Hundreds Report Watch-List Trials

Rep. John Lewis, here with Teresa Heinz Kerry, now uses his middle initial to book tickets. (John Amis -- AP)

The no-fly list is a collection of names from the FBI and intelligence agencies that is managed by the TSA and delivered to airlines. Each airline has its own system for matching the names. A Department of Homeland Security official said that Kennedy and Rep. Lewis were not on the no-fly list but that similar names had popped up on another, more extensive airline terrorist watch list.

Security experts said the government's no-fly list and other watch lists of known terrorists come up with false matches because they are based on antiquated technologies and are unevenly administered by airline employees instead of security personnel.

"What is flawed in the identification system is the administration of this list," said TSA spokeswoman Yolanda Clark. The agency is working to replace the existing system with one that is more ambitious, but it is not clear when it will be ready. "Airlines have different policies and procedures," she said.

Several airlines said privately yesterday that they find it uncomfortable enforcing a security policy created by the government, especially when they have to tell some of their best customers -- frequent fliers -- that they are on a watch list. Several carriers declined to comment on experiences by passengers.

Douglas R. Laird, an aviation security consultant who helped develop another government computer screening system, said the no-fly list is "pretty much worthless."

"Name search [systems] were relatively unimportant for the simple reason that you don't have to do much to throw the computer off," Laird said.

But other security experts disagree and say that even though it is impossible to eliminate false positives -- that is, cases like that of John Lewis -- watch lists can potentially stop a terrorist if they are handled correctly. Billie Vincent, a former Federal Aviation Administration official, said the government needs to simplify and streamline its lists and address tricky problems such as how to handle Arabic names, which can be spelled a number of different ways. "We do need to compile and use the lists in addition to other layers of security," Vincent said in an e-mail.

The TSA said that last month, 258 passengers filled out forms requesting to be removed from the government's watch lists. It said it could not say how many to date have made similar requests or actually ended list-related hassles. Once a passenger submits additional identification such as a birth certificate or passport to the agency, the TSA sends updated information to the airline and a verification letter to the passenger. The TSA warns, however, that even when a traveler arrives at the airport with the letter, delays may still occur.

Rep. Lewis said that he filled out the form and received a letter from TSA that verifies his identity but that he doesn't want to use it. "I'm not sure why I would have to go around carrying something like a pass," said the congressman, who is known for his civil rights record. "It reminds me of South Africa."