For those making airline reservations, starting May 15th, there seem to be some new TSA travel protocols.
Notice from West End Travel:
Please be advised that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has
instituted new rules and procedures that require airlines to present to the TSA
certain specific identity information for all passengers. The TSA has branded
these new requirements TSA SECURE FLIGHT, which goes into effect on May 15,
2009. The purpose of this program is for the US government to pre-screen airline
passengers against its No Fly list 72 hours prior to boarding.
On May 15th, airlines will be required to provide the full name of each
passenger to the TSA. Your name, as it appears on your reservation, must match
EXACTLY the ID you will be presenting at time of check-in. If your ID contains
your middle initial or name, your reservation must also reflect that
information. This only applies to reservations made on or after May 15th.
As the name in your Frequent Flyer account must also match your reservation
name to get flight credit from the airlines, you may need to contact the airline
and have your account name changed to match the ID you will be using.
On August 15th, the airlines will be required to provide the TSA with your date
of birth and gender for all domestic flights. Your travel agencies will start
collecting this information as soon as possible so that there will be no rush
when this rule goes into effect. Please be advised that you may decline to give
me this information, but such refusal will cause check-in delays, additional
airport screening by the TSA, and even possible denied boarding.
On October 31st, the airlines will be required to provide the TSA with your
date of birth and gender for all international flights, entering or leaving the
US. Please be advised that you may decline to give me this information, but
again refusal will cause check-in delays, additional airport screening by the
TSA, and even possible denied boarding.
In an effort to avoid unnecessary delays at check-in, please submit the
required information to your travel agency in advance of these deadlines. You
should either submit a new traveler’s profile or send them an e-mail with
the following information:
– EXACTLY how your name appears on both your domestic and international form of
ID – driver’s license, passport, etc . (If your name appears differently on
each form of ID, it may be best to be consistent and use your passport for all
travel both to insure mileage credit for your frequent flyer accounts AND to
avoid potential mishaps.)
– your date of birth
– your gender
– your passport number, country of issuance, nationality and expiration date
If you have questions about the TSA Secure Flight Program, please click on the
following link to connect directly to the TSA website
http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm
If you do your own bookings for flights, the rules will still apply; you’ll
be responsible for assuring your own complicance.