Back to a much earlier post. Regarding escalation... I imagine the quickest solution is to demand a TSM.... being in suits, their easy to recognize. More importantly, you'll most likely get a STSO to come out immediately as they'll do pretty much anything to avoid getting a TSM pulled from Starbucks. Additionally, another TSO or LTSO are unlikely to be sent up as a "pretend supervisor."

Regarding NEXUS: I think likelihood of a Trusted traveler card to be accepted is something like this: Global Entry----NEXUS--------------------------------SENTRI.
All I can say is suggest that they refer to their lists of acceptable IDs.

Just reading the CFR that covers identifying oneself to TSA. Here is the passage.

§ 1540.107 Submission to screening and inspection.

(a) No individual may enter a sterile area or board an aircraft without submitting to the screening and inspection of his or her person and accessible property in accordance with the procedures being applied to control access to that area or aircraft under this subchapter.

(b) An individual must provide his or her full name, as defined in § 1560.3 of this chapter, date of birth, and gender when—

(1) The individual, or a person on the individual's behalf, makes a reservation for a covered flight, as defined in § 1560.3 of this chapter, or

(2) The individual makes a request for authorization to enter a sterile area.

(c) An individual may not enter a sterile area or board an aircraft if the individual does not present a verifying identity document as defined in § 1560.3 of this chapter, when requested for purposes of watch list matching under § 1560.105(c), unless otherwise authorized by TSA on a case-by-case basis.

[73 FR 64061, Oct. 28, 2008]

So a person provides their name to TSA as required when handing over ID and boarding pass. No additional action is needed to comply with the regulation.

And it is really that simple but sadly not for the TSA :td:

No doubt, but like many things they do, the name game is purely arbitrary and you're more likely to miss your flight before you find someone somewhere willing to admit that you don't have to play along.

Interesting story here...

A couple of months ago I bought my 70 year old aunt a UA ticket to come visit us. She goes by "Judy" but her name on her ID is actually "Julia". And, for some stupid reason, I entered "Judith" on her reservation.

She managed to get through the check-in desk at MAF, through security, and all the way here to BOS without anyone noticing anything. We only realized the mistake when I printed her return boarding pass the night before she left.

The ticket counter at BOS fixed it right away, no questions asked, and she made it home without incident.

I'm sure the name game would have caught this, but I'm wondering if we dodged a bullet since she got on the plane with the wrong name on her ticket and it didn't blow up or get diverted or hijacked or anything.

I mean, the terrorists could have won! ;)

I, for one, feel much safer now that Aunt Julia's home and no longer menacing our Way of Life.

~~ Irish

Wait a minute! I thought it was "Judy"...or was it "Judith"????? Something's really fishy here...

I have an Aunt Judy as well, slightly close to the same age.

Tell your Aunt Judy (and I'll tell mine) that they are report to the nearest law enforcement agency to confess to their dangerous misrepresentation. How many more Aunt Judy's are there? Recklessly out there calling themselves "Judy" and trying to board a flight? My heart races at the very thought.

The information on this site alone is more than "chatter." Someone needs to be stopping all Aunt Judy's and ensuring that they are on a permanent no-fly list.

You were obviously trying to "cover" for Aunt Judy by "accidentally" using a different name. Don't even beging to think that this will be perceived as an act of innocence. Ha! We're on to you now!

Once again, if only the TSA could do more. Ask Judy for her real name, not her terrorist code name. The Name Game could have been a lifesaver, but we let Aunt Judy through the cracks. Has someone alerted the media?

Just wanted to mention they're still doing this pretty consistently at LGA. Some are pretty gung ho about asking (like the dude last night).

Just insist on whispering your name in their ears -- for "security," of course! Really creeps them out! :D

Bruce

Exactly:

Access to Information = Need to Know + Clearance

Anybody with military service will know that basic equation. There is no reason anyone from the TSA could assert Need to Know.

On the other hand, if you said your reasons were "classified" that indicates to me you were asserting a false authority, because of things you would know if you actually were trained to handle that kind of material, otherwise your security officer should have been fired for training you wrong.

Much like how DHS/TSA invented so-called,"SSI" for their operations, nothing's stopping you from how you personally classify your information.

If interrogated during a groping (haven't been caught in the Name Game yet), I just state that I don't discuss my travel. That works pretty well because you aren't baiting them with the "c" word (Classified), aren't making up something, and you are making it clear that this line of questioning has ended.

^:D

I have my own personal need to know classification system. TSA clerks don't have a need to know much at all in order to screen my person and gear for WEI.

Government intrusion into our personal life is not required in order to clear TSA security.