, but his driver's license says he's Jim. Whenever we travel, we are told to use the name on his passport, so I booked his ticket using Frank.
The TSA questioned him as to why he told Alaska that his name is Frank when his name is really Jim. They even called in Rosie, the supervisor, to handle this because they had never seen this problem before. They made him pull out other identification to prove that Frank and Jim are one and the same. Alas, medical insurance card, AARP card, Costco card all did not work. They wanted to see his passport, but we left that at home since we were just going to Pasco, for God's sake. They were about to do a cavity search on him when they apparently decided suddenly to change their minds (assuming they have working minds).
In a few days, we are flying Virgin America to SFO. I hope we don't have the same little annoyance. Actually, I hope we do because I dare the TSA to do a cavity search on my husband.
So it was that we flew Horizon from SEA to PSC a couple days ago to attend a conference. [Don't ask me why the Bar Association chose such a remote place to have a conference when there are perfectly good places closer to home]. We have never been to the Tri Cities in our long lives, but there's always a first time.
We had no problems leaving Seattle. We produced the same boarding passes and the same driver's license. The TSA woman was actually friendly and smiling and wished us a good trip! Coming home this morning, however, the TSA pulled my husband aside because his name on his boarding pass did not match the name on his driver's license. His full, legal name is Frank and his middle name is James, but he prefers to be known as Jim. His passport says he's Frank, but his driver's license says he's Jim. Whenever we travel, we are told to use the name on his passport, so I booked his ticket using Frank.
The TSA questioned him as to why he told Alaska that his name is Frank when his name is really Jim. They even called in Rosie, the supervisor, to handle this because they had never seen this problem before. They made him pull out other identification to prove that Frank and Jim are one and the same. Alas, medical insurance card, AARP card, Costco card all did not work. They wanted to see his passport, but we left that at home since we were just going to Pasco, for God's sake. They were about to do a cavity search on him when they apparently decided suddenly to change their minds (assuming they have working minds).
In a few days, we are flying Virgin America to SFO. I hope we don't have the same little annoyance. Actually, I hope we do because I dare the TSA to do a cavity search on my husband.
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