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TSA Begins New Airline Rules

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Mon May 18, 2009 at 11:14:31 PM EST
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As if we need more rules when flying... but we're getting them.

TSA is implementing its Secure Flight Program. Among the first new changes: Now you are supposed to buy airline tickets in the same name as your Government ID. They say they won't automatically bump you if you don't, but they "strongly encourage" you to do so.

Starting August 15, you'll have to supply your gender and date of birth when purchasing an airline ticket.

Supposedly the new rules, which will be fully operational by 2010, will cut down on misidentifications on the No Fly and Selectee lists.

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    TSA Begins New Airline Rules | 26 comments (26 topical)

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    So this is essentially about (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Militarytracy on Tue May 19, 2009 at 07:20:33 AM EST
    preserving that ignorant piece of chit list they have by attempting to tick fewer of us off with abrasive TSA treatment.

    I'd rather do that (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by jbindc on Tue May 19, 2009 at 07:38:55 AM EST
    than be subjected to this

    Privacy advocates plan to call on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to suspend use of "whole-body imaging," the airport security technology that critics say performs "a virtual strip search" and produces "naked" pictures of passengers, CNN has learned.
    Prelude to (2.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Wile ECoyote on Tue May 19, 2009 at 05:49:09 AM EST
    getting in line at the local nationalized health care center.

    I wish (none / 0) (#20)
    by Militarytracy on Tue May 19, 2009 at 08:48:17 AM EST
    Bring it!  If that's what this is I'm fine giving up my swiss army knife attached to my keys and having Zoey's sippy cup tested.  Which only happened to me a month ago.  If I had known that that was what this was all about I would have smiled through the whole thing.

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    Well, you and I agree on something (none / 0) (#1)
    by ProudTroll on Mon May 18, 2009 at 11:45:09 PM EST
    Here's another example of the TSA's overreach.

    http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/021309/loc_img_local_1001.shtml

    Hot air balloons? (none / 0) (#8)
    by Jen M on Tue May 19, 2009 at 07:02:38 AM EST
    Seriously?

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    I have always been referred to (none / 0) (#2)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue May 19, 2009 at 12:52:22 AM EST
    by a shortened version of my middle name - my "common" name - because my father has the same official first name as I do and my parents decided that's the way it needed to be many years ago.

    I just yesterday booked tickets under my common name.

    I've never had a problem before with this issue on an airplane fight, but we shall see how it works out this time...

    Er, what's my government ID? (none / 0) (#3)
    by otherlisa on Tue May 19, 2009 at 02:27:01 AM EST
    Seriously, I have no idea.

    Oh... (none / 0) (#4)
    by otherlisa on Tue May 19, 2009 at 02:28:22 AM EST
    I guess it's whatever one I use to buy the ticket?

    Heh, my former employer of 15 years always had my middle initial wrong. Why do I have a feeling this might be a HUGE problem in the future?!

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    ticket in exactly the same name as ID is (none / 0) (#7)
    by DFLer on Tue May 19, 2009 at 06:49:42 AM EST
    nothing new, at least for picking up e-tickets at the airport.

    That isn't true at all (none / 0) (#21)
    by sangreal on Tue May 19, 2009 at 09:58:52 AM EST
    A few things:

    • You don't need to present any ID when picking up an e-ticket at the airport, unless checking a bag
    • You don't need any ID to fly domestically. Those without ID are subject to additional screening
    • When you do present ID, your name is not currently required to exactly match. Also, according to the press release, small differences will be forgiven for the near future.

    For what its worth, I take two flights a week -- checking bags on both -- and my ticket has never matched my drivers license (Middle Initial missing on tickets)

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    Forgot to mention... (none / 0) (#22)
    by sangreal on Tue May 19, 2009 at 10:13:04 AM EST
    I've flown since May 15 (When this was supposed to go into effect), and didn't have any issue with the TSA or the Airline. They didn't even mention the change

    but they did start asking that shoes be removed from the bin last week

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    Wrong (none / 0) (#23)
    by sj on Tue May 19, 2009 at 10:30:11 AM EST
    You don't need any ID to fly domestically. Those without ID are subject to additional screening

    I see you fly alot, but when was the last time you showed up for a flight without an ID?  Because I'm here to tell you that you will not be allowed past security without it.  What you say may be the "rule" but the reality is that I just got kicked out of line, not allowed on my flight and had to reschedule.

