In the United States, gender is a required data field for flight bookings.Requirements set by Transportation Security Administration In 2009 An initiative arising from the 9.11 Commission as part of its Secure Flight Program. This allowed the agency to use additional passenger information, including gender, to distinguish passengers from people on federal surveillance lists, such as the NoFly list, later in the screening process.
This year, the Transportation Security Administration announced a change in policy to make gender more comprehensive.Updated standard operating procedure During February Gender is no longer used to verify identification at checkpoints, and “X” (unspecified) and “U” (private) gender markers have also been introduced into the PreCheck application, a pre-screening program. Robert C. Langston, a TSA spokesman, said the agency “is committed to ensuring that all travelers are treated with respect and dignity,” transgender and non-binary on security screening procedures. We are aware of the concerns of gender-incompatible travelers.
When writer Isle McKelroy flew from Bangor, Maine to New York in March, TSA agents referred to a button pressed by an officer as passengers passed a body scan that currently uses gender-specific criteria. And asked “pink or blue”. For that security check. Mx. McKelroy chose blue for his men because he seemed to be the most convenient at the moment. “It’s always very worrisome to me because I have to take the wrong version of myself,” Mx said. McElroy said. The TSA said it hopes to start updating the scanner later this year so that it doesn’t identify gender.
Many international airlines do not need to collect gender data at the time of booking, but some airlines have to choose honorable words like Mr. and Ms. on their websites, like Mx. Does not include gender alternatives. (Pronounced “mix”), or a blank option. The only exception is Air Canada. In 2020 we released a new booking system that includes non-binary honorifics. Air New Zealand has Mx. Titles are available, but only male or female are offered in the optional gender field. According to a spokeswoman, the airline is considering adding a “private” option.
British Airways Announced in 2019 It had a non-binary option, but hasn’t updated the system yet (providing Viscount and Viscount titles — according to British Society Chronista Debret, Currently has 115 Viscounts). According to Arturo Diaz, a spokesman for both airlines, KLM expects non-binary options to be available in 2023, and Air France will make them available “soon.”
