What is a manifest in airlines?


What is a manifest in airlines? A manifest, customs manifest or cargo document is a document listing the cargo, passengers, and crew of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle, for the use of customs and other officials.


How long do airlines keep manifests?

In the US, airlines are required to keep manifests for a period of 3 months after the flight, in accordance with 121.693 and 121.695.


Are passenger manifests public?

Is checking the passenger list allowed by all airlines? No, some airlines may not allow public access to their passenger lists due to privacy concerns.


Why do airlines print the manifest?

The manifest helps cabin crew greatly in other things. In case cabin crew are not sure if a passenger sitting in business class is actually a business class passenger, they would check the manifest to see, it's less hassle than asking for the boarding as some passengers might see that as an insult.


Do planes go missing often?

Yet such disappearances are not that uncommon: according to records assembled by the Aviation Safety Network, 100 aircraft have gone missing in flight and never been recovered since 1948.