Report: Airlines, travel agencies oppose TSA on passenger data

The Transportation Security Administration’s proposal to request more personal data from air travelers is drawing opposition from airlines and travel agencies alike, according to a report in USA Today. The agency issued a proposed rule a few months ago that would require airlines and travel agents to ask customers for their full names, gender and birth dates when making reservations. Currently, only a last name and first initial are required. Although the proposed rule would require airlines and agents to ask, passengers wouldn’t be required to disclose the information – but if they didn’t, they would face a greater chance of being singled out for deeper scrutiny at the airport. The TSA wants the extra data because it will soon take over from the airlines the task of checking passenger identities against the government’s large and growing “terror watch list.” Having more information on each passenger, TSA said, will reduce the chances of false matches. But according to USA Today, the Air Transport Association, United, Continental and the American Society of Travel Agents have all filed comments opposing the proposed rule. United reportedly told TSA that trying to collect the additional – but optional -- information would make the reservations process more complicated; “seeking useless data caries an unacceptably high price tag,” United said.