Airline ticket name lacking middle name-problem?

There has been some rumble that your airline ticket has to match your ID (driver's license or passport). We got tickets almost a year ago that we are using in late June -- it is missing my middle name.

Do I need to do something here? If so, would I call the Frequent Flyer office of American Airlilnes where we got the tickets issued? TIA

I haven't had any problem, and usually don't put my middle name on tickets even though it is on my license.

I agree. You don't need to have your middle name or initial on your airline ticket/reservation. That type of difference is allowable.

Cathyb said:

There has been some rumble that your airline ticket has to match your ID (driver's license or passport).

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As other poster's have stated - I don't think you'll have a problem.

Re the "rumble" you mentioned - TSA Secure Flight PNR Rules Start May 15

and more info about Passenger Name Record (PNR) from Wikipedia


Richard

Certainly not a problem. For sure, the surname has to be exactly correct. And having gone through this personally, the first name can be slightly off and they'll correct it for you (i.e, "Michele" instead of "Michelle" or "Cindy" instead of "Cindi"). They were able to correct a misspelled first name and this was for an international flight, as long as it is a close derivative.

A Rare Peek at Homeland Security's Files on Travelers - from Budget Travel's Blog


Richard

I have a similar problem. My PNR for a flight on Friday has my middle initial attached to the end of my first name (w/o a space btw). I'm gonn'a get the counter early and assume that its not beyond their ability to deal with.

I've seen airlines advising folks not to use middle names in their reservations.

Phew! Thanks Tuggers

Talent312 said:

I have a similar problem. My PNR for a flight on Friday has my middle initial attached to the end of my first name (w/o a space btw).

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Every Delta Ticket I have ever gotten as far back as I can remember in 40+ years of flying has my Middle Initial appended to my first name. Never had a problem.

Cheers

We had problems with my wifes pass port not matching the airline ticket. She uses her middle name in every day life including her drivers license but her first name on her pass port as on her birth certificate. We use her first name now and haven't had any problems.

My account for Southwest has my first name as Mike; my ID says Michael. I've always wonder if there would be one TSA agent who would give me a hard time.

There has been times where an agent would not like my form of gov't ID (gov't issued employee ID badge) and would ask for a driver's license. Here is RI it is probably easier to get a fake license then what I have to do to get my employee ID badge (just ask the illegal immigrants who bought them off a DMV worker).

It is a new rule

Starting in June if your name on the Boarding pass doesn't match EXACTLY the name on your license and/or passport you will be warned it should (and may hold up your boarding). After 8/15/09 they MUST match or you will be sent for additional screening.

This is new - it has never been the case before. Now is the time to start correcting any existing tickets to reflect the complete, exact name and to be sure any future purchases include any middle initial, hyphenated name, etc exactly as it appears on your ID. It is not a "nice to do" it is required as of 8/15/09.

Here's more info on TSA issuing New Rules for Air Travel

and New TSA Rule that your Ticket Boarding Pass Exactly Match Your ID from a Travel Forum


Richard

Now I am worried

Well, I got FF tix on United on May 15th for next April, 2010. I did not put my middle name on them since I was unaware of this new rule (it is nowhere on the United web site). I called today after reading this thread to request that United add my middle name, and was reassured by the agent that United has an agreement with the TSA that first and last names will be sufficient until United upgrades its system and has a way of adding middle names. Somehow I am not reassured.

Keep after it but later in the year

calgal said:

Well, I got FF tix on United on May 15th for next April, 2010. I did not put my middle name on them since I was unaware of this new rule (it is nowhere on the United web site). I called today after reading this thread to request that United add my middle name, and was reassured by the agent that United has an agreement with the TSA that first and last names will be sufficient until United upgrades its system and has a way of adding middle names. Somehow I am not reassured.

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They should have the "upgrade" in p[lace long before 4/2010 so just check back later this year to get it corrected. This will affect a lot of people so they'll set up a way to handle it soon.

The only time I have had a problem like this was with Cathay Pacific, for a trip I took in April 2008. My tickets had my first and last name, but my passport had my first, middle and last name. Cathay Pacific would not upgrade me because my frequent flier account had my middle name on it, so I asked them to remove my middle name from my frequent flier account. They told me that if my passport included my middle name, and my tickets did not, I would not be permitted to fly. In order to add my middle name to my tickets, I had to send in a copy of my passport and an affidavit (notarized) that I was the same person listed on the tickets and passport, and that I had bought and paid for the ticket. It took 6 weeks to process.

I think that is because Chinese names can be pretty much the same, with only the middle name being different. Some have them, others don't.

Here is the reply I received from Delta Airlines;

"Dear Mr. Nover,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding Delta's SkyMiles program.

In order to change the name in the SkyMiles account, we will need legal
documentation. Please resubmit your request along with a copy of your
driver's license, passport or appropriate court order. You may also
include any requests for mileage credit and/or address changes.

For your convenience, you may return this documentation via fax
transmission at (404) 773-1945 or mail to:

Delta SkyMiles Service Center
P O Box 20532
Atlanta, GA 30320-2532

For the near future, small differences between the passenger?s ID and
the passenger?s reservation information, such as the use of a middle
initial instead of a full middle name or no middle name and initial
should not cause a problem for the passenger.

Your selection of Delta is appreciated, and we will always do our best
to merit your confidence and support.

