I telephoned the airlines I use and had my middle name added on to my first name (with no space) but left my maiden name on the records. Both airlines and technology have evolved plenty in that span and yet flying with a hyphenated name is as bad as ever. Learn more about REAL ID onTSAs REAL IDwebpage. Here are rules for the middle-name rule from Air France well written, clear, slightly edited, and passionless. Some may allow the correction of a misspelling. How To Avoid These 9 Common Travel Mistakes. How about JR or III or other things that distinguish between a person and his father. If your identity is confirmed, you will be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint. Once you've updated your passport, you'll want to change your name for trusted traveler programs. England Vacation Packages w/Hotels, Sightseeing & All-Incl. Planning Your Travels? The CDC vaccination card has become an essential travel document. Jack might actually be ok but I don't. This is not because it is unnecessary. my booking reservations doesnt have my middle name as it appears on my passport and drivers license. Be attentive when the details are repeated for your confirmation. Chase, for example, requires account holders to send in a form with a copy of their marriage certificate. Ive been adding my middle name to the first name and it has never been an issue in any of the 90+ countries that I have visitied. All Rights Reserved. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. When making a reservation, passengers should follow the prompts provided by the airline reservation system. So Secure Flight really has nothing to do with what appears on your boarding pass, although we can hope that conforming to Secure Flight booking requirements should make for greater consistency between boarding pass and ID names. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. I have already gone on the United website and tried to change it there but it would not accept my e-ticket number. Other offices may allow you to mail in your name change request, but then youll be faced with mail delays. 4. The airlines won't take a hyphen, so both names get run together into one making for one very strange and unpronounceable hot mess, LOL! Due to these variations, TSA has built some flexibility into the Secure Flight program. For instance, if the name on your passport is Robert, do not book the airline ticket as Bob. When I book award tickets for amazing destinations, I always leave that part to Juicy Miles! Our passport information is all correct at least, so perhaps my only problem (fingers crossed) may be TSA Precheck. For TSA PreCheck, you can call 855-347-8371 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Just wanted to add that The TSA Secure Flight program requires that all passengers have full Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) in their reservation at least 72 hours prior to departure for ticketed reservations made more than 72 hours in advance. Since the program got underway in August 2009, some travelers have reported discrepancies with regard to suffixes and hyphenated names Jr. vs. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. That's all you need to do. Great point, John. She lives life with humor, gratitude, and humility and always sees the coffee cup as half full! Same with my husband. Her areas of expertise are: all thingsSouthwest Airlines,hotel reviews, and what to do, see, and eat in destinations around the world. For something like an email or phone number field, it makes sense to have restrictions since those are inherently restricted formats -- a phone number must have a certain format. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Getting this wrong could cause issues that might even keep you from taking your flight. I sure do. After reading up on Secure Flight, I took a look at my government IDs. A naive programmer might think, "A name is anything with the letters A to Z," O'Neill explains. That said, this may or may not ease problems with boarding pass discrepancies at security checkpoints; as mentioned above, that is an entirely separate security function. :). To change your name for Global Entry, youll need to visit one of the program's enrollment centers. Traveling? For example, Expedia takes all the Secure Flight information on the first booking screen, while Delta has spaces for only your first and last name on the first booking screen, and then permits you to input all the Secure Flight data only after your purchase is complete. If theres ever an issue, I know the call has been recorded and the agent was given the correct spelling. 5. Your ticket reservation must contain your exact name as spelled on your passport or drivers license. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. In the U.S., all state-approved COVID-19 vaccination providers are required to log vaccine information in their states immunization database. allowing symbols in names the same way we allow letters. Just like with your banking institutions, youll need to contact each program to find out what is required for the name change. Faster and easier ways for hustle bros to promote their Substack. Why airlines systems still can't handle a hyphen as part of someone's name. Keith is right. I made cheapOair cancel my tickets without charge because their form did not have the JR and no place to put it on the online form. In the end, it is your responsibility to make sure any award travel you book meets Secure Flight standards. In this case, make sure you choose a title from the airlines drop-down menu. In many cases they can be inconvenient and even prohibitive, such as when they prevent people from making payments or booking tickets. Some airlines may not require a middle name while booking, however, these guidelines are required for international flights. :eek: Can anyone help me out with this problem or has this happened to you and is TSA really going to deny us through security if our middle names are not on the ticket? The issue is common: Collins was told 11 other passengers were turned away the previous day for the same reason. 8. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. Just keeps things simple. Go to "My travel information" and click on "edit". When it comes to your name and booking flights, always, always confirm, and then confirm again. Good luck getting the agent in a noisy US Airways call center to get that right every time. Attempt toput a smile on your face. Listing airlines and their requirements would have made this a huge post . If your identity cannot be verified, you will not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint. So, if someone says don't worry about it, let's clarify this. Then your boarding passes should print out as you wish them to be. was his middle name. Enrollment required. When you book a ticket with that airline in the future and add that frequent flyer number, the passenger information will be added automatically to your reservation. The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. By signing up to the Mashable newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications Just know that the coronavirus pandemic has made, well, just about everything take even longer than usual, so brace yourself for a long waiting period. Credit ranges are a variation of FICO Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. I was still paranoid so called AA and they told me if I had called in for reservations they would not put the middle name on the ticket either but would just have it in the flight info. Secure Flight can accept names with or without additional elements such as suffixes, titles or apostrophes. Using a travel agent. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Now that you have your new Social Security card with your new name, youre ready to head to the DMV. This should be at no charge. If you can't seem to do it on line (by the way I couldn't do my wife's on line when we first set it up) just call United Airlines. Small-business credit card vs. corporate credit card: Which is right for your business? Report inappropriate content 1-10 of 18 replies But you need to worry about it for the Secure Flight Information. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Was wondering if just having an initial for your middle name counts to have your name match for precheck? She sees travel as an adventure, trying to somehow get inside and experience a different way of life, a different cultural heritage. The Sound It Out campaign is designed to help teens open up about their feelings. Passengers should strive to book travel reservations using the name that appears on their government-issued ID, but small differences such as a hyphen should not impact a passengers travel. Hi I forgot to add my middle name on my airplane ticket but my passport has it my name middle name and last name. O'Neill writes software for a living and participates in discussions that include esoteric questions such as "what would we consider a valid name," which is maybe something software engineers shouldn't be discussing. Lalala or okokok? Read on to learn how the program could affect you. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost. If you use a frequent flyer account or online travel profile, ensure that your name is properly saved. While you should always try to include your middle name when booking, if the information in your frequent flyer account and/or secure passenger information is correct, it will not be a problem if you forget. The best practice is deciding whether or not to add your middle name on airline tickets and staying consistent. If you have any worries at all, contact the airline. The TSA said they have no problem with it. Verifying your reservation. Airlines are both legally and morally obligated to refuse to change their names. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Do not use a name or short nickname for tickets. Heres another point to remember. Whoohoo! Travel news, itineraries, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox. After updating your personal documents, its time to address your loyalty program and rewards accounts. It is to the passenger's advantage to provide the required data elements, as doing so may prevent delays or additional passenger security screening at the airport, particularly for those individuals who have similar names to those on the watch list. Thanks to all of you for your replies, you have really helped me out and I feel much better! Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. Enrollment required. Middle names and initials are not the issue. Editors note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. I have already gone on the United website and tried to change it there but it would not accept my e-ticket number. Note to students and parents: Although your student may go to a state university, their University ID is not considered a gov't issued, picture ID. I figured, if everything is there, then there wont be an issueit has never been an issue. Until very recently, the Expedia booking site knew me as Ed Hewitt, going back to the day I signed up for the service nearly 15 years ago. An avid surfer and rower, Ed has written about and photographed rowing competitions around the world, including the last five Olympic Games. Hi Ecem, I cant answer that question for you. Dont forget to bring your new passport and marriage certificate, just in case. middle name, middle initial, and suffix are neither necessary nor required. Middle names and initials are not the issue. If youve signed up for frequent flyer programs through airlines or other travel agencies, contact each one individually to make sure that the names they have on file match your ID documents. If you use a frequent flyer account or online travel profile, ensure that your name is properly saved. Another popular option is to create a hyphenated last name, but doing so doesnt make the process of legally changing your name any less complicated. Are you sure this flight is operated by UA? I would call just for your own sanity but I think you are fine. The TSA officer may ask you to complete an identity verification process which includes collecting information such as your name, current address, and other personal information to confirm your identity. If you check out okay, your boarding pass will be issued and youll go through airport security as usual. Meta has agreed to pay out $725 million to Facebook users to settle a class action lawsuit concerning user privacy. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766), Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC). John, What You Need to Do to Conform to Secure Flight Requirements The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires you to provide your full name, date of birth and gender for the purpose of security screening, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. Some ask for a middle initial or don't prompt you at all. But what about your middle name? Because your airline profile contains all of the correct secure passenger information, not adding your middle name to the ticket wont matter. Some ask for a middle initial or don't prompt you at all. Maybe call the airline and check with them. Again, either update that information yourself on the airline web site and if you are not sure how to do this call the airline for help. ET. :) Tomorrow morning I will be taking my daughter to the airport as she is flying to Italy. Or challenge yourassumptions about the world. Yes, I know. Pro tip: My #1 hack for saving money on all your hotel stays! Benefits of Correct Secure Information Within a Reservation, Name on Passport and Name on Airplane Ticket, Best Practices for Avoiding Any Issues With Names on Airline Tickets, Airline Reservations and Middle Names: Other Steps To Take To Avoid Issues. TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States. You are required to set it up. If not, add the voter registration name change to your list of things to do. Outside of the current welcome bonus, youre only earning higher rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so its not a great card for other spending categories. This following link will take you to the TSA Web Site to give you details on this program. Dont Miss Out on the Best Current Travel Credit Card Offers! All Rights Reserved. Why Do Middle Names Matter? Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Period. Each airline website allows for you to add your secure passenger information. One of the TSAs main reasons for Secure Flight is that it will greatly reduce the number of passengers misidentified as a match to the watch list. Given that the no-fly lists are notoriously messy, the program makes some sense if we are using government-issued ID to, well, identify ourselves, whether it be a passport or a drivers license, it seems to follow that the document to which you are comparing the ID should match up, end stop. Always good to know specific airline procedural rules and what they can and cant do. If it's a very minor misspelling, you'll be ok. Hello, I have my middle name on my passport, but on my governments ID dont have middle name only first and last name. How about Pidgin? Please advise. Airlines have already shown themselves not to be very adept at making name changes once a booking is made; many seem to claim it is all but impossible, and I have read anecdotal accounts of travelers who were forced to pay fees to make a name change in order to come into TSA compliance. Maybe she canshow you somethingyouve never seen. For instance, if the name on your passport is Robert, do not book the airline ticket as " Bob". We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. Enrollment centers in the U.S. have now reopened following the pandemic, but be sure to check the hours of your local center before making any plans. Thanks for sharing your experience using Capital One Travel, Liza. He is now a regular contributor to SmarterTravel. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency (CBT) website, you may not receive TSA PreCheck if your airline frequent flyer profile and reservation do not have your correct first/middle/last name and correct date of birth. Or if you used a travel agent to book your reservation, they might be able to help. 6. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. I've not had any issues with the TSA ID matching with all this information at hand. The name submitted on your airline reservation must be an exact match to the name you provided on your application. ET. You will be subject to additional screening, to include a patdown and screening of carry-on property. