confirmed! Aug 15,09 post#20 Air travel ticket name must match photo ID name exactly?

[miss missy]

A girl at work told me this was on the news, that your photo ID name has to match exactly the ticket name. ie. John A Smith and John Smith, not a macth. I can't find anything, not even on TSA?? Just found:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm

I guess to be safe you need to book your air travel in the same name of your photo ID.

I am lucky I do it that way already. She called her airline and they "noted" the change to add her middle intial.

 

[DebbieB]

My ID is Debra A. My company reservation system always prints out Debraa even though I show A as my middle initial. Sometimes my personal reservations are just Debra. Never had a problem.

 

[tjmw2727]

Haven't head this. I flew last week, my ticket didn't have my middle initial and my ID does.

I can't imagine this would be practical, look at the TSA lines now and imagine if the TSA had to nitpick every middle initial, jr sr etc.

TJ

 

[CarolA]

Welcome to America...

Land of the TSA where you are presumed guilty until proven innocent (which you will be unable to do.... try getting off that "no fly" list LOL!) Has the TSA ever read the Bill of Rights or the Constitution?


Of course if it's a real problem, just tell them you lost the ID. They will then do a more detailed search of your stuff, but you won't have to "match" (IDOITS run this thing LOL!)

 

[rwdavis2]

Welcome to America...

Land of the TSA where you are presumed guilty until proven innocent (which you will be unable to do.... try getting off that "no fly" list LOL!)

I've been successful getting my daughter off the watch list. For about a year she could not get an advance boarding pass from Southwest. She always had to check in at the airport. It took about 6 months of waiting but it worked.

It was almost as hard to get Southwest to update their list. Even after we got an official letter from the TSA SW was still a problem for another couple flights.
BD

 

[CarolA]

I've been successful getting my daughter off the watch list. For about a year she could not get an advance boarding pass from Southwest. She always had to check in at the airport. It took about 6 months of waiting but it worked.

It was almost as hard to get Southwest to update their list. Even after we got an official letter from the TSA SW was still a problem for another couple flights.
BD

CONGRATUALATIONS!

I have met and "read" posts from many who were on the list. This is the FIRST successful "off" I have heard or seen!

I am impresed. (Of course why YOU had to prove she was innocent still seems a violation of the Constitution to me. But....)

 

[AllFiveOfUs]

I heard this report too and it was stated this was something that was going to go into effect at a later date (soon, sorry can't remember the exact date).

Chad

 

[rwdavis2]

CONGRATUALATIONS!

I have met and "read" posts from many who were on the list. This is the FIRST successful "off" I have heard or seen!

I am impresed. (Of course why YOU had to prove she was innocent still seems a violation of the Constitution to me. But....)

I agree with you. The problems stem from having names that are similar to someone who's a "bad guy". I was also advised by SW to always book her with her frequent flier number and use her middle initial in the first name, such as "Jane K" and not just "Jane". The combination of the FF # and name make her unique to Southwest and better id's her as being OK.

Other things that probably helped where that I have a security clearance for work so I've been in govt. databases for almost 30 years. Also, the entire family toured the West Wing of the White House in 2001 and we all had to provide social security numbers. I'm sure we're still in a computer somewhere.

Bob

 

[goofy4tink]

My ID, both license and passport, have my middle initial. When I book air travel, I seldom use my middle initial. The only time it has been an issue was when we flew Virgin Atlantic to London earlier this year. They make a point of telling you that your boarding pass/ticket must match your ID....exactly. And it tells you that on the Virgin Atlantic website when you book. I've never seen that when flying domestically.

 

[CarolA]

I agree with you. The problems stem from having names that are similar to someone who's a "bad guy". I was also advised by SW to always book her with her frequent flier number and use her middle initial in the first name, such as "Jane K" and not just "Jane". The combination of the FF # and name make her unique to Southwest and better id's her as being OK.

Other things that probably helped where that I have a security clearance for work so I've been in govt. databases for almost 30 years. Also, the entire family toured the West Wing of the White House in 2001 and we all had to provide social security numbers. I'm sure we're still in a computer somewhere.

