I’m not sure if it’s a warning or a public service announcement.
With all the chat about immigration in the US at the moment, there’s also a lot of talk about security measures for travellers.
While there’s plenty of chatter about international arrivals, one American traveller wonders if domestic travellers are also facing changes.
TikTok user Sarah Weber described what happened to her when she received a strange email after booking a domestic flight. Her video’s had more than 631,400 views.
A woman got a surprising email after booking a domestic flight.
In her video, Weber explains that she booked a domestic flight for a trip in a month, but two days later got an email telling her she could check in.She says, “Gosh, I got on the wrong flight.
“Thinking she’d made a mistake, she checked the reservation again. But the date was correct and the flight was still weeks away.
Even though he’d asked to check in earlier, she went ahead. Then he got an email that was a bit weird.He showed us a screenshot of the email, and it said he was trying to get advance passenger information.
“If you’re going to fly, be aware of what’s going on,” Ms. Weber said.
Is there an explanation for this?
Advance Passenger Information, or API, isn’t a new thing. Airlines have been using it since 2005, when the US started requiring the collection and transmission of passenger data before flights. (Via)
It’s part of the Transportation Security Administration’s Secure Flight program, which screens passengers even before they arrive at the airport. (Via)
It applies to both domestic and international flights, and it requires airlines to send passengers’ full names, dates of birth and gender at least 72 hours before departure, or immediately in the case of last-minute reservations.
However, the time it takes to send these emails depends on airline policy and other factors, which may explain Mr. Weber’s experience.
As you can see, commenters provided more info.
In the comments, people didn’t seem too surprised by the email Weber received, while others provided info and possible theories.
Some said it wasn’t new, that it was six or seven years old.
Others said it was Real ID enforcement, referring to the 2005 congressional law. (Via)
Although the official website says Real ID enforcement will start on 7 May 2025, one person said the API exists by ANI.