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

[cigar95]

Interesting the words "SHOULD not cause a problem for the passenger".
Seems they could have said "WILL not cause a problem for the passenger".

Well, I suppose you have to allow for the possibility of a TSA worker who has misinformed themselves by listening to the various reports of what someone heard from their mailman's cousin's podiatrist.

But the key is that there isn't a policy requiring exact name matching at the airport security check being implemented now or any time soon.

 

[aubriee]

I flew into DFW from MCO last night. My ID has my last name, first name, then maiden name. My boarding pass had my first and last name only. The TSA agent at MCO didn't say a word.

OT: the lines at MCO were a mile long yesterday at about 5:00pm. I have never seen the airport that mobbed. Once I finally got past the ridiculously long security lines and out to the Air Tran hub, it too was mobbed. People were sitting and standing everywhere. Everywhere you looked was packed with people. Anyone know what was going on? Everyone was talking and complaining about how crowded it was.

 

[tinkbutt]

I just got off the phone with southwest...... as long as you have made the reservation before may 15th its no problem as long as your first and last name match, but after that they want your middle name or initial however it is printed on your ID.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Can anyone explain how this change makes flying safer? Isn't that the stated reason for all the TSA stuff?

 

[dudspizza]

Can anyone explain how this change makes flying safer? Isn't that the stated reason for all the TSA stuff?

It just makes me giggle... the bad guys don't use their real names anyways......

 

[DebbieB]

Can anyone explain how this change makes flying safer? Isn't that the stated reason for all the TSA stuff?

It's to help with the name watch list. Later in the year you will have to provide your DOB. Hopefully this will help people who have the same names as people on the watch list.

 

[kevgraub]

Can anyone explain how this change makes flying safer? Isn't that the stated reason for all the TSA stuff?

For quite some time, people have complained about the the "no fly lists" and lists that single people out for extra screening because their names were the same or similar to someone else.

So, now TSA is trying to centralize the list, and include additional information to help avoid the situation where people have trouble flying because their name is the same as someone else on one of the TSA's lists. When John Smith (and any John Smith) would go to the airport before, he had to go through extra screening. Now, John Robert Smith, DOB 1/1/01, will not match the name and DOB of John Allen Smith, DOB 2/2/02, and John Robert Smith can buzz through security like the rest of us while the TSA takes an extra look at John Allen Smith.

And people will now complain about this as well.

 

[n2mm]

I just got off the phone with southwest...... as long as you have made the reservation before may 15th its no problem as long as your first and last name match, but after that they want your middle name or initial however it is printed on your ID.

I booked with SW and there was only a place for our first and last names. No place for the middle. We made our reservations on May 17th.

 

[all4disney98]

I booked with SW and there was only a place for our first and last names. No place for the middle. We made our reservations on May 17th.

I had read on the boards that SW's temporary solution to this is to include your middle initial or name when you put in your first name i.e. Jane A. Smith would put in for first name: Jane A

Cany anyone flying SW confirm this though?

 

[zurgswife]

I just rebooked a flight I made an error on the first time (had us headed to MCO from PhL on the date that we should be headed from MCO to PHL) . I had no idea about his new requirement and book us without a middle initial. I wonder if I should call southwest?

 

[cigar95]

I just rebooked a flight I made an error on the first time (had us headed to MCO from PhL on the date that we should be headed from MCO to PHL) . I had no idea about his new requirement and book us without a middle initial. I wonder if I should call southwest?

No need to. It has no impact on us as travelers for now. When it does, it will be made known widely and loudly. (Be sure to read the whole thread, where the situation is clarified.)

 

[CPT Tripss]

For quite some time, people have complained about the the "no fly lists" and lists that single people out for extra screening because their names were the same or similar to someone else.

So, now TSA is trying to centralize the list, and include additional information to help avoid the situation where people have trouble flying because their name is the same as someone else on one of the TSA's lists. When John Smith (and any John Smith) would go to the airport before, he had to go through extra screening. Now, John Robert Smith, DOB 1/1/01, will not match the name and DOB of John Allen Smith, DOB 2/2/02, and John Robert Smith can buzz through security like the rest of us while the TSA takes an extra look at John Allen Smith.

