By Dawn's Early Light

Amy from TSA Calls

Amy from the Department of Homeland Security's TSA Public Affairs called me today.  I had left her a message yesterday (see DEL posts here).  She was helpful and pointed me to this TSA document online called a Passenger Identity Verification Form (PVIF). 

The downside to the form is that it requires 3 forms of identification, which one needs to be a birth certificate that is certified.  The other two forms of identification would be for me a Driver's License and my passport.  If I didn't have either of these, it would seem a challenge to meet the 3-document requirement.  The other two forms of identification need to be notarized, which will require a $10 fee for me to get from a local notary. 

The certified birth certificate can be had for $18 from the County Hall of Records, if I show up in person.  Otherwise I will need a notary to prove that I am who I am to then pay the $18.  I also get the benefit of receiving the document promptly if I go in person.  So my cost is either $28 or $38 depending on if I want to go in person and wait for 30 minutes in line to get my certified birth certificate.

The PVIF letter states:

"Please understand that the TSA clearance process will not remove a name from the Watch Lists.  Instead this process distinguishes passengers from persons who are in fact on the Watch Lists by placing their names and identifying information in a cleared portion of the Lists. This information is transmitted to the airlines. Airline personnel can then more quickly determine when implementing TSA-required identity verification procedures that these passengers are not the person of interest whose name is actually on the Watch Lists.

Clearance by TSA may not eliminate the need to go to the ticket counter in order to check-in. While TSA cannot ensure that this procedure will relieve all delays, we hope it will facilitate a more efficient check-in process for you. Additionally, TSA has issued guidance to the airlines to clarify further the Watch List clearance protocol."

Even with all of the work involved, it still will not likely alleviate the check-in problems, but rather would allow them to move me forward faster, well maybe. I spoke with Carolyn from Southwest's customer service relations and she recommended that I go through the TSA procedure, but she was not sure if it would solve my problem with their kiosk check-in program.  She did recommend that I book round-trip and as far in advance as possible. 

I will keep you posted once I send the TSA my notarized and certified documents.

The Pat Down...The Adventure Continues

My "day" trip to Sacramento became a two-day trip.  Preparing to leave, I attempted to pre-board by printing out an advance boarding ticket prior to heading off to Sacramento International Airport, this time returning to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.

This didn't work for me, but worked for my business partner, whose flight i had booked separately from mine to a different airport on a credit card with my name on it.

Upon arriving in Sacramento, the Southwest kiosk check-in machine would print a boarding pass, but one with the dreaded code at the bottom meaning you will receive a special screening.

I received a full pat down, by a male screener.  While the screener appeared to be very thorough and by the book (verbatim it would seem), it was the most intrusive search I have ever experienced.

All of my carry-on electronics were rescreened for bomb residue.  I politely asked if I could speak to someone about how to get off the list, or at least understand it better.  This is where it gets confusing.

I was given a number to call for the TSA Public Affairs office, which turns out to be a media line for reporting emergency events to TSA.

I went back to the TSA station, and the supervisor was gone.  However, the other TSA staff said I had the "right" number and were of no additional help, nor did they attempt to call the pager number I was given to confirm my report.  One officer did look through a huge file cabinet, but could not give me a phone number.

It seems to me crazy and incredible that a TSA supervisor of about 15 agents cannot produce a telephone number.  The man at the file cabinet told me it is the airline that is flagging me.  I replied, "But the names are given to them by the government," to which he replied that they just implement the airline's list of people to be screened.  I felt like I was in a Douglas Adams novel.

Giving up the pointless discussion, I went back to the gate and called the Public Affairs number referred to me from the voice mail and left a message with "Amy".

Upon handing my ticket to the Southwest agent, I did realize my first name was spelled "Wiliam", missing one "l".

Now sitting on the plane, I wonder about what Amy will tell me if she calls me back tomorrow.

The TSA Watchlist adventure continues.

DEL Blogger on Government Watch List

Woke up at 3:00 a.m.  Left at 4:00 a.m. from South Orange County to Ontario International Airport some 60 miles northeast.  While not my first choice for starting my day, it wasn't bad until I tried to use my Rapid Rewards card for Southwest at the kiosk so I could then wait in the growing security line.  My trip is one I do often, up to Sacramento and back.

While my business traveller (for whom I had booked this flight online while booking my own) showed up on the screen, I didn't.  No boarding pass, and growing lines at security and the counter.

I called Southwest, hoping they could hook my flight info back up to their self-check-in machines.  After a long hold, no luck.  Now I am down to thirty minutes and a very imposing check-in and additional security line.

I am one for following rules.  However, I could not miss this flight.  (All others were sold out, and I have a very important application due tomorrow in Sacramento.)

To make a long story short, I barged up front to find I am on a government watch list, and Southwest no longer offers appeal letters or any mechanism for appeal (according to the lady at the counter).

I am now on the flight, but DEL will keep you abreast of my efforts to get cleared from the TSA list.  We are pulling away from the gate.

More later.