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

[CarolA]

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.

What does Secure Flight Accomplish? Secure Flight has managed to keep several goverment employees occupied for years thinking of ways to slow down travel and further harass the traveling public. Secure Flight will not do anything to ensure your safetly, but we needed the work.

 

[antmaril]

This was reported on our local news yesterday. The reporter said that beginning May 15th, the name on your airline ticket must be an EXACT match to your photo ID.

 

[antmaril]

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

This requirement begins May 15th.

 

[CPT Tripss]

What does Secure Flight Accomplish? Secure Flight has managed to keep several goverment employees occupied for years thinking of ways to slow down travel and further harass the traveling public. Secure Flight will not do anything to ensure your safetly, but we needed the work.

Another masterstroke from TSA (Thousands Standing Around)

 

[Manda]

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

Hm. I just called Southwest and they happily added middle initials to my 3 existing reservations.

 

[kevgraub]

This was reported on our local news yesterday. The reporter said that beginning May 15th, the name on your airline ticket must be an EXACT match to your photo ID.

Just to be clear in case anyone missed Sandi's post above that quotes the TSA - Beginning May 15, airlines are required to start asking your exact name as it appears on your ID (along with your gender and your DOB as of August 15). TSA has said that small differences between your ID and your boarding pass are not going to be a problem for a while, but that travelers should start trying to make sure those things match up.

I realize that may have been what you meant - I just wanted to make it clear that it is not TSA's policy that beginning on May 15, your ticket and your ID must match or you can't fly. It is only on May 15 that airlines are required to get your full name.

 

[raven69david]

I've never used my middle initial when flying and have NEVER had a problem with TSA or anyone else in regards to being denied boarding for the improper/incorrect spelling of my name.

 

[TDC Nala]

I've never used my middle initial when flying and have NEVER had a problem with TSA or anyone else in regards to being denied boarding for the improper/incorrect spelling of my name.

What this thread is referring to is apparently a new rule that as of May 15, on any flights you BOOKED after that date the airline is required to get precisely the same name as the name on your photo ID - if your drivers license or passport or whatever you intend to use as a picture ID has a first, middle and last name then your boarding pass must eventually have the exact same first, middle and last name. Hasn't been a definite requirement before, but it looks like it will be now.

Will mean that airline's online booking sites must all now provide space at least for a first, middle and last name for passengers to register when they reserve a flight. Plus sex of passenger and date of birth although they're not required to get that until August. Not sure what this will mean for passengers with more than three names, or hyphenated names, or whatever.

last time I flew the TSA guy laughed at my middle name. Maybe they want to laugh at the boarding pass too.

 

[Anal Annie]

I saw this on our local news yesterday morning too. We have 2 trips booked thru Air Tran and I checked our ressies. Their website only has the 2 boxes to complete for first and last name - NOTHING for a middle name or initial. I think MY ressies are OK bcuz my first name is Lee and my middle name is Ann and is shown as such on my drivers license. But I GO BY LeeAnn so I spelled it like that in the first name box. My DH however also has both first and middle names on his drivers license and therefore NOTHING showing on his flights.

I started by calling Air Tran and the girl said they're only taking first and last names and nothing for the middle name / initial. I was like BUT it's supposed to be a new TSA rule...she was like sorry, can't help you. So I called the TSA and asked them about it. She said that the airlines were supposed to have complied by March 31 but that 3 of them have not yet. Air Tran, SW and Continental. They apparently cannot FORCE them. So I explained about DH and she said they will in all likelyhood pull him out of the security line for a separate search and body pat down but that they will probably still let him fly!!! I was you've GOT to be kidding me. So then I fired off an email to Air Tran's Customer Support to tell them to get with the program but have not heard back yet. DH's name DOES match on his passport but I doubt he will want to bring it. That's just a pain in the rump. I will watch the boards for scoop after this new change goes into effect & see how it REALLY goes.

