TSA Secure Flight Program
November 12th, 2009
For flights from, to and within the United States, the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Secure Flight Program is being phased in. Every airline will be incorporating the required changes into their computer systems in the coming months. The program will take effect for all domestic commercial flights by early 2010 and all international commercial flights by the end of 2010.
Under the Secure Flight Program, TSA will require all airlines to provide them the following information:
• Your name as it appears on your on government-issued ID used when traveling (driver’s license or passport)
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Redress* Number (if applicable)
*The Homeland Security Travel Redress Inquiry Program is a single point of contact for individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties they experience during their travel screening. (These could include: denied or delayed airline boarding; denied or delayed entry into and exit from the US at a port of entry or border checkpoint; continuously being referred to additional screening.)
It is recommended that you update your name on your driver’s license to exactly match your name on your passport, as well as it is listed with any travel programs, including frequent flyer mileage programs and internet airline and travel booking sites (like Expedia).
For the near future, TSA has built some flexibility into the process regarding passenger name accuracy. Small differences between a passenger’s ID and reservation information (such as the use of a middle initial instead of a full name or no middle name/initial at all) should not cause a problem. They will later!
For further reading please refer to the New York Times article at this link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/business/20road.html