Travel agencies and airlines ask for a “redress number” but what is this and why is it important?
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What Is A Redress Number?
A few years ago, a new field began appearing on airline reservation forms. As part of a data-sharing initiative with the Department of Homeland Security and airlines, passengers who may be flagged can submit information regarding their case to avoid hassles while traveling.
“The Redress Control Number (redress number) allows the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program to match travelers with the results of their redress case. Secure Flight is a behind-the-scenes program that streamlines the watch list matching process. Airlines have modified their reservation system as part of the Secure Flight program. This improves the travel experience for all passengers, including those who have been misidentified in the past.” – DHS
Consider the unfortunate position of a person named Edward Snowden that is of no relation to that Edward Snowden. The unrelated Snowden would have a very difficult time traveling to or within the United States. A redress control number provides a process for someone to avoid unnecessary scrutiny. This could include denied boarding, secondary screening, denial from the TSA Precheck system, and the dreaded “SSSS” appearing on boarding passes.
A redress number is actually a good thing for those affected. Rather than go through the difficulty of additional security screening, entering a redress number makes it clear to the airline that the passenger is not who they are looking for.
How Do I Apply For A Redress Number?
To clarify, those frequent flyers who are often identified for additional screening are probably ineligible as they are not being targeted outside of their travel habits. For those with a genuine issue (such as the Snowden example), they can apply for the Travel Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP.) Travelers are generally told that they have been flagged, though they may not be told why for security reasons.
If you believe you have been incorrectly targeted, here are the steps to obtaining a TRIP redress number. Note: If multiple members of your family believe they have been incorrectly targeted, each need their own redress number and application.
- File a complaint through this form at the DHS.
- US Citizens should submit a copy of their recent passport. For those who are not naturalized citizens, they can submit documents from this list:
- Passport
- Passport card
- Driver’s license
- Birth certificate (only for individuals under the age of 18)
- Military identification card
- Government identification card (federal/state/local number)
- Certificate of citizenship
- Naturalization certificate
- Immigrant/non-immigrant visa
- Alien registration
- Petition or claim receipt
- I-94 admission form
- FAST card
- SENTRI card
- NEXUS card
- Border crossing card
- SEVIS card
- Track results, wait, or reach out: TRIP@dhs.gov
Conclusion
Filing an inquiry for a traveler number (redress number) can help to solve the problem for travelers incorrectly targets. This can make the process of obtaining TSA Pre easier (though it’s not guaranteed) and entering the US through multiple ports of entry. However, the government takes as long to make a determination and respond to inquiries as they like. It could drag on for a considerable length of time. Carrying documents that demonstrate a traveler is who they say they are and that they are not who they say they are not, may expedite the process though not bypass additional security screening measures.
What do you think? Have you needed to apply for a TSA redress number? How was your experience?
My 8 yo daughter used to get stopped whenever entered the USA. For some reason the system had her passport as being flagged as stolen. Got a redress and all fixed.
Kyle,
This is not a bad piece, but you come across, perhaps unintentionally, as a government apologist for the programs, databases, and algorithms that cause people to need DHS Redress numbers to begin with. I think most of us can agree that we wouldn’t want NO security screening of air travelers (esp. internationally). However, you missed the opportunity in this piece to illustrate (as Gary frequently does), the absurdity of the air-traveler surveillance state.
The reasons people end up targeted (yes that’s the term) for secondary are legion and very often (my hunch is the majority in fact) only thinly connected to legitimate air safety concerns. You neglect to mention that the standard DHS TRIP response letter doesn’t even acknowledge what has or hasn’t changed. They essentially want you to guess what the problem is (perhaps file a FOIA or two, get redacted results, file an appeal, etc.), submit the request, and then hope for the best.
It’s concerning to me that you are not concerned. We are talking about innocent people that have to navigate an opaque process with little opportunity to confront the “evidence” against them (there are many examples of agents incorrectly entering information–maliciously or negligently–with little recourse to the passenger to correct it), only to be given the “privilege” of not being harassed.
Call me old fashioned perhaps, but pulling passengers into secondary repeatedly on such flimsy pretexts isn’t “hassle” as you say but rather harassment and it should be called out and challenged.
@Jonathan – I think “government apologist” is a little strong. I think the notion that the government will intentionally take over TSA, make it incredibly difficult, and then sell what was essentially “old” security processes plus a background check or just give it away for free is a heist.
That said, if your name is Edward Snowden or Osama Bin Laden but you’re of no relation, I would want the government to flag people on their watch list but also provide a way to deal with it and avoid being flagged again. I don’t think they make the process clear enough (not the reason for the flag outside of obvious ones, nor advertise how to do this.)
2 straight SSSS’s from 2 int’l trips convinced me to get a redress number
@Kyle — appreciate the fast response!
Fair enough. I would agree it’s a heist and a clever one at that (which is why it’s working). I would add that once this heist is complete, the “standard” security procedures will likely become stigmatized because after all, what normal, law-abiding person wouldn’t get Pre-Check, Global Entry, etc…
You nailed a core problem (in addition to the unnecessary collection of data to begin with). There simply is no reliable way to challenge “bad press” in your profile outside of filing a formal lawsuit. If we must accept intrusive surveillance to such an extent, let it at least be accurate (or at minimum train agents to realize that this data is highly flawed).