Middle names?

[lillykat]

When we booked our flights there wasn't a spot to enter our middle names - but I recently thought I read you need it to fly. Jet blue is now asking for new bookings. Do I need to call them an add this or do I need to add it at all? We fly in Mid May. I don't mind calling and adding it but I don't want to get to the airport and have a problem.

 

[Jestocost]

The issue is that the name on your airline ticket is supposed to exactly match what appears on your ID.

All airlines were required to have their systems set up to take middle names by sometime last August, IIRC. So, I assume you booked your tickets before that or that your airline was out of compliance. (I don't think every airline had their systems updated by the deadline.)

If that's the case, TSA should be "flexible" as their official policy states. Of course, there are plenty of TSA agents out there who don't know understand their policies completely or just choose to be a pain and cause you problems.

If the airline will update your tickets to include all of your middle names, then you might want to do it just to avoid the (relatively small) potential that it could cause some delays at the airport. You all likely will be able to fly regardless as you can even fly without proper ID in most cases, but will have to go through extra screening.

 

[lillykat]

That was what I thought. Thank you - I will simply call and have them add it. It is no skin off my back to make the call and it will just make things easier at the airport.

 

[cigar95]

This is a requirement that will be in place at some (unspecified) point in the future. For the foreseeable future, it will not be an issue. The only thing that actually went into effect last summer was the requirement to collect your sex and date of birth at the time of reservation.

If and when it does become an issue, you can be certain the airlines and the TSA will trumpet it loudly, and with a great deal of lead time. I would guess it will be announced at least eleven months before it goes into effect, so that every ticket sold will be reserved with the necessary information.

The last thing the airlines and the TSA want is for 60 percent of their passengers to be denied boarding or requiring secondary screening because of some administrative nit.

 

[NewDCLGuy]

Remember that you only want your middle name on your ticket if it's on your ID.

 

[ancestry]

I booked my tickets with Jet Blue in January (about 2 weeks before they did their computer system upgrade). At that time they only asked for first name and last name -- no middle name or middle initial. I thought it was strange they weren't asking for it but figured they knew what they were doing.

To the OP, most likely the same thing happened with you. You booked before they did their upgrade.

I decided to not call Jet Blue as everyone who booked prior to their system upgrade in late January wasn't asked for a middle name so I know this isn't something isolated to just my group. I thought that perhaps they may ask for the middle names when we check-in at the 24 hour mark.

 

[disneydaddy3]

We started using our middle names on airline tickets for the 5 of us--2 adults, 3 children after we got our passports on all flights--Domestic or International.

 

[shan136]

I booked our tickets last night with JB and the "middle name" area on the form said that filling that information in was recommended. However, my husband and I only have our middle initial on our licenses and when I put just our initial in the system wouldn't take it. We elected to leave that area blank. I am hoping that it works out okay.

 

[DebbieB]

This program is being phased in. If they did not ask you for it when you booked, don't worry about it.

 

[lillykat]

I booked my tickets with Jet Blue in January (about 2 weeks before they did their computer system upgrade). At that time they only asked for first name and last name -- no middle name or middle initial. I thought it was strange they weren't asking for it but figured they knew what they were doing.

To the OP, most likely the same thing happened with you. You booked before they did their upgrade.

I decided to not call Jet Blue as everyone who booked prior to their system upgrade in late January wasn't asked for a middle name so I know this isn't something isolated to just my group. I thought that perhaps they may ask for the middle names when we check-in at the 24 hour mark.

Yes we booked back in Nov or Dec so it was before they were asking for the Middle initial.