Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do I have to have a photo ID to fly?
A. The FAA does not prohibit the airline from transporting any passenger who does not present a photo ID. Airlines have available to them alternate procedures that allow them to transport passengers without ID. However, some airlines choose not to use such procedures, which is their prerogative.
Q. Why didn't the airline ask for my ID?
A. The FAA does not require all passengers to present ID. The FAA requires that airlines apply additional security measures to passengers who are unable to produce ID upon request.
Q. Can an airline exceed minimum FAA requirements?
A. Yes. The FAA sets minimum requirements for airlines to follow. Should airlines wish to exceed these requirements, the FAA cannot prohibit them from doing so.
Q. Why did the airline select me for additional security screening? Did they violate my civil rights?
A. If the air carrier followed proper procedures, your civil rights were not violated. You were selected based on predetermined passenger screening selection criteria. The Department of Justice reviewed the FAA selection criteria and determined that it does not violate the civil liberties of anyone regardless of race, gender, national origin or religion.
Q. I feel that I was discriminated against by the airline because of my age, race, sex, nationality, etc. What should I do?
A. You should notify, in writing, the Department of Transportation at the following address: Assistant Director for Aviation Consumer Protection, Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation, Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590
Q. Is the Government keeping a list of passengers who meet the selection criteria?
A. No, neither the Government nor airlines retain the names of passengers who meet the selection criteria.
Q. Is it acceptable for the airline to transport my baggage without me?
A. The FAA does not require airlines to transport the passenger and the baggage on the same flight for all passengers on domestic flights. Airlines may apply security measures to checked baggage at the ticket counter and after acceptance, which allows them to transport the baggage without the passenger. The FAA does require that the airline transport the passenger and their baggage on the same international flight.
Q. Who do I contact if my baggage is lost or items were stolen?
A. The FAA is not responsible for lost or stolen baggage. Issues regarding such should be addressed directly with the airline or complaints may be reported to the Department of Transportation's Office of Consumer Affairs, at 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590.
Q. I'd like information on FAA publications and regulations.
A. For information pertaining to airline service complaints, lost luggage, aircraft registration, airmen records, statistics, educational products, or personnel locator, call 202-267-3484. For FAA publications and regulations, call the Government Printing Office at 202-512-1800. Additionally, the FAA Website addresses many questions pertaining to information requests and allows for the downloading of many FAA publications.
Q. What regulations cover civil aviation security and where can I find a copy of them?
A. Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 107 and 108, regulates airports and air carriers, respectively, and may be found on the FAA's web site at http://www.faa.gov/AVR/AFS/FARS
Q. Who is responsible for the people working at our nations airports performing security screening? When and why do they physically search my carry-on?
A. Preboard screeners are either direct airline employees or, in most cases, contracted by the airline to perform security screening functions. The FAA requires airlines to screen all items entering the sterile area of the airport. Preboard screeners may screen carry-on items by x-raying and/or manual search. If screeners observe an item inside a bag that they cannot readily identify during x-ray inspection, they must open the bag and manually inspect the contents.
Q. Under what authority does the FAA or the airlines conduct security screening or physical searches at airports?
A. Air carriers are required to conduct passenger screening under Title 49 United States Code Section 44901, Screening passengers and property, which states that "The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall prescribe regulations requiring screening of all passengers and property that will be carried in a cabin of an aircraft in air transportation or intrastate air transportation. The screening must take place before boarding and be carried out by a weapon-detecting facility or procedure used or operated by an employee or agent of an air carrier, intrastate air carier, or foreign air carrier."
Q. Are screeners required to speak English? Are they trained to deal with the public in a courteous manner?
A. Airlines are required to train preboard screeners in the courteous treatment of passengers. All screener training and tests are conducted in English. To be qualified as a preboard screener, each person must demonstrate proficiency in English.
Q. Why did I alarm at one walk through metal detector and not another? Aren't they too sensitive?
A. The FAA calibrates each walk through metal detector to the same minimum standard, using FAA approved test items. However, walk through metal detectors may respond differently depending on the physical environment they are operated in.
Q. Why do some places manually search my laptop/electronic equipment and some x-ray it?
A. Depending on the equipment available at the checkpoint, preboard screeners may be required to hand search electronic items instead of placing them through the x-ray. X-ray screening will not harm computer hard drives or diskettes. Explosive trace detection systems deployed at some screening locations allow the preboard screener to inspect electronic devices without requiring them to be powered-up.
Q. What are screeners checking for when they wipe my bag?
A. In addition to normal walk-through metal detection devices and x-ray units, some airports are equipped with additional equipment. This equipment is generically referred to as explosive trace detection systems. This equipment looks for traces of explosive compounds that may be present. It is done by taking a sample with a swab and analyzing the sample. You may see screeners rubbing your hand-carried articles with such swabs and placing them in the explosive trace detection system.
Q. Why can I carry the same item through one passenger screening checkpoint and not through others?
A. Some airlines and airports have stricter interpretations of deadly and dangerous items. What one airline will allow other airlines will not.
Q. What items are prohibited beyond the passenger screening checkpoint?
A. The FAA prohibits airlines from allowing dangerous or deadly items through the passenger screening checkpoint. Because of the subjective description of dangerous or deadly items, it is the airline's responsibility to determine what they will allow. Most airlines will prohibit items such as scissors, trade tools, and items resembling firearms.
Q. Will the x-ray examination equipment at the checkpoint harm underdeveloped film
A. Normal speed film will not be hardmed by x-ray examination. Scientific and hi-speed film may be damaged and should be manually searched. The FAA requires that airlines post signs at the checkpoint notifying passengers of this information.
Q. I want to carry a firearm with me on my trip. What should I do?
A. The FAA requires passengers carrying firearms in checked baggage to declare that firearm to the airline. Firearms must be unloaded, and in a lockable container suitable for air transportation and the bag is checked in at the ticket counter. In addition, we recommend that you contact your airline to determine any airline specific requirements.
Q. What is the regulation that covers the carriage of firearms?
A. Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 108.11, covers the carriage of firearms. Part 108.11 may be found on the FAA's web site at http://www.faa.gov/AVR/AFS/FARS
Q. How large a knife can I carry on board with me?
A. FAA guidelines allow knives with blades up to 4 inches. However, state and local laws may restrict the carriage of smaller knives in a public airport. We recommend that you contact the airline to determine any additional restrictions it might apply.
Q. Can I carry self-defense spray in my carry-on luggage?
A. No. Self-defense sprays are prohibited from carriage in carry-on luggage. Additonally, there are dangerous goods regulations that restrict the amount of self-defense sprays which may be transported in checked baggage to one 4-ounce canister. Additional information on dangerous goods is available at http://cas.faa.gov/cas/dgp.htm and http://hazmat.dot.gov
Q. Does the FAA allow airlines to fly prisoners on the same flight with other passengers?
A. Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 108.21 sets forth the requirements for transporting prisoners, and allows airlines to transport prisoners on the same flight with other passengers. Part 108.11 may be found on the FAA's web site at http://www.faa.gov/AVR/AFS/FARS
Q. I would like to be issued a special identification card, based upon a handicap or religious belief, which would help expedite security screening at the airport.
A. The FAA does not grant or issue a special identification card, nor can the airlines grant a special exception for security screening . The FAA does allow the airlines, upon request, to conduct private screening of individuals.