Flying Soon? Get Ready To Use Your Middle Name
May 18, 2009 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
Does your passport or driver’s license include a full middle name that you normally don’t use? If so, you’ll have to include that name the next time you fly within the United States — and by December if you fly overseas. That new requirement seems to be sneaking up on a lot of unsuspecting travelers, and, apparently, unsuspecting airlines as well.
The requirement comes from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the same friendly folks who brought you taking off your shoes in a security line and limiting your carry-on liquids. The idea is supposed to make it easier for travelers, airlines, and TSA to avoid ID confusion and hassles at airports. Because the master lists of questionable travelers are apparently in full-name format, TSA wants to make sure that travel documents conform to its list. The new requirement was supposed to go into effect on May 15 for domestic travel, but when I spoke to people in the industry (before May 15), some expected it to pushed back a month or so.