 

[dioxide45]

There is no need to panic about any flights that you currently have a reservation for. This only effects when airlines have to collect this data when booking. It does not effect any reservations that were booked before May 15th.

 

[Anal Annie]

There is no need to panic about any flights that you currently have a reservation for. This only effects when airlines have to collect this data when booking. It does not effect any reservations that were booked before May 15th.

Do you think the TSA people are going to ask you what date you booked the flight on and wave you on thru if you say January 23? I sorta doubt it. I don't remember ever seeing a "date booked" on my boarding pass so they have no way of knowing when you booked. They will have to treat everyone the same if their ID doesn't match the name on their boarding pass.

 

[TDC Nala]

Do you think the TSA people are going to ask you what date you booked the flight on and wave you on thru if you say January 23? I sorta doubt it. I don't remember ever seeing a "date booked" on my boarding pass so they have no way of knowing when you booked. They will have to treat everyone the same if their ID doesn't match the name on their boarding pass.

Likely they will not enforce until all airlines have had a chance to bring all their booking systems up to compliance. Like in a couple of years or so.

 

[dioxide45]

I think the main goal of this along with the need for date of birth in the future is to reduce people from being trapped by the no fly lists. They will check the middle name and date of birth against the lists so fewer people will be tagged for additional screening and all around problems with the no fly list.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I think the main goal of this along with the need for date of birth in the future is to reduce people from being trapped by the no fly lists. They will check the middle name and date of birth against the lists so fewer people will be tagged for additional screening and all around problems with the no fly list.

Except that TSA doesn't do a match against anything when they examine your ID and boarding pass as you enter the "sterile area." Heck, half the time they are so into the little light and magnifying glass that they don't even look at your face.

 

[kaytieeldr]

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/bre..._pleads_n.html

Ahem. I would just like to point out that WE did not allow him on board with prohibited items. WE caught him.

Las Vegas missed all that stuff in his checked luggage


disclaimer: "WE" represents the Boston area as a whole. I have no association with the TSA, or with MassPort - except as a customer.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Another reason why I love flying so much!! More hurdles and hoops for us all to jump over and through. If I thought for a minute all this "exact name" business would increase security, I might buy into it.
But I can't.

 

[NancyIL]

My driver's license has my middle initial and my passport has my middle name. I just checked 3 upcoming flight reservations I have on American Airlines, and they have only my first and last name - even though my FF # is in the reservation and that account uses my middle initial. Hopefully when I get my first boarding passes on May 20th, American will automatically add my middle initial, since they DO have that info.

I just went to American's web site to go through the booking process, and there is NO option to add a middle initial or name. In fact it says, Important: To expedite airport check-in, enter first and last names as they appear on government issued photo IDs.

 

[BellesFavoriteBook]

*nervous* I hope this isn't true......My sister booked the tickets and this is the first I've heard of having to have the name match on the tickets....including middle Initial......My ID has my picture and my middle initital, but I doubt my ticket will have my Middle initial on it......

 

[CarolA]

My mother is in flight.

Her passport says "First Name, Middle Inital, Last Name"

Her Driver's Licensese looks the same

Her ticket says "First Name, Last Name" (I know because I bought it and have the receipt right here)

She's going to Madrid.

Don't panic!

 

[TDC Nala]

My driver's license has my middle initial and my passport has my middle name. I just checked 3 upcoming flight reservations I have on American Airlines, and they have only my first and last name - even though my FF # is in the reservation and that account uses my middle initial. Hopefully when I get my first boarding passes on May 20th, American will automatically add my middle initial, since they DO have that info.

I just went to American's web site to go through the booking process, and there is NO option to add a middle initial or name. In fact it says, Important: To expedite airport check-in, enter first and last names as they appear on government issued photo IDs.

Then maybe the whole thing is kind of about those persons who, for example, have a license in the name of "James" and a boarding pass that says "Jim" - and not about the middle name at all. Who knows. I know I'll just be putting in whatever the airline asks for.