I got an email from Virgin America today, telling me about TSA's new project called "Secure Flight."  At first I said to myself, "Please don't tell me this is some new stupid luggage thing," but it's actually the first sign that someone is thinking outside of that useless box.    Here's the email:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is introducing Secure Flight, a program designed to enhance the security of commercial air travel. As a result, we want to make you aware of some additional information we will need to obtain from you at the time of booking.

Starting now, when you purchase a ticket on Virgin America, you will need to provide the following information as it appears on the government issued photo ID you will use when traveling:

Full Name (First, Middle, Last)
Date of Birth
Gender

TSA Redress Number (if applicable – a TSA provided number for personal identification for those persons who have gone through the TSA redress process)

So I guess purchasing a domestic ticket will now be more along the lines of purchasing an internat'l one, where you give your Passport number (which contains all the info the TSA now seems to want from everyone).  I've actually never understood why entering a driver's license/gov't issued ID number wasn't required to purchase airline tickets.  

While this new reg. isn't earth-shattering, at least it's a measure that's actually related to the ID screening process instead of the body/luggage process.  As everyone keeps saying, preventing baddies from getting on the plane in the first place should be the priority, not shackling the rest of us to our seats.  I'll cling to this glimmer of hope for now, I guess…

(P.S. If this is in the wrong area of the forum, feel free to move it…)