Lexi Webster
The No Fly List is a list of people who are prohibited from boarding commercial flights. The list is maintained by the United States federal government's Threat Screening Center (TSC) and is used by government agencies and airlines to decide who to allow to board flights. While the No Fly List is a US federal government initiative, other countries like Australia have also adopted similar practices. In Australia, no-fly lists are managed internally by individual airlines. This means that if a passenger is banned from one airline, they can still fly with another. However, Australia also has a government-managed Movement Alert List, which is akin to the US No Fly List and is managed by the Department of Home Affairs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Management | Australian airlines manage no-fly lists internally, as a private business |
| Criteria for inclusion | Offensive, violent or disruptive behaviour |
| Ban length | Six months to lifetime |
| Effect on other airlines | Being on one airline's no-fly list does not affect a passenger's ability to fly with another airline |
| Government-managed list | Australia has a government-managed Movement Alert List akin to the USA's 'no-fly list' |
| Government list management | Managed by the Department of Home Affairs |
| Other government initiatives | Airport Watch (131 237) – police presence or reporting an incident |
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What You'll Learn
Behaviour that can get you on the no-fly list
No-fly lists are used to issue individuals who behave inappropriately or pose a threat to safety with a flying ban. While the concept of no-fly lists came into widespread use in the United States following the events of September 11, 2001, it has also been adopted in Australia. However, unlike the US, where the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) manages the no-fly list, Australian airlines manage their no-fly lists internally as private businesses.
Offensive, violent, or disruptive behaviour can result in a passenger being added to an airline's no-fly list. This includes any form of abusive behaviour towards flight attendants or other passengers. For example, a man involved in an argument with flight attendants on a Qantas plane in Bali was banned from flying with the airline for 12 months. Similarly, a rugby player, Zakir Slaimankhel, was banned from Qantas for a similar incident that went viral on TikTok.
Additionally, any form of antisocial or illegal behaviour at airports will not be tolerated by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). This includes public disturbances, intoxication, and offensive behaviour. Individuals exhibiting such behaviour may be reported to the police and potentially added to a no-fly list.
It is important to note that getting on one airline's no-fly list in Australia does not affect a passenger's ability to fly with another airline. However, aviation union leaders and carriers have been petitioning the government to create a centralised list to prevent this from occurring and keep offenders off any commercial airline.
Furthermore, individuals who are deemed to pose a threat to aviation security may also be added to the no-fly list. This could include individuals with known or suspected ties to terrorist activities or those who have made critical statements about government officials. In some cases, individuals may be added to the list due to false positives, where their names match or are similar to those on the list.
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How to check if you're on the no-fly list
In Australia, no-fly lists are managed by individual airlines as a private business. This means that getting on one airline's no-fly list does not affect a passenger's ability to fly with another airline. If you want to check if you are on a particular airline's no-fly list, you could try buying a refundable ticket and attempting to check in online. If you can print a boarding pass, you are likely not on the no-fly list.
In the United States, the No Fly List is maintained by the federal government's Threat Screening Center (TSC). The TSC's No Fly List is a list of people prohibited from flying within, into, or out of the United States. If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and the TSC determines that you are on the No Fly List, the DHS TRIP will send you a letter informing you of your status. You can also call the DHS switchboard number (202-282-8000) to check if you are on the list, although some sources suggest that doing so may raise suspicion.
It is important to note that being on the No Fly List does not mean you have been accused of a crime, and the U.S. government is not required to disclose the reasons for placing someone on the list. Additionally, false positives can occur when a person's name matches or is similar to someone on the list, leading to travel disruptions even for those not on the list.
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What to do if you're on the no-fly list
If you are on a no-fly list in Australia, you may not find out until you go to the airport to board your flight. This is because Australian airlines manage their no-fly lists internally, and your name is checked against the list when you purchase your ticket. However, if you are denied boarding on a flight, there are a few things you can do.
First, it's important to understand that getting on one airline's no-fly list in Australia does not affect your ability to fly with another airline. So, if you are banned from flying with one airline, you may still be able to fly with a different carrier.
If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident and you believe you are on the U.S. federal government's No Fly List, you can submit a standard form to the Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). DHS TRIP will transmit your complaint and any supporting information you provide to the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), which will determine whether any action should be taken. If TSC determines that you are on the No Fly List, DHS TRIP will send you a letter informing you of your status and providing you with the option to submit and receive additional information. It's important to note that the government's summary of the reasons for your inclusion on the list may not be comprehensive, and in some cases, they may choose not to disclose all the reasons.
