Problems at airport

[I+H 11]

All airlines will attempt to clear a passenger through to their final destination when they issue their boarding passes. Otherwise, the airline is stuck with carrying the passenger back to their point of departure. It sounds like the airline employee in Dubai had trouble clearing him for the last leg of his journey from Hong Kong to the US. If it's a "name hit" then they can usually sort that out at the airport by contacting TSA in the US. There are more than 80,000 names on the TSA "no fly list", and many many people who share the same names as people on the list. Those people manage to travel, albeit with some delays because they get a "name hit" every time they travel to or from the US.

TSA has details about the people on the "no fly list" beyond simply their names. They have photos, height, weight, body proportions, dimensions of their facial characteristics (distance between their eyes, nose, and mouth, for example), color details about their hair, eyes, and skin. In many cases they even have statistics on how they walk. In most cases, they can confirm or eliminate someone with a computer analysis of their picture.

A friend of mine was held up at San Francisco International because of a TSA "name hit". He was right in front of me at the baggage check line. He got to the gate about 15 minutes after I did. He said they just took his picture and he waited until they told him he was cleared.

Don't worry about it. There's a good chance it won't be a problem at all. If it does cause a problem then it shouldn't be more than a little delay while they confirm his identity.

Thank you Jim! Makes me feel much better. I don't know anything about this type of stuff and I just want my hubby safe here with me. I really appreciate your detailed post.

Edited August 25, 2011 by I+H

[I+H 11]

Just a quick update if anyone is interested. He called me, but was not 100% sure if he was good to get on the plan or not. Said he would call me back if no problems and I never got a call, so I think we are good.

I want to thank everyone for there comments and helping me to deal with the insanity

I worry to much sometimes

[EAbbas 213]

Just thankful your at the end of the journey!!!! Glad he will be home soon and your lives won't be separated anymore!!! Congrats!!!!! Hoping we aren't too far behind! This is really hard!!! But stories like yours give me hope it will happen soon... each day we go thru is a day gone and closer to eachother!

[sheepp 2]

Just a quick update if anyone is interested. He called me, but was not 100% sure if he was good to get on the plan or not. Said he would call me back if no problems and I never got a call, so I think we are good.

I want to thank everyone for there comments and helping me to deal with the insanity

I worry to much sometimes

I think it means that he is on his way!! Now it´s just the countdown... of hours!!

Edited August 25, 2011 by sheepp

[iwuvcheshert 6]

keep us updated how he's been... take care!

[bigdog 376]

I didn't really know where to post this, but I need help just the same.

My fiance was boarding his flight from Dubai to Hong Kong. The woman that checked him in told him she was unsure as to whether or not he would be able to board his flight from Hong Kong to the US. She said something about "common name" and that was about all I could get out of my guy. He was in a rush to catch his flight. I assume she was refering to the "no fly" list. I know for a fact he is not on the "no fly" list. So does he have anything to worry about? He's on his way now, but I'm worried. So do I have anything to worry about. The woman was even trying to contact someone in Hong Kong for whatever reason, but was unable to because of the time difference.

To try and calm myself I have gathered these facts in my mind:

They wouldn't allow him to fly to Hong Kong at all if he is not even allowed in their international terminal. He is not going to try and leave the airport or anything.

Why would they send him back to Dubai? I can't come up with an answer.

And if his visa was approved the government obviously did their homework on him and they would just let him on the plane to the US and let the US deal with him.

I just need some reassuring words or the experiece of someone else coming from a MENA country that had a layover in another country.

Thank you all so much!

You have been approved and checked, POE officials will look at your documentation and then you will be on. Be calm confident and ready to travel.

[griffin 7]

why travel from Dubai to Hongkong then to the USA? just curios.

[C Med 14]

I hope everything worked out for the best. I don't blame you for worrying. I came through with my fiance yesterday and started freaking out when he was in secondary for longer than ten minutes! Luckily, all went well for him, and I pray all goes well for you too! Keep us posted!!

[Bill and Vicky 25]

I know for a fact he is not on the "no fly" list.

It could be that someone else with a similar name is on the list, and the computer thought the name was close enough to flag.

When (I won't say "if") he gets in the U.S., he should check the TSA web site about the process for a redress number. He'll have to fill out some paperwork that distinguishes him from someone else on the list with the same name, and then he'll be issued a redress number to use in the future when he's traveling outside of the country.

Care,

Bill

[AMP 54]

Well, the flag could be because he bought a one way ticket. There was a case here in the states that a gentalman , got a scholorship to study in UAE (bought a one way ticket to the school), then the FBI flagged him and put him in Jail, because they suspected he was a terrorist.

But I dont think that is the case, I think its just nerves and everything will be okay. Good luck.

[Casprd 167]

Actually, that will not get him on board the flight as that is a totally different issue. If he is flagged, he has to resolve it there or he will be held up. The visa is only for US entry once he is here and as always subject to revocation. I hope this is just a mix up, for whatever reason the last 3 flights my checked in baggage has been getting searched but nothing is ever missing. Anyhow, our thoughts are with you, but again stay strong to help him.

Could be a simple flagged name issue because someone on the no-fly list has the same name. My boss used to have all kinds of problems at the airport until someone told him to start booking flights with his middle name or initial as part of the booking record and voila no more problems. He may be delayed in Hong Kong, but if he doesn't have to leave and re-enter the secured area of the terminal it shouldn't be an issue. It may cause some delays on arrival to the US with the CBP folks but again shouldn't be a major problem. Hopefully he can send you a text from hong kong to let you know he is getting on the plane.

[sheepp 2]

Did he already arrive??? Keep us updated!!

I´m sure he hadn´t have any problem

Edited August 25, 2011 by sheepp

[inloveVEN 46]

I cant stop worrying!

Oh please dont allow yourself to have that negatives thought just think in the new life that you are about to start. Nothing can happen that he won't be able to solve

[I+H 11]

why travel from Dubai to Hongkong then to the USA? just curios.

I wanted him to take a direct flight, but on such short notice it was tooooo much!

[I+H 11]

UPDATE:

First of all I want to thank everyone for their input and well wishes. I was a mess! Even when we got to the airport I was waiting and waiting and he didn't even come out of the arrival gate, they sent him another way, so he snuck up behind us

So if anyone has this issue in the future this may be the case. The women he initially spoke to had it all wrong. What they were concerned about was the fact that he has only bought a one way ticket. When he went to check in for his flight from Hong Kong to the US they pulled him aside and made him sign a form saying that he was financially liable for his return home if he was for some reason unable to enter the US. Also, his visa in the UAE was cancelled, so he would have to go to Pakistan and the airline assumed that because he was born in the UAE that he had no ties to Pakistan and therefore he would be stuck there with nothing and no one. Why they care I am not sure, but it was nice. He did arrive safely and all is well.

And again, everyone here has been wonderful and we truely could not have accomplished this without the help of everyone here! We wish everyone the best of luck and happy futures with one another.

Edited August 30, 2011 by I+H