PAL adopts US security program

Starting Oct. 15 all US-bound passengers of Philippine Airlines (PAL) will be asked to provide detailed personal informational before taking their flights in compliance with a US security measure. Passengers will have to give out the following:

• their complete name (as reflected in the passport);
• date of birth
• gender
• nationality
• passport number
• visa number, and
• destination address in the US

PAL is implementing the program Oct. 15 for flights beginning Nov. 1, 2010. The information will be asked when booking a flight or buying a ticket either by phone through PAL Reservations, the PAL website, or any PAL ticket office and accredited travel agent. The information will be transmitted by PAL through its Departure Control System (DCS) for matching against the US DHS database. The results of the data matching would be reflected in the PAL DCS when a passenger checks in for the flight. This measure is in compliance with the "Secure Flight Program," a new security measure being implemented by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Secure Flight Program requires specific data from passengers of all flights, including code share flights, by US-based and non-US-based carriers that fly to, from, within, or over the US and its territories Guam and Saipan. Starting at the point of origin, the program seeks to facilitate passenger handling by screening out those tagged as inhibited and prohibited from entering the US. Passengers misidentified for someone else in the database and eventually cleared to take their flight should submit a Redress Control Number (RCN) issued by the US DHS. The affected passengers are advised to always give their RCN in subsequent bookings or ticket purchases to avoid any future mismatch and inconvenience. According to the US Transportation Security Administration website, "Secure Flight is a behind the scenes program that enhances the security of commercial air travel through the use of improved watch list matching. By collecting additional passenger data, it will improve the travel experience for all airline passengers, including those who have been misidentified in the past." The passengers who may experience being unfairly delayed or prohibited from boarding the flight due to the new security program, should direct their complaints to the US DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program by logging on to www.dhs.gov/trip or calling 001-866-289-9673 or 001-571-227-2900. –VVP/VS, GMANews.TV