First, Middle & Last Names on PNR, E-Ticket & BP

[dairyfloss]

Hi AFFers,

There's been threads on this in the past... but I couldn't find exactly what I was after, and/or they were closed for reply...

My question: Is there anywhere that specifically documents the requirements around passenger names on PNRs, tickets and BPs, such that a traveller can have full confidence that what they have done is all that they need to or can do in order clear the relevant checks at immigration and security and make their way to the gate? Does IATA or any other governing body document the absolutes around passenger names? Does it vary by Airline, DOM/INT, Country, Region?

I'm quite close to the corporate travel program where I work, and from time to time I get a question from one of the PAs or EAs about an individual's full name and how it must be displayed on ticketing and boarding passes etc. I have generally just said it should match the passport or other official ID, to the extent that it can... knowing full well that many airline and other booking systems won't really allow for some names to be entered exactly 'as is' - be it due to length, break-up, special characters, etc.

Personally - I've probably had every possible variation of my given and middle names on my BPs, and never once had so much as a second glance from airport staff about it... but you'd be surprised at how many people (even those I would have thought were quite frequent flyers) seem to have advanced panic attacks every time over this stuff!

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

perhaps a complex question. I think your advice is spot on... the name should match the passport. That way, the passenger has done everything they can from a 'peace of mind' perspective.

The main issue... 'does it really matter'? Undoubtedly there will be some cases, somewhere, where it might matter... but I can't think of one off the top of my head. Departing for the USA? You can book a ticket without your middle name and it doesn't seem to make any difference because the passenger information will be pulled directly from the passport. TSA? I've traveled without my middle name, or with just an initial (and in all sorts of combinations!)... and they haven't batted an eyelid. Mistake with a name? IATA used to have a rule (up to 3 letters in error and you were still good to fly)... not sure if that rule is still there, but in practice it seems to still be followed at check-in.

Where might it matter? In the matching of frequent flyer benefits with the main account. Sometimes if the details don't exactly match, points may not accrue. In those cases you'd need to contact the airline, after travel, to get it sorted out.

 

[amaroo]

I've never added my middle name to any booking. The only time I've seen a hint of an issue was when a 3K agent in SIN hand wrote my middle name on the BP a few weeks ago for a SIN-BKK flight ... it didn't get the same attention for the flight back BKK-SIN three days later.

Yes, I've had moments of panic when flying a new airline ... all good.

Visa/passport is another matter.

 

[nonpop]

... The only time I've seen a hint of an issue was when a 3K agent in SIN hand wrote my middle name on the BP a few weeks ago for a SIN-BKK flight ...

3 trips to Sing in the last 30 days has resulted in the same.
On departing via the sats premium check-in the agent wrote middle name on the BP each time.

Otherwise I've not had it happen nor anybody care.

So provided BP = Passport for main names / data points then all is fine from experience.

 

[TheInsider]

First name and surname. No middle name is needed whatsoever.
Makes it alot easier for self check in too if middle names are not added.

 

[dairyfloss]

Thanks folks - so we're all agreeing that in the well-practiced reality, there is no issues with only first and last names; we can ignore the middle.... but is there anything which officially stipulates this? Who's telling the guys & gals at each checkpoint what they need to look for / question?

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks folks - so we're all agreeing that in the well-practiced reality, there is no issues with only first and last names; we can ignore the middle.... but is there anything which officially stipulates this? Who's telling the guys & gals at each checkpoint what they need to look for / question?

Cheers,
Matt.

When booking with airlines flying to/from/over the USA they will tell you the name on the booking must exactly match the name in officially issued government ID that you will be using for the flight. This is a TSA requirement. If your travel document doesn't have a middle name, you don't need to provide it.

In reality, this requirement doesn't always seem to be rigorously enforced... although if a passenger was on a no-fly list, or has a redress number (etc etc), maybe it would be an issue.

 

[dairyfloss]

When booking with airlines flying to/from/over the USA they will tell you the name on the booking must exactly match the name in officially issued government ID that you will be using for the flight. This is a TSA requirement. If your travel document doesn't have a middle name, you don't need to provide it.

In reality, this requirement doesn't always seem to be rigorously enforced... although if a passenger was on a no-fly list, or has a redress number (etc etc), maybe it would be an issue.

Thanks, MEL_Traveller. I did find something on the TSA Secure Flight program along those lines... it also states the following:

If the name printed on my boarding pass is different than what appears on my government ID, will I be turned away at security and unable to fly?
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.

Frequently Asked Questions - Secure Flight | Transportation Security Administration

Let the ambiguity continue!

 

[flychrisfly]

On some airlines the name on the tickets MUST match the name on the passport and they'll hit you for a name change fee or prevent you from travelling unless you buy a new ticket.

I was surprised to see on JAL when I was helping my dad check-in on line a few weeks ago that Dad had booked his ticket using the name he goes by (his middle name) but that JAL had a separate screen or two during OLCI to separately capture the passport details including the traveler's names as shown on his/her passport.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

On some airlines the name on the tickets MUST match the name on the passport and they'll hit you for a name change fee or prevent you from travelling unless you buy a new ticket.

I was surprised to see on JAL when I was helping my dad check-in on line a few weeks ago that Dad had booked his ticket using the name he goes by (his middle name) but that JAL had a separate screen or two during OLCI to separately capture the passport details including the traveler's names as shown on his/her passport.

What ff program is he crediting the JL flights to? More importantly, how does the name he booked under compare to the name in his passport and that in this frequent flyer account.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On some airlines the name on the tickets MUST match the name on the passport and they'll hit you for a name change fee or prevent you from travelling unless you buy a new ticket.

I was surprised to see on JAL when I was helping my dad check-in on line a few weeks ago that Dad had booked his ticket using the name he goes by (his middle name) but that JAL had a separate screen or two during OLCI to separately capture the passport details including the traveler's names as shown on his/her passport.

Without knowing the full details, it seems fair enough that a person booking with only their middle name might be prevented from travelling if that's not what's displayed on the passport.

 

[dajop]

Oh the names thing. Within Australia it matters not one iota. In Asia it can be more complicated. In Singapore seems particularly sensitive, in fact once I had corporate TA get SQ re-issue a ticket for me that was for travel to/from the US because my middle name didn't come through in the feed from booking tool and they were concerned about ramifications with TSA. On 3K now I just book with my middle name entered into the first name field as in First name: "First Middle" . Works OK and no hand writing any more.

I think the sensitivity in Singapore is a lot of people go by three names and some even have four names on their passport including English and Chinese names. I've also seen complexity with Brazilian names, I am thankful I just have the standard three names.

 

[flychrisfly]

What ff program is he crediting the JL flights to? More importantly, how does the name he booked under compare to the name in his passport and that in this frequent flyer account.

*Sigh* I did try and convince him to sign up and collect frequent flyer points... but no.
Good question but

 

[deejo77]

My first name mstches my passport 50% of the time due to a "special character" of - it is very annoying. I have a middle name that i use and the airlines that don't use the - haven't been a problem except once in Egypt - pulled aside questioned and then let go