Anyone that travels on planes on a regular basis is familiar with the “You have been selected for additional screening”* that happens at times. A few people have also had to deal with what is known as “Denied Boarding” because they have a name that is similar to a name on the Government No Fly list*.

      There are confirmed reports that everyone from Kids (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/business/30road.html?_r=2&oref=slogin (http://www NULL.nytimes NULL.com/2008/09/30/business/30road NULL.html?_r=2&oref=slogin)) to US Marines returning from Iraq (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12284855/ (http://www NULL.msnbc NULL.msn NULL.com/id/12284855/)) to members of Congress (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/20/lewis.watchlist/index.html (http://www NULL.cnn NULL.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/20/lewis NULL.watchlist/index NULL.html)) to just regular people like you and me who have been stopped or denied boarding because of the No Fly list (*For full disclosure – I have had both situations occur during my road warrior travel more than once).

      Now the TSA working with the transportation industry is working on implementing “Secure Flight” (http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm (http://www NULL.tsa NULL.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index NULL.shtm))

Q. What is Secure Flight and what does it do?

A. Secure Flight is a behind the scenes program that streamlines the watch list matching process. It will improve the travel experience for all passengers, including those who have been misidentified in the past.

Q. What happens if my airline didn’t ask for any of that information?

A. Secure Flight will be phased-in and each airline will be incorporating the necessary changes into their systems over the coming months. Passengers shouldn’t be concerned if particular airlines don’t ask them to provide the additional information right away; it should not impact their travel. Each airline will request this information as their capability to capture it is integrated into their individual systems.

    Spirit Airlines has sent out a notice that they are now implementing Secure Flight    

  (http://www NULL.rj-diamond NULL.com/alex/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/sprintmessagesecureflight NULL.jpg)

Some of the things to keep in mind is that they are now asking for your ID name (if your Bobby and your ID/License says Robert, I would suggest you get your tickets using Robert).

The notice from Spirit Airlines also talks about the Redress number (many people don’t know what this means), so for your information this is what the Redress number means (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/customer/redress/index.shtm (http://www NULL.tsa NULL.gov/travelers/customer/redress/index NULL.shtm))

The Redress Process

The Department of Homeland Security’s Travel Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) is a single point of contact for individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties they experienced during their travel screening at transportation hubs–like airports and train stations–or while crossing U.S. borders. These could include:

• denied or delayed airline boarding
• denied or delayed entry into and exit from the U.S. at a port of entry or border checkpoint
• continuously referred to additional (secondary) screening

Who is DHS TRIP for?

People who have been repeatedly identified for additional screening can file an inquiry to have erroneous information corrected in DHS systems.

How does DHS TRIP work?

For those who encounter misidentification, Secure Flight will help prevent watch list name confusion by using DHS TRIP, the central processing point for redress inquiries. Requests received online will be routed for redress to the appropriate DHS components. Components will review the request and reach a determination about a traveler’s status. Secure Flight will use the results of the redress process in its watch list matching process to help prevent future delays for misidentified passengers.

Hopefully, those legitimate travelers who have a hard time because they just happen to be unlucky enough to have a name similar to someone that the government has on a “Watch List” will find some relief with Secure Flight.

For additional information

• TSA Secure Flight (http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm (http://www NULL.tsa NULL.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index NULL.shtm))
• TSA Redress Program (http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/customer/redress/index.shtm (http://www NULL.tsa NULL.gov/travelers/customer/redress/index NULL.shtm))
• How to file for the Redress Program (http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1169673653081.shtm (http://www NULL.dhs NULL.gov/files/programs/gc_1169673653081 NULL.shtm))
• Wiki about the No Fly List with interesting information (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-fly_list#cite_note-24 (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/No-fly_list#cite_note-24))
• Washington Post Story (Airlines to begin asking more from customers) (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/12/AR2009081203000.html (http://www NULL.washingtonpost NULL.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/12/AR2009081203000 NULL.html))