Sincerely,

Stephen Grant
Online Customer Support Desk
http://www.delta.com"

Comments:

Please let me know how to change my name on my Sky Miles account so it
matches my I.D. as I understand it the name on tickets have to match your
I.D. by August.
Thank you.

I spoke with Delta as well regarding this issue and was told that if the name on my ticket doesn't match my FF account miles will not be automatically credited and I will have to submit the missing miles form therefore I am going to change my name and my wife's so that our FF accounts, tickets and ID's all match.

We called American Airlines to add my middle name and got the same story -- not needed now; okay the way it is. We fly out of LAX on late June.

Thank you all for your views on this subject

TSA Secure Flight Information

From http://www.aa.com/aa/viewPromotionD...motionContentRepository&repositoryId=16121033 :

You may have seen communications recently from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) about its new program, Secure Flight. Secure Flight is a program developed to provide uniform watch list matching by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The mission of the Secure Flight program is to enhance the security of domestic and international commercial air travel through the use of improved watch list matching.

Under the Secure Flight program, American Airlines will be required to collect Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) which includes a passenger's full name (as it appears on the passenger's non-expired government issued ID), date of birth, gender, and TSA issued Redress Number (if available).

It is important for you to know that the TSA is implementing Secure Flight in phases. American Airlines is working closely with the TSA to comply with the Secure Flight mandate and will begin collecting SFPD from customers at the time of ticket purchase in the Fall of 2009.

For more information about the Secure Flight program, visit TSA's Secure Flight Web site.


Looks like it's coming, but not here yet. The "matching" business means, I think, working harder NOT to link you with a bad person whose name is almost like yours. Probably what that Redress Number is about.

So, it's a good thing in disguise.

Almost all of my airline frequent memberships are with my middle name disguised as my first one. So I'll have to go through the big hassle of changing my memberships and tickets to match my ID. Once I flew on United with my real first name and they wouldn't credit the miles.

Next I guess I'll have to convert my credit cards.

My middle name is

Lee

Similar problem.

Hi

I am sorry to be using this thread but i have a similar problem and you guys seem to know a lot about this name rules.

My name is Mário Correia de Sá and I bought a ticket via www.terminala.pt (London-New Delhi and return) and on the name field i entered Mario (as first name) and Correia Sa (as last name).The e-ticket came as CORREIASA / MARIO.
Notice i left out the "de" because is not realy a surname but more of a "linking name", as "of" or "bin". This "de" in Correia de Sá doesn't even show on that bottom bit of my passport where is my name and nationality separated by "<<<" symbols.

I was wondering if I will have any trouble boarding this flights regarding the abcence of this "de".

Ty in advance for your help.

Morssa said:

I am sorry to be using this thread but i have a similar problem and you guys seem to know a lot about this name rules.

My name is Mário Correia de Sá and I bought a ticket via www.terminala.pt (London-New Delhi and return) and on the name field i entered Mario (as first name) and Correia Sa (as last name).The e-ticket came as CORREIASA / MARIO.
Notice i left out the "de" because is not realy a surname but more of a "linking name", as "of" or "bin". This "de" in Correia de Sá doesn't even show on that bottom bit of my passport where is my name and nationality separated by "<<<" symbols. I was wondering if I will have any trouble boarding this flights regarding the abcence of this "de."

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While full names are being required, I seriously doubt this will be a problem for you. I've had my middle initial attached to my first name, the letters "MR" attached to my last name, and it wasn't an issue on several flights, incl. transatlantic, this Summer. IME, it might generate a supervisor's review, but most likely, they'll chaulk it up to the airline's shortcut, not yours.

I would recommend you call the airline just to be sure!

I purchased a ticket on AA in September for a flight to Central America in February and during the purchase was directed to use full name as indicated on passport, plus add birthdate and gender.

Several days later I received an email from Southwest indicating I should log on to my FF account and update my profile with full name as it appears on passport, plus add birthdate and gender.

I checked several other airlines I utilize to see if I could update my profile with the required information. I found I could not do it, but Continental had a notation that they would be requiring this update of the profile sometime in the future.

They are starting to request this information on international flights. I bought tickets to Aruba and London before they had this requirement. I received Email from American Airlines to update our information so that ticket matches passport information for January trip to Aruba. I filled out information on line and my wife's e ticket now has middle name to match passport. I do not have middle name so ticket is the same.

British Air had questionnaire on line to make sure all passport information was included before our trip for day before Thanksgiving of this year. I included my wife's middle name which was not on original ticket. They also asked for passport numbers, date of birth and some additional information which I completed on line.

Check with your airline to update information if you are traveling anywhere requiring passport just to be safe. I don't think it is required yet on domestic flights.

Larry said:

They are starting to request this information on international flights. I bought tickets to Aruba and London before they had this requirement. I received Email from American Airlines to update our information so that ticket matches passport information for January trip to Aruba. I filled out information on line and my wife's e ticket now has middle name to match passport. I do not have middle name so ticket is the same.

British Air had questionnaire on line to make sure all passport information was included before our trip for day before Thanksgiving of this year. I included my wife's middle name which was not on original ticket. They also asked for passport numbers, date of birth and some additional information which I completed on line.

Check with your airline to update information if you are traveling anywhere requiring passport just to be safe. I don't think it is required yet on domestic flights.

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We are going out of the country in May of 2010. We had to have our passport and airline tickets with the middle name. Our travel agent checked on this. Also, we had to have the insurance we purchased the same way.