Jun 17, 2009 11:13 pm US/Eastern
Airline Passengers To Face Stepped Up Security
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
-
-
Planes line up to take off at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
AP
Keeping terrorists off planes is one of the main goals of the Federal Government's Transportation Security Administration.
This summer they are going to require that the flying public answer some personal questions. Chief Correspondent Joe Shortsleeve reports the Feds promise this more detailed information will make everyone safer and speed up trips through airport security.
TSA workers may have less to do in the coming weeks because more precise screening of airline passengers will now be taking place before passengers even get to the airport.
This month, a subtle but significant change is taking place. Anyone who sells airline tickets is now required to ask for a middle initial and the exact spelling of a passenger's name as it appears on your government issued ID or driver's license.
George Naccara is the security director for TSA at Logan International Airport. He says soon additional questions will also be worked into passenger's profiles.
"On Aug. 15th we will require a date of birth and gender of every passenger as well," Naccara said.
What's going on?
It's all about keeping terrorists off airplanes and alleviating confusion and delays for people like Eve Wong who is convinced her name has always triggered multiple security checks.
"They told me it was random, but after you travel a good deal and you get stopped eight times out of ten, you don't think it is random anymore," she said.
Other passengers we spoke with at Logan Airport said they don't mind providing additional personal information.
"As long as we can still fly and fly safely I don't mind giving a little more information," one passenger said.
Today when you book an airline ticket, your airline checks your identity against 16,000 names from known terrorists to simple trouble makers. But beginning Aug. 15, the airlines will hand over that responsibility to the Federal Government (T.S.A.) and they will be checking your name against 400,000 names world wide.
The more detailed and precise checks were recommended by the 9-11 commission and are just now being implemented system wide.
Naccara says, "I think it is important that passengers understand what this all about so there is no fear. They need to understand that this will make their whole experience more efficient and more effective. Passengers should feel much more confident that we have identified the people who should not be on planes once this program is in place."
At Garber Travel in Chestnut Hill, agents will have to follow a more precise line of questioning with people on the other end of the phone.
Joe Ondrus is a corporate Vice President.
"The agent has a script where they will ask certain questions to make sure the proper information is in the reservation and they can get to the airport and their final destination," Ondrus said.
That information will then be compared against the federal government's expansive list. And if there is problem the Feds hopefully will know it long before that person gets to the airport.
The TSA program is called "secure flight" and should be fully implemented by air carrier's world wide by the end of 2010.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
How To Fight Indoor Allergies 
Blind Abandoned Boston Puppy Dies After Rescue 13 mins ago
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments