found this on american airlines corporate page:
http://www.aa.com/i18n/utility/secureFlight.jsp?anchorLocation=DirectURL&title=secureflightTSA Secure Flight Information
TSA Secure Flight
As a result of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) mandate, beginning November 1, all passengers will be required to have Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) in their reservation at least 72 hours prior to departure. This is the next phase in a program that was initiated by the TSA in 2009.
In compliance with this mandate you will be required to provide Secure Flight Passenger Data:
* To purchase any ticket on or after September 15, 2010
* To travel November 1, 2010, or later regardless of purchase date
You will be unable to travel without providing the following information.
* Full Name (first, middle and last name, as it appears on the non-expired government-issued photo ID that you will use when traveling)
* Date of Birth
* Gender
* Redress Number (if applicable)
You will need to provide Secure Flight Passenger Data:
* If it was not provided when you made your reservation
* For reservations made prior to adding SFPD to your AAdvantage account profile
* For all future reservations
By adding Secure Flight Passenger Data to your AAdvantage account profile, we'll add the SFPD automatically when you make reservations through American Airlines†in the future. You can follow the steps below to add SFPD to existing reservations.
I need to add SFPD
to my reservation
I need to verify that SFPD
is in my reservation
I want to add SFPD
to my AAdvantage profile
Adding Secure Flight Passenger Data To An Existing Reservation
If you have reservations for travel on or after November 1, 2010, you need to provide your SFPD at least 72 hours prior to departure. You will not be able to travel without the TSA mandated Secure Flight Passenger Data in your reservation.