Press Release
For Immediate Release
30 March 2006
ACTE Seeks TSA Clarification On Travelers Boarding Aircraft Without Identification
Alexandria, VA -- The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) has asked the TSA to clarify procedures that allow U.S. passengers to board commercial airliners without having to produce photo-identification. The association has also asked it's Travel Security Advisory Group to examine these procedures.
"After years of being told that it was absolutely impossible for U.S. travelers to board an aircraft without the appropriate photo-identification, it is surprising to learn that there are provisions for flying without producing photo-I.D.," said ACTE President Greeley Koch.
Koch further stated that while it is inconceivable that the average business traveler would deliberately attempt to board an aircraft without the appropriate identification -- creating the potential for a delay in boarding and the need for what could be an exhaustive secondary search at the gate -- this option could be extremely useful for business travelers who have lost their identification or had it stolen enroute.
"ACTE is asking the TSA for a clarification of the identification rules prior to issuing an advisory to our members," said Koch. "Knowing the procedures, the penalties if any, may be able to save time and money for business travelers who might normally think they were stranded."
ACTE's questions for TSA include:
• Is the passenger's name taken from the ticket and still checked against the "No-Fly" list?
• Is the passenger required to submit some kind of documentation substantiating lost identification, or is it just a traveler option not to produce I.D.?
• Would this action immediately "red flag" a traveler for future flights?
ACTE's president doubted the issue would lead to a stampede of travelers attempting to board without identification, nor did he see a security risk in the procedure. "Business travelers have neither the time nor inclination to make political statements out of their itineraries. Furthermore, any significant increase in travelers turning up at the airport without identification will almost certainly result in corrective TSA procedures," said Koch.
Koch added that having this option open to travelers showed a lot of foresight and consideration for what could amount to disastrous circumstances for a significant number of business travelers. "This degree of resolution indicates the TSA is aware of a specific problem and is working on a solution that will benefit the traveling public."
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The Association of Corporate Travel Executives was founded in 1988 as the education and research resource for the global business travel management profession. With 2,500 members in 40 countries, ACTE represents the bridge between international corporate travel service purchasers and travel industry suppliers. The association is best known for its travel industry studies, surveys, position statements, and globally recognized travel management best practices. ACTE members routinely save their corporation billions of euros, yen, pounds, and dollars in reclaimed business travel expenditures.
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