Understanding the Two Types of No-Fly Lists
Understanding the Two Types of No-Fly Lists
The ability to book a flight is a privilege, not a right, and under certain circumstances, it can be revoked. You might have heard of the no-fly list — yes, it’s real. In fact, there are two types of no-fly lists, and you really don’t want to be on either. The more severe kind is part of a federal anti-terrorism program, while the less severe type is maintained by individual airlines for unruly passengers. Here’s what you need to know about both no-fly lists.
The Federal No-Fly List
What is it?
The federal no-fly list is maintained by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and includes individuals prohibited from "boarding an aircraft when flying within, to, from, and over the United States." These individuals are part of the federal terrorist watchlist, administered by the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), which holds a database of people reasonably suspected to be involved in terrorism or related activities. Not everyone on the terrorist watchlist is on the no-fly list; some may be allowed to fly but subjected to additional security screening.
The Airline No-Fly List
What is it?
Airlines can ban passengers from flying with them for unruly behavior, creating their own internal no-fly lists. Unruly behavior can include anything from excessive intoxication to assaulting a flight attendant. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notes that in addition to being banned from an airline, unruly passengers can be fined up to $37,000, convicted of a felony by the FBI, and removed from or banned from the TSA PreCheck program, depending on the severity of the incident.
Is there a universal no-fly list for unruly passengers?
There is no nationwide or worldwide no-fly list for unruly passengers. This means someone banned from one airline can still potentially fly with another.
Understanding these two types of no-fly lists can help you navigate the rules of air travel and ensure a smoother flying experience. And hopefully, you’ll never have to worry about being on either list.
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