How to Apply for a Refund Number (and How to Know If You Need One)
When purchasing a plane ticket, you will be asked to fill out a form with some basic information such as your legal name, date of birth, and phone number. You may also have noticed another field on booking forms where you have the option to enter a known traveler number (KTN) or correction number.
While you may be aware that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issues KTNs to those who have passed TSA pre-screening or global entry, you may not be as familiar with reimbursement numbers. Here’s what you need to know about this other type of government number, including who needs it and how to apply for a reimbursement number.
What is a regression number?
First, damages numbers and famous traveler numbers are not the same thing, so they cannot be used interchangeably. Although DHS is the agency that issues both numbers and TSA uses them, KTNs can be issued to any air passenger who meets certain criteria and can pay the fee.
Compensation numbers, on the other hand, are designed specifically for those who have repeatedly encountered security check issues at transport hubs such as airports or border crossings. While this can happen for a variety of reasons (including profiling and discrimination), in this case it is because the person has a name or other personal information similar to someone on the TSA watchlist.
The Damage Indemnification Number is technically a case number that tells TSA and airlines that you have participated in a DHS Traveler Inquiry Inquiry Program (TRIP) that has verified that you are not a person with a similar voice on their watchlist.
So, who needs a regression number? According to DHS , people who regularly experience one or more of these situations (as well as some others ) may want to apply for one of these:
- Unable to print your boarding pass at the ticket kiosk or online.
- Delayed or denied boarding
- An airline ticket agent informs you that the federal government has not allowed you to travel
- Repeatedly referred for secondary screening at US Customs or denied entry into the country
How to apply for a refund number
To apply for a damages number, you must go through the DHS Travelers ‘ Indemnity Program (TRIP). Once you’re on the website , you’ll be asked to answer a few quick questions about why you’re applying for a refund number to make sure you don’t waste your time on the process just to find out you’re on really need another program:
Lost/damaged items or personal injury:
If you experience lost/damaged items or personal injury, please file a claim here .
Discrimination:
If you believe you have been discriminated against: file a claim with Civil Rights & Liberties.
Medical assistance and assistance to the disabled:
Find out what to expect at the security checkpoint and request assistance with screening travelers with disabilities, medical conditions or other conditions here .
If it turns out you are in the right place, you will need to create a DHS account (if you don’t already have one) before you can claim damages . Once you sign in, DHS will send you a login to access the reimbursement file, where you will be asked to provide identification documents (such as a passport or driver’s license) as well as information about the incident(s) you are reporting. – including dates, times and places.
From there, you can log into the DHS TRIP portal and then click on “My Cases” to check the status of your application:
- “In Progress” means that the message has been received and is being processed.
- “Information needed” means something is missing in your application. Find out what else they need and submit your answer and more information by clicking “My Tasks” on the DHS TRIP portal home page. You have 30 days to respond before DHS automatically closes your application.
- “Closed” means that DHS has made a decision on your application. You can read and download the letter with the definition through the sections of the portal “My Files” or “My Cases”.
If DHS decides to give you a reimbursement number, it must be on this letter. The agency recommends using it when booking air tickets.
It is not clear how long this process will take, but according to DHS , “the length of the review varies depending on the concerns raised in the damages claim.”
Finally, if at some point you were issued a refund number but lost it, you can email TRIP@tsa.dhs.gov to sort it out.