Airlines are now collecting additional passenger information as The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented Secure Flight, a program developed to provide uniform watch list matching by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). By establishing one consistent watch list matching system, Secure Flight enhances aviation security and helps to make travel easier for passengers.
TSA Secure Flight Passenger Data Program (SFPD) is to become mandatory for all bookings made on/after November 1, 2010.
The mandate applies to all airlines for flights to/from/within/over the U.S. as well as 100 percent of U.S. carriers’ operations regardless of geography.
How will Secure Flight affect passengers?
Under the Secure Flight program, passengers are required to provide the following information to airlines in order to allow TSA to conduct watch list matching before passenger check-in:
- Full name (as it appears on passenger’s government-issued identification document)
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Redress Number (if available)
Airlines will send the information you provide to TSA, who will match it against the consolidated government watch lists. Please note that boarding passes may not always display the exact information you provided when booking your travel. This will not affect you when traveling. The name you provide when booking your travel is used to perform watch list matching before a boarding pass is ever issued.
What are the benefits of Secure Flight?
Secure Flight makes travel safer by more effectively identifying individuals that may pose a known or suspected threat to aviation. It also enables officials to address security threats sooner by providing earlier insight into potential matches to the watch list prior to departure. Furthermore, by creating one watch list matching system, it helps prevent the misidentification of passengers who have names similar to individuals on the consolidated government watch lists. Lastly, Secure Flight offers an improved redress process, so that those who believe they have been misidentified as a match to the watch lists can avoid problems in the future.
Protecting passenger privacy.
The privacy of individuals’ information is a cornerstone of Secure Flight. TSA collects the minimum amount of personal information necessary to conduct effective watch list matching. Furthermore, personal data is handled in accordance with stringent guidelines and all applicable privacy laws and regulations.
Redress – for passengers who feel they have been misidentified.
Those who believe they have been misidentified as a match to the watch lists are invited to apply for redress through the Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). Secure Flight uses the results of the redress process in its watch list matching process, thus preventing future misidentifications for passengers who may have a name that is similar to an individual on the watch list. For more information on the redress process, visit www.dhs.gov/trip.
To learn more about Secure Flight visit www.tsa.gov/SecureFlight.