Frequently Flyer Difficulties
For years I’ve had problems flying. Whenever I go to check in, I must always go to the ticket counter, I cannot ever use the automated kiosks. This often means delays in check in (standing in line) while others breeze through the automated system. Sometimes it means even more delays as the “helpful” ticketing agents refuse to let you enter the line for the counter until you’ve been processed by the kiosk.
I cannot say for sure, but the only thing I’ve ever done to warrant such behavior is (once) accidently forgetting I had a small screw driver in my backpack, and (once) forgetting some allan wrenches in my backback. The funny thing about the allan wrenches is that they were in my backpack for years and I flew with them all the time (I had simply forgotten I had put them in one of the many pockets) and one day, TSA demanded that I discard them.
As my honeymoon plans involved traveling out of country, the last thing I want is to be subject to delays (or heaven forbid, problems re-entering the country)!
While booking my flight to Texas for the Texas reception, I noticed that Orbitz had this new question on their form.
Basically, the TSA is requiring all Airlines to request a “Redress Number” from all flyers booking travel arrangements. While you are not required to submit the number, if you do, it can assist TSA in better identifying you during the booking & travel period (basically – pre-screen your identity against the various law enforcement watch lists), thus potentially reducing your chances for delays when flying.
While the program does not say that it will improve your flying experience, it does say that if you have frequently been mis-identified (confused with someone on a watch list) it may permit TSA to speed your passage through the security checkpoints. Obviously the reverse is also true, if you are on a watch list, this will only guarantee that you will get searched more carefully during each flight since they will be able to know with absolute certainty that you are the person who is on their watch list.
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I finally got confirmation that my paperwork had been processed something like 3 months after I submitted it. The form letter I got basically said “we cannot confirm or deny anything about you after our investigation, but please use this ID number whenever you travel to assist us in keeping tabs on you.”
If it helps reduce the security hassle, and I may not have a clear picture of that for years to come, then it will be worth it. It’s not like I’ve done anything worth monitoring, nor will I.