A ticket bought with a credit card in a different name is also likely a (lame) reason to flag somebody.

But since that didn't happen to friend number 1, it is likley not a factor in this case.

But, given the "totality of the circumstances":

--Two guys registered for AA numbers at the same time
--tickets bought out of DCA on a different credit card
--Names that slightly matched the watch list

and possibly other factors that I won't name here since I don't know what they are, it doesn't seem like this is too out of whack.

It sucks that it happened that way for you and your friends. Likely unfair.

But they did make it on the plane with relatively minimal delay. A brief conversation with an Airline manager and the SSSSame treatement other selectees get at the checkpoint and off to Miami you went.

Hope you guys have a good time down there (and an ineventful trip back home!).

On the one hand, I'd be a little bit concerned that friend #1 wasn't flagged (not that it would be fair or anything) but given the details of this incident, the magic computer thought friend #2 a threat; and they had nearly the same circumstances (same credit card, itiniraries booked at the same time after joining AAdvantage at the same time etc etc). The fact that friend #1 made it through while #2 got the SSSPecial treatment shows how broken the silly system is and it should either be scrapped or overhauled. Sorry again for the possible indignity friend #2 may have endured.