New ID Rules for Travelers Could Cause Delays
Bill Lindner
June 02, 2009
A new federal rule that requires passports or new high-tech documents to travel to Canada or Mexico, by air, land or sea, reportedly goes into effect on June 1, 2009 and air travelers who reportedly don't use their full middle names -- if it appears on their driver's license or passport -- while booking airline tickets could face travel delays and second inspections.
Implementation of the rule, recommended by the 9/11 commission, was delayed due to complaints from state officials that the restrictions might adversely affect the flow of people and commerce at border towns that are dependent on international crossings. There is still some debate over the necessity of the new rules.
The new rule, which is the final implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, has Americans scrambling to apply for the new passports or ID cards, but non-compliant travelers will be allowed to enter the U.S. after a background check and a warning, at least for now.
Travelers can use a passport card, which costs $45 for first-time applicants and does not work for air travel, issued by the U.S. State Department to cross land borders, as an alternative to the traditional passport which costs $100. "Trusted Traveler" programs Identification documents, ranging in price from $50 to more than $100, are also accepted.
Enhanced driver's licenses that use a microchip to store personal information can also be used to cross northern and southern borders. Enhanced driver's licenses, that require an application process and an interview to acquire, can leave individuals vulnerable to security threats. Washington State, Vermont, New York and Michigan are the only states currently offering enhanced driver's licenses.
There are a few exceptions to the new rules. Travelers on cruises departing from a U.S. port, sailing within the Western Hemisphere and returning to the same port they departed from do not need to comply with the new rules. Children under the age of 16 who are traveling with their family, people 19 and under who are traveling in a youth group, Native Americans and military personnel will be able to use different forms of identification.
Your Name Must Be The Same On Your Airline Ticket and Your ID
A new requirement for flying within the United States -- by December if you fly overseas -- reportedly says you will have to include your full middle name on your airline ticket if it appears on your passport or your driver's license.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says the requirement is supposed to make it easier for airlines, travelers and the TSA to avoid ID hassles at airports.
Apparently the airlines and passengers aren't very aware of the requirement yet. The requirement was supposed to take effect on May 15 but it may have been pushed back a month or so.
According to the report, the TSA wants to make sure that travel documents conform to its lists. Apparently the master lists of questionable travelers is in full-name format so the TSA is requiring full names when you travel.
The new rule requires the airlines to get your full name and pass it on to the TSA when you make a flight reservation. Your ticket/boarding pass should also have your full name. If the name on your travel documents matches the name on your identification, you shouldn't have any problems with the TSA. Travelers with discrepancies between the documents may be in for a little grief.
Also noted in the report is the troubling possibility that you will have to change one or more of your charge cards too since you often have to show the airline agent the card you used to purchase your ticket when you check in for your flight. You could potentially end up receiving more grief if the names don't match.
The TSA will also be lenient of small differences, at least for now. More information on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative can be found here.
Implementation of the rule, recommended by the 9/11 commission, was delayed due to complaints from state officials that the restrictions might adversely affect the flow of people and commerce at border towns that are dependent on international crossings. There is still some debate over the necessity of the new rules.
The new rule, which is the final implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, has Americans scrambling to apply for the new passports or ID cards, but non-compliant travelers will be allowed to enter the U.S. after a background check and a warning, at least for now.
Travelers can use a passport card, which costs $45 for first-time applicants and does not work for air travel, issued by the U.S. State Department to cross land borders, as an alternative to the traditional passport which costs $100. "Trusted Traveler" programs Identification documents, ranging in price from $50 to more than $100, are also accepted.
Enhanced driver's licenses that use a microchip to store personal information can also be used to cross northern and southern borders. Enhanced driver's licenses, that require an application process and an interview to acquire, can leave individuals vulnerable to security threats. Washington State, Vermont, New York and Michigan are the only states currently offering enhanced driver's licenses.
There are a few exceptions to the new rules. Travelers on cruises departing from a U.S. port, sailing within the Western Hemisphere and returning to the same port they departed from do not need to comply with the new rules. Children under the age of 16 who are traveling with their family, people 19 and under who are traveling in a youth group, Native Americans and military personnel will be able to use different forms of identification.
Your Name Must Be The Same On Your Airline Ticket and Your ID
A new requirement for flying within the United States -- by December if you fly overseas -- reportedly says you will have to include your full middle name on your airline ticket if it appears on your passport or your driver's license.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says the requirement is supposed to make it easier for airlines, travelers and the TSA to avoid ID hassles at airports.
Apparently the airlines and passengers aren't very aware of the requirement yet. The requirement was supposed to take effect on May 15 but it may have been pushed back a month or so.
According to the report, the TSA wants to make sure that travel documents conform to its lists. Apparently the master lists of questionable travelers is in full-name format so the TSA is requiring full names when you travel.
The new rule requires the airlines to get your full name and pass it on to the TSA when you make a flight reservation. Your ticket/boarding pass should also have your full name. If the name on your travel documents matches the name on your identification, you shouldn't have any problems with the TSA. Travelers with discrepancies between the documents may be in for a little grief.
Also noted in the report is the troubling possibility that you will have to change one or more of your charge cards too since you often have to show the airline agent the card you used to purchase your ticket when you check in for your flight. You could potentially end up receiving more grief if the names don't match.
The TSA will also be lenient of small differences, at least for now. More information on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative can be found here.
Print
Email
