I’m getting mixed messages from the Department of Homeland Security. Last year I was placed on the No-Fly Watch List which made traveling a real hassle, mainly because I was not able to print my boarding pass from home for several months. You can read No-Fly Watch List: Parts 1-10 for greater detail.

Shortly after I discovered my status on the No Fly Watch List, I filed my paperwork with the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Program. A month or two later, I received a redress number and was able to print my boarding pass from home. Traveling resumed pretty much to normal. In fact, it kind of became easier.

Last November I was traveling to Albuquerque for a conference on a Southwest travel voucher. Because it was a voucher, I had to go to the airline counter to get my boarding pass.

“Here you go,” the nice lady said to me as she handed me my boarding pass.

I was in line at security when I noticed my last name was spelled wrong on the boarding pass. My name gets misspelled with some regularity. Khan becomes Kahn, which I’ve also written about on this blog. See Mistaken Identity. Oh great, I thought to myself. I’ll probably get held up in security because the spelling doesn’t match my identification.

It's Khan, not Kahn.

I didn’t have time to go back to the counter so I chanced it. And they waved me through. Hmmm, I thought to myself. Have I advanced from the No Fly Watch List to the Go Ahead and Fly Even if Your Name on Your Boarding Pass Doesn’t Match Your ID?

Yesterday, I checked in for a flight and it seems the Department of Homeland Security and the TSA are trying to get their act back together because this time, I got a new message.

“Please enter the redress number for Surina Ms. Khan, if available. We have all other required information.”

Good thing I got that redress number, because I entered it and I was able to print my boarding pass, even though I was confused by the new name they gave me. Surina Ms. Khan. Usually I go by Ms. Surina Khan. At least they spelled my last name right.