Bob

The problem is that the "bad guys" don't use thier real names. And lets get real if they KNOW they are on the "no fly" list they are either (A) getting a new ID with a new name or (B) booking ticket in random name and showing up without an ID (which you can do for domestic flights)

Either way it's a joke. The TSA is still thinking a terrorist will (A) LOOK like a terrorist or (B) wear a name tag saying "I am a terrorist" It's a proven fact that if you look like a Marine you can bring on your guns and exposives on board http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/04/marine_pleads_n.html

 

[tink too]

When we book international travel from the UK, this applies to us. It's not just when travelling to the USA either so we can't blame the TSA for that one!

 

[DVC Grammy]

My driver's license has my maiden name as my middle name, but I never use it (or my actual middle name or initial). I haven't had any problem at airports. I wonder if it's because my married name isn't a common one.

 

[Mommytwotwins]

I saw this last night also and am now worried that I need to change it. I only booked with first and last name not my middle inital which is on my id...I never use it! It said it would go into effect as of MAY 15th. Can I change it online before I print my boarding pass?? or do I have to call? It ws stated that it COULD stop you from flying but realy how many people use their middle inital or name?/

 

[AllFiveOfUs]

Looks like I will need to call SW about this too. Sounds like it goes into effect on May 15th.

Chad

 

[AllFiveOfUs]

Here's a link I found

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/us_world/TSA_Changes_Could_Hold_You_Up_All__National_.html

Chad

 

[shellybaxter]

I just flew yesterday - booked my ticket with my first and last name - no middle name. ID has a middle name - no problems

 

[goofy4tink]

Before we all start panicking...notice this 'travel agent' said not having the exact same name on both ID and air ticket 'could' prevent you from boarding the plane. I just don't see this as a huge thing. I can't imagine that the TSA is going to tell me that because my boarding pass doesn't have the 'M' for my middle initial but my passport and driver's license do I can't get on my plane. A change like this is going to take quite awhile to implement...what happens to those who have already booked airfare..right through to the fall, and perhaps winter??? Sure, they can make changes, but they are going to have to take time in order to get everyone covered. Most people's ID has their birthday on it.

Personally I think this is the gov'ts way to get us all to have passports.

 

[AllFiveOfUs]

I just called SW to make sure all my bases were covered and they are not adding middle names or initials to existing reservations. But, they did say to add them from now on. They also said it is noted when you made the ressie. So, if you made the ressie before the change you would be fine.

Chad

 

[TDC Nala]

Which is interesting because Southwest does not have a place to add the middle name to the ticketed passenger entry.

I never use my middle name if I can help it.

 

[Sandi]

I have my maiden name as my middle name on my driver's license. I think my passport is the same way. On the airline websites, I think you can only put in your middle initial. I wonder if the airlines will have to spend money to update their websites to take more information -- a waste of time and money no matter what the cost.

I checked the TSA's website's FAQ and found this:

When does the full name requirement go into effect? When MUST my airline ticket match the name on my ID exactly?
Secure Flight requires that domestic aircraft operators request and collect full name as of May 15, 2009, and date of birth and gender as of August 15, 2009 for their domestic flights. For international flights, full name, date of birth, and gender must be requested and collected as of October 31, 2009. TSA has built some flexibility into the processes regarding passenger name accuracy. 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/initial at all, should not cause a problem for the passenger. Over time, passengers should strive to obtain consistency between the name on their ID and their travel information.

Does the name on all of my Identity Documents have to match? What if my driver’s license has only my middle initial, but my passport has my full name? Should I change my driver’s license to match my passport?
Secure Flight does not require that the names on all of your IDs be identical. Passengers should ensure, however, that the name used when making a reservation matches the ID that will be used when the passenger checks in. To illustrate this point using a hypothetical example, if a passenger’s current driver’s license reads “John C. Doe,” the passenger is not required to apply for a new driver’s license listing the complete middle name. However, if the passenger plans to use his driver’s license for identification purposes when traveling, he should ensure that he makes his flight reservation using the exact name on the driver’s license, “John C. Doe.”

I'm not going to stress about this, but I'm just baffled that there is no common sense worked into this bureaucracy.