I annoyed right now - last couple of trips, I cannot do OLCI. I get a message saying I need to see a CO representative "for special assistance". Apparently it's because there's a discrepency between my my ID name, my OP name, or my name on the booking (or a subset thereof). I've filled out the TSA info page etc.

Has anyone faced this problem and got it corrected? The difference might be a "Mr." in the traveller name or "Mike" vs "Michael".

Last Friday I had to run to the airport (LAS, so not too bad) mid-morning to check in in order to make sure I got on the upgrade list after a same-day flight change. Got the upgrade for that evening's flight upon check-in, but sure don't want to make that extra run to the airport in situations like that if I can avoid it..

Do the names (salutation shouldn't matter) match exactly between your OP account, the tickets you are buying and the information you're putting in the TSA SecureFlight crap that CO solicits on their behalf all match exactly? If not then you should fix that first. Things like Mike v Michael can definitely throw the systems off, sadly.

Also give CO your birthdate to put in your OnePass profile and on the SecureFlight data. That often helps.

If none of that resolves the issue then you'll probably have to deal with the TSA's TRIP program. Good luck with that; you'll need it.

Did you get confirmation from an agent that it was due to a (in)SecureFlight discrepancy? If you were on the real NFL, the check-in process at the airport would be quite a bit more convoluted and complex than just an agent looking at your DL and spitting out a boarding pass.

Could it be your ticket is out of sync? I've had that happen before and in every case, it was my ticket being out of sync.

If you've eliminated the ticket sync issue (you can call in advance and ask an agent to re-sync the ticket), another option is to play around with the data you input for (in)SecureFlight - change the birthday is one place to start (my real birthday has never been submitted to SF). You can even try inputting a different gender - that might be enough to get you a 'pass' from their back-end check. The screener or ID checker never see the data you inputted, so there is no risk.

If you're truly on the NFL, you have two options - request a 'redress number' (good luck with that), or alter the name that you fly under ever so slightly so it still can pass the ID check and get OP mileage credit. Add or remove an initial, salutation, middle initial, etc. Sometimes a minor tweak like that is sufficient to get you past the list check.

It took me 6 months to get a "Redress" number from TSA

and I still can't print a bording pass online.

The CO counter people think it's a joke when I show the my PE card and ask them to override the system!

Yes, but it took about two years and filing of the redress paperwork two different times. I have no idea how I got on the list but on a brighter note CO was the first airline to figure out that I was not the "person" in question and I was eventually able to do OLCI with CO many months before I could do so with any other airline.

In discussing why I might have gotten on the list with various TSA people I came to the conclusion that it was because of my travel habits that took me to some very out of the way places. At the time I was doing mineral exploration work (I am a geologist) in various South American countries with an odd trip or two to places like Mongolia, etc. I noticed for several months before being put on the list that I got the dreaded SSSS every time I flew.

I used to be on the NFL. I have an Aramaic first name which seems to be a nice red flag for HLS. In reality I don't care about the extra searches since OLCI is allowed for me. It's at security screening that I get snagged. There are many reasons for this, the name, where I've traveled and the fact that I have an FBi and State Department background profile due to certain positions I've either held or applied for. Let me tell you that the State Department is the most intensive screening I've ever had. It's so routine for me that when I do fly which isn't nearly as much as most of you but still more than the regular flyer that I've gotten to know 2 security people at EWR and a few CO staff. The Security people pull me aside every time and give me the quick search, By doing so I still get through relatively quickly and they don't get in trouble. Last year when I was flying CO to TLV going there I went through my normal routine. My parents, brother and his gf all laughed as I got my "random section for screening" and I asked Jimmy how his newborn is, he showed pictures. Upon my return through TLV via CO to EWR Israeli security pulled me aside. Took them all of 30 seconds to realize I was not who they were looking for and sent me on my way. They said that I'd have my passport number tagged with notation that I am a clear background as to avoid any hassles during my Future travels. Now that's a worry off my mind...sadly the US can't seem to get this idea.

Waiting 6 months for a clearance really isn't that bad. Think about it. 6 months to confirm that you're not who they really are looking for? small price to pay for that type of knowledge. Is it ideal? no, but it isn't Soviet Russia. Unless you're in Arizona and of Latin decent.

Not subjected to anything other than ID verification. Guess I'll just start slogging through synching my name on components of travel (booking, OP, TSA, ID, etc). What a PITA.

Is my sarcasm detector broken?

If it takes the US that long to figure out that you are not who they are looking for, imagine how long it takes them to figure out that they've found the person they are looking for.

I wish some airline had the guts to ignore the gov't and just let people do OLCI. If the person is a fugitive, just offer to forward the person's FF info (home address, etc.) and tell the gov't to have the person arrested at home or at the gate. OLCI provides up to 24 hours warning of where exactly the person will be; why warn a potential criminal of this? Only the innocent and totally stupid will actually show up if they are told in advance (by implication of not being allowed OLCI).