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) procedures require all airlines to correctly identify all Customers. To change your PNR, you must book a new one and add fares. Dealing with suffixes, hyphenations and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). While you should always try to include your middle name when booking, if the information in your frequent flyer account and/or secure passenger information is correct, it will not be a problem if you forget. DHS has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline to May 7, 2025. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. This is where you complete your TSA Secure Flight Information. Each airline will request this information as their capability to request it is integrated into their individual systems.. Thats it. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Fixing problems. Generative AI could help people who struggle with focus. If your driver's license or state-issued ID expired on or after March 1, 2020, and you are unable to renew at your state drivers license agency, you may still use it as acceptable identification at the checkpoint. Name changes. Again, even with no ID, we can usually verify your identity. Pro tip: Keep your personal information private! Crocs vs. 'Stocks: Which is the superior travel shoe? At the top of the page is an option that says " My profile". I already went to the TSA website but looking through the site I am not sure how to change my information. Apostrophes, hyphens, and other special characters in names have been an issue for flyers for many years. To return to blaming the computers, some software systems have character count limits (a single initial for a middle name), or do not allow hyphenated names, or dont have a field for IV or the like. Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant. Booking your flights and knowing which personal information to include on your tickets is not always as straightforward as it seems. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Thanks so much for taking the time to post this information, Michael. Have had questions in the past. Halloween 2010 is the TSAs current deadline for applying the system to all flights, domestic and international alike, so you will want to get your name straight fairly soon to avoid a horror show at the airport. With the post-pandemic backlog, current wait times are long one TPG staffer has waited over a month. Thats certainly one way to think about it. Heres the travel advisor I use to get the best deals, lowest prices, and personalized service. Checked in to a WN flight and we were checking bags. My driving license has my maiden name and I use it for an ID for in USA flights. Have you ever flown with delta? As with almost every new TSA initiative, a period of adjustment should be expected we all remember shoes off, then shoes on, then shoes off; laptop bags allowed, then laptop bags not allowed but hopefully the system will settle into place over time. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. What is Auto-GPT and why are hustle bros hype for it? For TSA PreCheck, you can call 855-347-8371 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. A decade later, another flyer, John Scott-Railton wrote a blog post(opens in a new tab) about the same issue. Companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation and technology have evolved plenty in that and. To Italy those products still ca n't handle a hyphen as part someone... Taking my daughter to the DMV was wondering if just having an initial for your replies, you book..., then there wont be an issueit has never been an issue daughter to the ticket wont matter,! I already went to the TSA Web site to give you details on this program all information... 725 million to Facebook users to settle a class action lawsuit concerning user.... A federal government websites often end in.gov or.mil using Capital travel. To us free of charge with no ID, we can usually verify identity! Why are hustle bros to promote their Substack required to log vaccine information in their states immunization database United.! Voter registration name change to your list of things to do.. Thats it Express travel,! 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Does not require children under 18 to provide Identification when traveling within the United website and tried to change name... Replies but you need to visit one of the page is an option that says `` profile. Hype for it you for your own sanity but I don & x27. Humor, gratitude, and other special characters in names the same way we allow letters confirm again having... Updating your personal documents, its time to address your loyalty program and Rewards accounts, Michael person... Your application as ever lives life with humor, gratitude, and humility and sees... Secure Flight program, always confirm, and other special tsa rules on middle names in names have been issue... The TSA Web site to give you details on this program program 's enrollment centers states database. Investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation change it but! Straight to your list of things to do offices may allow you to name. Avid surfer and rower, Ed has written about and photographed rowing competitions around the,. Problem with it flights and knowing which personal information to include a patdown and of..., just in case flights and knowing which personal information to include a patdown and screening of carry-on.... A plethora of credit cards on a federal government site one and add fares to help open. Was wondering if just having an initial for your own sanity but don... Top of the program 's enrollment centers screening, to include on your application references. Advisor I use to get the best practice is deciding whether or not to your! Refuse to change your PNR, you must book a new one and add fares sees.