If you are not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, TSC will still review your submission, and DHS TRIP will send you a letter explaining how your complaint was resolved. However, this letter will not confirm or deny whether you are on the No Fly List or whether you can fly in the future. Unfortunately, the only way for a non-citizen to discover if they have been removed from the list is by purchasing a ticket and attempting to board.
In addition, if you are denied boarding on a flight to the United States, you can go to the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where you were denied boarding and speak to an officer handling Overseas Citizens Services (OCS). You should inform the officer that you seek assistance with repatriation and would like to coordinate your return travel by plane. The officer must help you secure approval to fly home to the U.S. by commercial air, and they will likely ask you to present one or more proposed itineraries for travel on a U.S.-based commercial carrier departing at least two weeks in the future.
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Differences between the US and Australian no-fly lists
In the United States, the No Fly List is a federal anti-terrorism program managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). It is part of the federal terrorist watchlist, which is administered by the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center (TSC). The TSC maintains a database of "information on people reasonably suspected to be involved in terrorism (or related activities)". The list is used to prevent individuals from flying in commercial airliners within, into, or out of the United States.
In Australia, no-fly lists are managed internally by individual airlines as a private business decision. Any offensive, violent, or disruptive behaviour could result in a passenger being added to an airline's no-fly list, with bans lasting from six months to a lifetime. However, getting on one airline's no-fly list does not affect a passenger's ability to fly with another airline. Australia also has a government-managed Movement Alert List, similar to the US No Fly List, which is an electronic database of individuals who may pose a threat to the country. This list is managed by the Department of Home Affairs.
In terms of checking if you are on a no-fly list, it is not possible to do so in advance in either country. In the US, a person's name is checked against the government's No Fly List when they purchase a ticket. In Australia, a person's name is checked against the airline's no-fly list at the time of ticket purchase. In both cases, there is a risk of false positives, where a person's name matches or is similar to a name on the list.
Overall, the key difference between the US and Australian no-fly lists is that the US has a centralised, federal list managed by the TSA as part of its counterterrorism efforts, while Australia's lists are managed internally by individual airlines and are based on disruptive passenger behaviour.
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The Movement Alert List in Australia
The Movement Alert List (MAL) is a computer database maintained by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to protect Australia from people who may pose a threat to the country. The database contains two subsidiary databases: the Person Alert List (PAL) and the Document Alert List (DAL). The former contains adverse information about people placed on the list for various reasons, while the latter is a list of lost and stolen travel documents. The Department of Home Affairs also manages the list, akin to the USA's 'no-fly list'.
The MAL is a critical component of Australia's national security and border protection strategy. It is used to inform decisions about visa and citizenship grant and the admission of non-citizens into the country. The database is checked at several points, contributing to a 'layered' approach to border management. This includes when any non-citizen seeks a visa, seeks to travel to or enter Australia, or applies for citizenship.
The Australian Federal Police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation use the Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to identify persons of interest in transnational crime, including terrorism, drug trafficking, identity fraud, and people smuggling. A person can request their PNR data from the department, as well as their own movement records under the Migration Act and the Freedom of Information Act 1982, using a Form 1359.
The DIAC has been subject to several reviews and refinements to improve the MAL system, with the successful introduction of the new Central MAL (CMAL) system. However, there are concerns about the inclusion of Australians on the MAL, with DIAC's policy on this issue not being entirely coherent or complete.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no official way to check if you are on Australia's no-fly list. However, some FlyerTalk forum users suggest calling the DHS switchboard number or attempting to purchase a refundable ticket and checking in online. If you can print a boarding pass, you are likely not on the no-fly list.
If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, the TSC will determine if you are on the No Fly List. If you are, the DHS TRIP will send you a letter informing you of your status and offering the option to receive additional information. If you are not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, the TSC will review your submission, and the DHS TRIP will send a letter explaining how the complaint was resolved.
If you are denied boarding on a flight to the United States, you can call the OCS or the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where you were denied boarding. Present your proposed itinerary and give at least two weeks' notice. After receiving approval, purchase your ticket and arrive at the airport at least four hours before departure to allow for security screening.
