Soon, United States air travelers will be asked to give more information when booking flights. Instead of the first initial and last name that is required now, we will soon be asked to give our full legal names as well as a birthdate. Passenger lists can then be cross reference anti-terrorist watch lists to help prevent another 9/11 disaster.

At first the additional information will be optional, but if you fail to give it, you’re at a much greater risk to be stopped for additional interviewing or additional pat-down screening.

Two airlines are doing this now, with the others to follow within the next 18 months. I’m guessing that AirTran isn’t one of the two airlines, as I have not been asked for this information on any of my recent flights.

I have never been the victim of additional screening measures at the airport and for that, I am thankful. I will continue to supply whatever information is necessary to keep me out of the interrogation rooms or the pat-downs by random TSA agents.

I say that with one caveat, it seems that the TSA is toying with asking for credit information. That is one thing I will not supply. It is not any government officials business what my credit history is, and I certainly wouldn’t want them running me through Equifax, Experian, or Trans Union every time I fly. Talk about ruining your credit rating!

What exactly would a credit report reveal anyway? It’s a report on credit, not all my banking information. That’s what they really should be after. Looking for someone taking a payoff in order to do something nasty.

How would you feel if you were told you cannot board a flight if your name “resembles” that of a known terrorist? Some passengers have been told this. How would you go about proving your innocence? It is a sad state of affairs when you have to prove your innocence to board an airplane. A sad state indeed.

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