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Names- Passport vs Airline Tickets?

AlanS

I just realized the names on our e-tickets to Africa only have a middle initial instead of our full middle names as shown on our passports (first and last names are correct). I booked these tickets online and was fooled by the size of the "middle" entry block into thinking I could only enter a middle initial.

I have been exchanging emails with Ethiopian Air to see if they can and will make the name change to our e-tickets, but I'm not having much luck so far. I would rather not attempt to travel with the tickets as they are and I really don't want to wait until we check in at Dulles to attempt to have them changed.

If the Internet is any indication, this is quite a common issue. Websites like TripAdvisor, Flyertalk, Fodors, etc. are all over the place on this one.

One travel website states, "According to the Transportation Security Administration, an incorrect middle name shouldn't be a barrier to your travels." "Not be a barrier"??? that is not reassuring!

Another site said, "If your passport has your middle name spelled out, but on your ticket it's just an initial, chances are you will not set off any TSA red flags. The agency states on its website that minor name differences between your identification and boarding pass will not affect your travel plans. If you discover insignificant name differences on your documents prior to travel, call the airline. An airline agent will electronically note your passenger record for the TSA."

Yet another travel blog suggests cancelling the ticket and having a new one issued- possibly incurring a change fee and a change to the fare!

Somewhere on the Tauck website it addresses this issue and specifically says tickets should have the exact names- full middle name no initials- as shown on passports.

TSA says, "Boarding passes may not always display the exact name you provided when booking your travel. The name you provide is used to perform watch list matching before a boarding pass is issued, so small differences should not impact your travel."

Anyone ever had a similar situation? Is it really a big deal? How about in other countries- do they even care?

Comments

British

ALAN YOU ARE OK!!!
This often happens. In fact we just looked at the ticket info Tauck sent us for our trip in two weeks and it does not even have our middle names on them. Sometimes our first names have the first initial of our middle name attached to it, we have never had a problem. For example if your first name was Fred and your middle name was John, it might say FredJ Smith. I spoke to my hubby just now and he says you never know what your boarding pass is going to say anyway until you get it.
I think you will get yourself into an unnecessary mess to have any more correspondence with Ethiopian. I do hope someone else will confirm this for you here. Even though I assume you did not book this with Tauck you might make an innocent inquiry with their Flight people to get some wisdom from them. Now if they had booked it for you and they had your passport info on file it would be their problem, just saying Alan. Happy New Year and chill. I'm taking a break after de Christmassing the house, or should that be de-holidaying the house.

BillWest66

AlanS: Our EA tickets to Africa had no middle name or initial for either myself or my wife while both our passports have our full middle names. This created no problem at all either outbound or inbound. So, not to worry, all is OK!

AlanS

Thanks. I did considerably more digging on the Internet after I posted and the more authoritative websites said it is not a problem. That is not to say other types of name issues can't cause problems, however.

How about the name Ter O. Rist, A. Teror Ist, and variations on this theme?

Y'all have a Happy New year and a wonderful travel year!!!

jdurkin

Alan! Just you look at your little picture and think about it. Are you thinking? Now, you go and sit in the corner while you're doing that thinking. And when you have thought about everything, if you are very good, you can come back ..... and enjoy New Year's Eve!

Cheers from the future!

Jan

ndvb

AlanS, I think they would prefer to have everything the same, but saying you "should" have matching names doesn't mean you "have to" have matching names. You shouldn't have an issue.

Enjoy your trip, sir.