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More No-Fly List Drama Sees Flight Interrupted in Montreal

Over this weekend, while you were likely BBQing or breaking out your swimsuit for the summer, more Federal No Fly List drama went down in the skies. An Aeromexico flight from Paris to Mexico City was diverted to Montreal when it was discovered that a passenger onboard was listed on the US' No-Fly List.

Abdirahman Ali Gaal, believed to be a part of al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida ally in Somalia, was removed from the plane, which then continued on to Mexico City. So why, you ask, would a flight that does not land in the US be stopped abroad for a passengers on a US list? Well, it's simple: the United States wouldn't allow the plane to fly into its airspace. And you kind of need that permission when you're on a Paris-Mexico City flight.

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No Fly List / Airport Security / No-Fly List / Travel News / Terrorism / Emirates / → All Tags

Times Square Terrorism Suspect Faisal Shahzad Arrested on an Emirates Flight

Only 55 hours after the SUV filled with a makeshift explosive device was found and investigated in NYC's Times Square, the police have apprehended the lead suspect. Where was Faisal Shahzad, you ask? Oh, just onboard Emirates flight to Dubai, getting ready to depart from JFK Airport; the cabin door had even already been closed.

Although Shahzad was added to the No-Fly List earlier on Monday, Emirates crew failed to double-check the updated list and ignored a memo that an important new name had been added. Thus, he bought his ticket that day in cash and boarded the plane just fine until the airline sent its final passenger list to Customs and Border Protection, according to Gothamist, which flagged his name and acted quickly to re-board the plane and arrest him.

More details, after the jump

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How Does Someone End Up on the Federal No-Fly List?

We have a friend with a common enough name that it's landed him on the No-Fly List. As a result, it creates major hassle when checking in for flights, since he cannot check in online and checking in with an agent at the airport usually requires the presence of a manager. Thankfully, the new rule to include middle names on tickets has helped slightly, but the No-Fly List continues to be a headache.

So how do people end up on the No-Fly List? What exactly is the process? It's something we've wondered for a while, and happily the AP mustered their sources for a glimpse into the steps that makes Joe Smith (a sample average name) into Joe Smith, suspected terrorist and No-Fly List entry.

The awesome infographic, after the jump.

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Airport Photo Shoots / Celeb Travel / Bradley Cooper / Virgin America / No Fly List / First Class Travel / → All Tags

Bradley Cooper is Obviously Not on The No-Fly List

Hmm...perhaps we should start traveling with hunky Hangover star, Bradley Cooper? The so-hot-right-now actor and possibly Renee Zellweger romance was spotted checking himself into first class on Virgin America over the weekend, bound for NYC.

Unlike our recent travel partner, Bradley was able to actually check-in at one of the airport kiosks, something that the folks innocently listed on the No-Fly list no can do.

Another perk for Bradley? Flying first class ensures that he doesn't have to pay any extra checked baggage fees. The folks in coach however, now have to cough up a $20 fee. Main Cabin Select passengers--those who pay a little bit more for legroom, free movies and food--also skip paying the checked baggage fee.

Related Stories:
· No-Fly List Drama And Baggage Fee Trauma At United's 'Easy Check-in' [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]

Checked Baggage Fees / United Airlines / No Fly List / → All Tags

No-Fly List Drama And Baggage Fee Trauma At United's 'Easy Check-in'

Easy check-in, huh? Not so easy if you're name happens to be (innocently) on the No Fly List.

We've told you before our thoughts on the perils of The No Fly List when folks with similar names to those on the No Fly List are prevented from checking their bags online. Meaning they have to show up to the airport early and wait in line to check-in (the kiosks will not suffice) where an agent will then verify their birth date and address.

As you can imagine, this is a huge pain and adds at least an extra hour to your travel time. But in this new dark age of checked baggage fees, airlines now charge you MORE to check your bags at the airport instead of online. Grandma and Grandpa who don't have internet connections will find themselves paying more. So will folks who spend the day before their flight doing activities out of cellphone and internet range (God forbid!). Also, an an innocent person whose name is similar to someone else's on the No Fly list is, for lack of a better expression, screwed.

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No Fly List Exposed, Robert Johnsons Screwed

60 minutes did an exposé on the dreaded "no fly list" last night.  The crack journalists obtained a copy of the super secret doc and found out it was 540 pages long, listing over 44,000 banned flyers and 75,000 pull-'em-asides.  So who is on the list?  Osama Bin Laden, Bolivian President Evo Morales, jailed x-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, and 14 of the 19 dead hijackers from 9/11. Didn't Cat Stevens make the list as well? Safety first, right?

Steve Kroft basically tells a couple no fly list mouthpieces, "you got dead people on the list." There reaction? "Just because a person has died doesn't mean their identity has died".

Yeah, Kip Hawley and crew are really on the ball. In some ways we feel bad for them, as this document is nothing more than a cover your ass garbage in garbage out database.

But you know who we really feel bad for? All the dudes with common names that get glommed onto this clusterfuck for no apparent reason. For instance, anyone and everyone named Robert Johnson gets held up at airport security no matter what. Old dudes white dudes named Robert Johnson are strip searched. Young black dudes named Robert Johnson detained. If your name is Robert Johnson, odds are you do not look forward to flying.

How do you get off the list? Apparently congress just passed some convoluted legislation that allows citizens to apply to get on another list, which will eventually let them try to prove they don't belong on the original no fly list.

Sounds as complicated as understanding Google's search algorithm. If you have a common name, might be easier just to go to city hall and change your name to Bobby Johnny or something, just to avoid the possibility of an uncomfortable strip search the next time you fly to Palm Springs for the weekend.

Related Stories:
· Kip Hawley is an Idiot [Jaunted]
· Unlikely Terrorists On No Fly List [Jaunted]