I am a bit confused about the OP's situation. Was there one traveller or two?

Also, there are at least two different situations that you can get into that involve TSA. One is the SSSS, which means you will get sent through the special security lane for the physical inspection. But the other is to be "on the watch list." For that, you will have to check in at the ticket counter and get your ID verified. I was on the watch list in Delta's computer for about a month earlier this year; I never got SSSS for maybe ten one way segments where I was held up at the ticket counter.. I am still on AirTran's; have never gotten SSSS in connection with the various watch list hassles at the ticket counter.