Will Be Able To List Gender As 'Unspecified' Or 'Undisclosed' When Booking Tickets

A new international standard approved by the International Air Transport Association and Airlines for America will allow passengers to not specify their gender when booking tickets.

The new industry standard will go into effect July 1, but must be implemented by the individual airlines. CNN reports that in a statement, A4A said "U.S. airlines value a culture of diversity and inclusion, both in the workplace and for our passengers, and we work hard each day to accommodate the needs of all travelers, while delivering a safe, secure and enjoyable flight experience."

In a Tweet, United Airlines said that they are working on implementing the change so that "customers will be able to select the gender with which they most closely identify during the booking process." Delta and American airlines are also working on the non-binary options.

The move was praised by The National Center for Transgender Equality. NCTE applauds the A4A for adding gender options that are reflective of the diversity of their passengers," spokesperson ARli Christian said in a statement. "Non-binary people face unnecessary, invasive, and discriminatory scrutiny by airlines,airports, and security services alike. A4A's work is in line with other states who offer gender neutral designations on IDs and is an important step toward ensuring safe and smooth travel for all passengers regardless of their gender."

FMI: Source report