And people will now complain about this as well.

The effect you describe, perhaps will make travelling somewhat easier on folks who have similar or the same name as someone on the "watch list. Seems like it would be make more sense, and less work, just to require the additional info for people whose name is on the "watch list." After all it is checked via an automated computer matching process.

The whole concept of a TSA gate keeper minutely examining IDs and boarding passes is ludicrous. They don't double check names against anything.

 

[DisFhan]

I fly every weekend for work and I called the company that books my flights and they did not even take my full name. I have 2 middle names and the booking company only took one middle initial when both my middle names are printed out on both my ID's. I am really not real worried about it and have not been asked at any TSA checkpoint. I think people need to chill out, you can still get through checkpoints without ID's if you go for further screening so I am sure my names not matching are not going to make a big difference..

 

[cigar95]

Seems like it would be make more sense, and less work, just to require the additional info for people whose name is on the "watch list." After all it is checked via an automated computer matching process.

This would make sense, except that it would require disclosing the names on the watch list. This would defeat a big part of its purpose.

The whole concept of a TSA gate keeper minutely examining IDs and boarding passes is ludicrous. They don't double check names against anything.

This check is done electronically. The eventual check of middle names and DOB vs the traveler ID will be done as part of the existing ID check. (But just to reiterate, there is no publicly-disclosed timetable for doing so.)

 

[baz212]

I can see this becoming a huge problem for those of us with hyphenated names. Last May, after almost an hour on the phone with both United and American, I was told that the computer would not allow them enter the hyphen because it was considered a character not a letter or number. I run into this with hundreds of computer databases each year. Not only did I hyphenate my name, but my husband also did,and our son has a hyphenated name. I have no problem with government databases or schools, but I've had problems with airlines, hotels, shopping sites, newsletter subscriptions, and even prescriptions at the pharmacy.

 

[CPT Tripss]

This would make sense, except that it would require disclosing the names on the watch list. This would defeat a big part of its purpose.


This check is done electronically. The eventual check of middle names and DOB vs the traveler ID will be done as part of the existing ID check. (But just to reiterate, there is no publicly-disclosed timetable for doing so.)

If one regularly is selected by the airline for addition security screening, then it's pretty easy tofigure out that one's name is on the watch list.

I know the watch list screening is done electronically . . . that's why it's dumb to have the ID check at the security line. TSA staff do not have the lists memorized, nor do they check names against anything.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I can see this becoming a huge problem for those of us with hyphenated names. Last May, after almost an hour on the phone with both United and American, I was told that the computer would not allow them enter the hyphen because it was considered a character not a letter or number. I run into this with hundreds of computer databases each year. Not only did I hyphenate my name, but my husband also did,and our son has a hyphenated name. I have no problem with government databases or schools, but I've had problems with airlines, hotels, shopping sites, newsletter subscriptions, and even prescriptions at the pharmacy.

Why not just leave a space where the hyphen would be?

 

[5boyz]

When I first read this thread I called SW. The lady didnt know anything about it but checked for me...she came back and said "you know what let's just save us the time and add the middle names anyway that way they are there". She sent me the new confirmation and we are all done.

Someone mentioned the same name and adding birth dates, I know 2 guys named Andrew Taylor and both have the same birth dates...different years though....

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

When I first read this thread I called SW. The lady didnt know anything about it but checked for me...she came back and said "you know what let's just save us the time and add the middle names anyway that way they are there". She sent me the new confirmation and we are all done.

Someone mentioned the same name and adding birth dates, I know 2 guys named Andrew Taylor and both have the same birth dates...different years though....:rotfl:

My dad and my brother have the same name and birthday. Different middle names so they both use their middle initial to avoid confusion.

I work in xray and we are required to have patients state their name and DOB to confirm identity. A pt. told me to please check her address too as our same hospital has another pt with her same exact DOB too. How bizzare is that? I looked on our computer and sure enough there were 2. It was a very common name like Ann Smith or something like that.

 

[dioxide45]

My dad and my brother have the same name and birthday. Different middle names so they both use their middle initial to avoid confusion.

But your dad and brother wouldn't have the same birthday, they would have been born in different years? For the DOB requirement the year of birth will be required.