As of November 1, airlines will be asking travelers more questions

Consumer Reports News: October 18, 2010 10:06 AM

Booking an airline flight has gotten just a little more complicated—and a little less private.

Under new Transportation Security Administration rules effective Nov. 1, travelers who do not provide their full name, gender, and date of birth within 72 hours prior to departure are at risk of being denied boarding by the TSA. The Secure Flight rules apply to all passengers flying on U.S. airlines, into or out of U.S. airports, and over U.S. airspace.

The TSA, which is a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, provides a detailed guide to Secure Flight on its site. A complete set of Frequently Asked Questions about the program is accessible as well.

If you've booked a flight with a domestic airline recently, you may have noticed that some carriers have already adopted the new provisions. For example, American Airlines has mandated that passengers comply by providing these data for all tickets purchased since Sept. 15th. Where applicable, American also requires a "redress number," which it describes as: "A TSA-issued code assigned to certain passengers whose names have erroneously appeared on the watch list." United Airlines has begun requiring compliance as well.

The Air Transport Association, the nation's largest airline industry trade organization, offers support. However, the International Air Transport Association, representing 230 airlines worldwide, has been critical of Secure Flight, stating that although the industry welcomes matching passenger names against U.S. Government watch lists, the process is inefficient: "DHS is simply asking for too much information too frequently on airline passengers."

On the back end, the new rule has created challenges for the travel industry, but brick-and-mortar travel agencies, online travel agencies, and computer reservations systems have pledged support. Major travel sites such as Expedia and Orbitz provide online updates about the program. The National Business Travel Association offers resources as well.

For some travelers, another concern has arisen: Are these new requirements the work of Uncle Sam or Big Brother? The Electronic Privacy Information Center has created an online database about Secure Flight and other TSA passenger initiatives. Epic states: "A significant number of these problems [irresolvable privacy and security concerns] continue to plague the Secure Flight proposal." What's more, the American Civil Liberties Union maintains Secure Flight has been packaged along with "all kinds of other misguided policy ideas," including a "dysfunctional system of watch lists" and the protection of innocent travelers.

In the meantime, please keep the following in mind when you book your next flight:

• Make sure you double-check all personal information you provide when making a reservation, whether it's done online, by phone or in-person—not only for you, but for your traveling companions.
• Names and dates need to be the same as on other I.D., such as your passport. So you'll need to account for marriages, divorces, adoptions, nicknames, nationalities with two family names, and all other circumstances that could affect a name change.
• It's critical you avoid the "fat fingers" syndrome by typing in a wrong letter or number. In this case, it can mean denied boarding and a ruined trip.
• If you're scheduled to travel in early November, give yourself a little extra time, since the new regs undoubtedly will lead to some check-in and boarding delays.—William J. McGee

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As of November 1, airlines will be asking travelers more questions

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