Clearing pax from watch list

The Department of Homeland Security has announced the upcoming Secure Flight program, which will require airlines to collect each passenger’s full name, date of birth and gender when taking a reservation request. Prior to the flight, this information will be provided to the Transportation Security Administration to be checked against the terrorist watch list maintained by the US government. The DHS and TSA assert this is being done to reduce the number of misidentification issues.

Currently, it is the responsibility of airline personnel to verify identities at the airport on a case-by-case basis. Persons flagged as being on the watch list must submit to an extra identification process at the check-in counter, each providing their photo ID and date of birth and then waiting for clearance before being allowed to board their flight. Mistaken-identity cases have caused many complaints of excessive searches, delays, missed flights and, sometimes, abuse.

On domestic flights beginning in early 2009 and for international flights in late 2009, passenger verification now will be the responsibility of the TSA.