    And don't ask why I didn't have my ID.  Long story.

    Parent

    Anecdotally, every flight I've taken in the past 3 (none / 0) (#26)
    by DFLer on Tue May 19, 2009 at 11:47:43 AM EST
    while admittedly not that many, getting past the security checkpoint required a ticket/boarding pass and an id (DL). The travel agent always asked for the name on the id (in my case full middle name for MN DL) and the ticket was issued in that name.

    Whatever...just saying. This happened every time at both major airports and regionals.

    Re shoes: it was always interesting and vexing to watch the troops boarding in uniform (my regional is near McCoy) have to remove their boots too.

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    Well, that is the rule (none / 0) (#27)
    by sangreal on Tue May 19, 2009 at 02:06:45 PM EST
    I can't help it if they don't always follow their own rules. Before July of last year, you could refuse to show ID. Since then, they changed the rule so that you must show ID if you have it -- but you can get by without it.

    http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/enhance_id_requirements.shtm

    This new procedure will not affect passengers that may have misplaced, lost or otherwise do not have ID but are cooperative with officers. Cooperative passengers without ID may be subjected to additional screening protocols, including enhanced physical screening, enhanced carry-on and/or checked baggage screening, interviews with behavior detection or law enforcement officers and other measures.

    I have never personally flown without ID, however I have recently witnessed another passenger get through the checkpoint without it

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    Not a big deal (none / 0) (#10)
    by Joe Steel on Tue May 19, 2009 at 07:35:30 AM EST
    I haven't been on an airplane in over 20 years and intend never to get on one again unless I absolutely have to.  Deregulation has made air travel too inconvenient, too uncomfortable and too dangerous.

    Are you lacking (none / 0) (#12)
    by Wile ECoyote on Tue May 19, 2009 at 07:39:42 AM EST
    Empathy (new word in use here) for those of us who have to fly?

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    Wile (none / 0) (#13)
    by Militarytracy on Tue May 19, 2009 at 07:44:00 AM EST
    I'm surprised at your comment.  It's a free country.  Nobody HAS to fly.

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    Wanna bet? (none / 0) (#14)
    by Wile ECoyote on Tue May 19, 2009 at 08:03:57 AM EST
    sez the proud union member.

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    Ohh, Ohh (none / 0) (#15)
    by Wile ECoyote on Tue May 19, 2009 at 08:07:51 AM EST
    Does that mean we don't have to have empathy for drug abusers, After all you don't have to do drugs.  Empathy for Alcoholics?  Free will and all.

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    You don't have to have empathy (none / 0) (#19)
    by Militarytracy on Tue May 19, 2009 at 08:44:36 AM EST
    for anyone if you don't want to....painful life destroying addiction compared to flying though is sort of like apples and oranges.  Unless you are addicted to flying.  Then you join some branch of the military and become a moving target :)

    Parent
    Now yesterday (2.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Wile ECoyote on Tue May 19, 2009 at 10:41:31 AM EST
    we were told if you did not have empathy, then you are a sociopath, today, not so.

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    Who is the "we" that were told this? (none / 0) (#25)
    by Militarytracy on Tue May 19, 2009 at 11:21:58 AM EST
    And who is the "who", who told the "we" that?

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    Cue the screw-ups... (none / 0) (#16)
    by kdog on Tue May 19, 2009 at 08:23:26 AM EST
    causing hassles for supposedly free people.

    Maybe this is Amtrak stimulus in disguise...you've got to be a glutton for punishment to fly these days.

    Its the oil companies (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Jen M on Tue May 19, 2009 at 08:43:27 AM EST
    They want you to drive!

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    "Thank you for flying.... (none / 0) (#17)
    by kdog on Tue May 19, 2009 at 08:26:05 AM EST
    Tohellwiththecustomer Air Mr. Jones...wait, It seems our records show that you are a female Mr. Jones, we won't be able to board you at this time, please report to the TSA desk for interrogation."

    Parent
    TSA Begins New Airline Rules | 26 comments (26 topical)

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