Name Change + TSA + Disney

[nkereina]

I'm preparing to book Southwest flights tomorrow. My last name will be legally changing to my husband's in late April and at that time, I plan to switch over all my stuff to my new last name. A couple questions for anyone that has experience with this....

1) Should I book my Southwest tickets tomorrow under my new last name? Will it be an issue if my Southwest rapid rewards account is under my maiden name?

2) Our reservation is already booked under my maiden name because it never crossed my mind that my name will be changing. Will there be an issue with Disney changing my last name on the reservation if I call?

I can keep my current driver's license with my maiden name on it, it doesn't expire until 2020. But will it become invalid once a new one is issued with my new name?

Thanks all!

 

[bumbershoot]

When is your trip?

(Currently you can still take a domestic flight without any ID at all (it's on the TSA site, and it's how my dad flies), so this isn't something I'd spend toooo much time worrying about it.)

I think when you get a new license they punch the old one (maybe that's just in WA or maybe I'm making it up), so it's obvious it's not to be used as actual ID.

If the trip is months after April and you think it'll all be done by that time, just book it in your new name. If there's a chance it might not all be done (I didn't change my name but my friends make it sound like a huge obnoxious process) then book it in maiden name. Or book it in new name and bring a certified copy of your marriage certificate if you signed that in your new name as a bridging document.

It's not going to be an issue with Disney; they only need one ID per checkin, and your husband can do that. And I'm sure SW has a process for changing Rapid Rewards info.

 

[Offsides]

What will the date of your flight be? I ran into this situation and my flight was booked with my new last name and then my new license did not come in time and it was a big ordeal at the airport. They treated me like a passenger with no ID, even though I had my old ID and my marriage license showing my new name. This only happened at my home airport (Detroit). They let me on the plane I just had to go through additional screening (they went through my carry ons, took out EVERYTHING and swabbed my electronics). In Orlando they didn't even notice that the last name on my passport did not match what was on my ticket and I went through everything like normal.

As the pp noted, they did punch my license once I applied for a new one for my name change. I still had my passport with my maiden name though, so the non-valid license wasn't an issue for me.

I'm not sure about Southwest but with Delta they would not let me apply my sky miles account to my flight because the last name on my sky miles account (maiden name) did not match what was on my ticket (married name). I just had to call to get the name on my sky miles account changed though, it was easy.

 

[SteveH]

I'd call Southwest Customer relations before you book it and ask them, 1-855-234-4654. That same question shows up on their community forum, southwestaircommunity.com a number of times.

 

[Jimsig]

A quick google search for "southwest rapid rewards name change" found this:

https://www.southwest.com/html/generated/help/faqs/my_account_faq.html

Names changes are covered in the 8th topic down

 

[Jimsig]

I think when you get a new license they punch the old one (maybe that's just in WA or maybe I'm making it up), so it's obvious it's not to be used as actual ID.

Depends on the State. Here in Mass we are currently required to get a new licence every 5 years but a new pic every 10 (I think after a certain age you have to go in every 5 however). So you can renew once online and they send you the new license and you keep your old license. Even those years you have to go in they let you keep the old one. Not sure what will change when the RealID's start to be issued though.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I'm preparing to book Southwest flights tomorrow. My last name will be legally changing to my husband's in late April and at that time, I plan to switch over all my stuff to my new last name. A couple questions for anyone that has experience with this....

1) Should I book my Southwest tickets tomorrow under my new last name? Will it be an issue if my Southwest rapid rewards account is under my maiden name?

2) Our reservation is already booked under my maiden name because it never crossed my mind that my name will be changing. Will there be an issue with Disney changing my last name on the reservation if I call?

I can keep my current driver's license with my maiden name on it, it doesn't expire until 2020. But will it become invalid once a new one is issued with my new name?

Thanks all!

1 - I would book the tickets to match the name which will be used on the ID you're using for your flight. That's the easiest option. You will want to contact Southwest and update your name on your account.

2 - The Disney reservation shouldn't matter as much, name change wise, especially if you are presenting the credit card used to book the reservation. You can always explain the situation to them and present the copy of your reservation.

3 - Your driver's license issue may vary per state. Here, if you are issued a new one, your old one is confiscated.

 

[nkereina]

Thanks all! I feel better. My trip is in October and my name change will be legal in April, so I should hopefully have all the legwork done and new documents/IDs received by then... hopefully! LOL. Appreciate the help!