The names released by TSA on regular bases are for individuals said to be a threat to the aviation industry. They are only allowed to travel after thorough checks and verification. The TSA no-fly list search is a headache to frequent flies suspected of being potentially dangerous.

It is impossible for airline agents and security apparatus to know if a person is a terrorist before hand. The terrorist attacks of September 11 are a clear example of how wrong the intelligence system can be. Many people have been branded as threats to aviation even though they are totally harmless. They have never been caught in any criminal act in the past.

A person who is suspected of any crime is usually investigated and arrested. The people in the selectee lists have not been charged with any crime. This explains why the list keeps changing. The government has no evidence to link them to any criminal activities.

The names given on the lists do not have other details like date and place of birth. This means that a ticketing agent has no idea if the person listed is the same seeking to travel. This does not help in situations where people share names. This is a dilemma many agents have to deal with.

The absence of other details has caused many travelers to be delayed, searched and interrogated falsely. Such travelers are referred to as false positives. A common and famous case is that of Senator Ted Kennedy. The list contained the name T Kennedy which caused officials in airports to link the name to him.

It is clear that TSA does not update or track people they have listed as aviation security threats. Many people have been delayed on several occasions. Repeated frisking and search should clear the name immediately. A person who flies regularly should not be confronted by the same challenge from time to time. It is expected that the name would be cleared after the first encounter.

A person only discovers if he is on the list or not when he encounters trouble at the airport. It is impossible to verify if you have been blacklisted before hand. Being allowed to travel could also happen if you are listed among the selectees.

Listed individuals are not allowed to use the internet and kiosk or automated check-in systems. Such a person has to personally report to the counter. Some personnel in airports tell individuals if they are listed. The personnel are not obliged to do so.

There is a legal process for reducing suspicion and ensuring that your name is not on the list. A person who suspects that he is there should fill the Traveler Identification Verification Form and submit it to TSA. This process does not lead to total clearance. Some people continue to experience travel hitches despite submitting the form.

There are constitutional procedures of ensuring that your name is struck out of the list. There are organizations helping individuals to deal with this challenge. They ensure that false positives are not harassed.

Read more about Tsa No-Fly List Search Process.