Name on ticket and driver's license don't match

[kidsrfun]

Has anyone had any experience with this? I gave my daughter and daughter-in-law surprise tickets to Orlando (with me of course) for a christmas gift. We all leave on Friday. Problem is... I got the ticket in my dils married name (they have been married for 3 years!!) and come to find out, she never changed her license, so it still has her maiden name on it. I called southwest and they added her maiden name to the ticket, but can't take off her married name. The girl said to bring their marriage license which will show both last names and all should be good. Sounded as if it's something that commonly occurs. Anyway, now my son and husband are all nervous and worried that there is going to be an issue with the TSA agent near the scanning machines. Has anyone ever had this happen? If so, how did it go?

TIA

 

[robinb]

Did she legally change her name to to her married name? In that case, it's about time that she should just get a new license and everything will match.

 

[kidsrfun]

She went down to the DMV last week to change everything and they said it will take 4 weeks for her new license to arrive. Unfortunately, since we are leaving on Friday, chances aren't good of getting it in time.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Something like this just happened to a friend of mine in Miami....she had major issues and nearly missed her flight. In her case it was to do with an initial. She goes by her middle name so the ticket had her usual name....(ex)J Marie Smith but her ID says Jane Marie Smith. When she checked in at the airline counter they missed this detail and sent her on to security....security denied her and sent her back to the counter to straighten it out. She spent a very long time at the counter with several staff and a manager. You have to have ID that matches your ticket exactly. She had a few pieces of ID that had name and a few with picture but nothing matched exactly. With literally a few minutes to spare she remembered one other piece of ID that she had(which is not a legal form of ID but is government issued)....they allowed her to go through.

The frustrating part of it was that they all agreed that she was who she said she was and the staff felt really bad about the whole thing. She had 5 different pieces of ID and still had a problem.

 

[robinb]

Really? That long? Wow. Maybe it takes so long for the name change. Here in WI when I renew my Driver's License I get the new one right away.

At least she has all the name change proof is since she just needed it last week. I personally don't think she'll have much of an issue with the TSA. I have seen the TSA allow someone through security with no driver's license at all. She (and her bags) might have to go through extra screening so she should be prepared for a pat-down or through the body scanner if you have one at your airport.

 

[backyardponder]

When taking the marriage certificate, make sure it is an official copy issued by the appropriate government agency (In Illinois, it would be the county clerk's office). Be sure it has either the raised seal or whatever seal they use (here it is a blue seal). They probably wouldn't accept a church issued document.

Since she went to the DMV, I assume she has the "official" document.

 

[kidsrfun]

Maybe I should have her get to the airport with lots of time to spare just in case it's a big process and then meet her after the screening machines when I get there. I have to work Friday afternoon, or I'd get there early with her. I think I'll call Southwest again and see if someone different will just take her married name off the ticket so that they can match. It wouldn't be so bad if she just got flagged to go through the extra screening process, but if she has to go back and forth, it could take time. She has debit/credit cards with her married name, but her license has her maiden name. Nothing has both names and that's what the ticket currently says. Hmmm...

 

[tjmw2727]

Southwest can't change the ticket - but if the fares are the same and the flight hasn't sold out you can cancel her ticket and use the travel funds to just re-book under her maiden name. Southwest is one of the few airlines that doesn't charge to make changes like this. Just be sure when you fill out the travelers information it matches her current ID.

Altenately she may be able to get a non-driver ID at the DMV and IME they are issued the same day.

Finally - if none of the above are an option..... allow extra time. Technically you don't need ID to fly but she should be prepared to show any documents she can gather even a work ID if it has her new name and photo.

Here is the section on the TSA website that deals with ID, this is really the best source of info for this.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm

I fly a couple times a month and the security screening is inconsistant at best so be prepared and be patient.

Good Luck

 

[bumbershoot]

Here in WI when I renew my Driver's License I get the new one right away.

Not all states give you the license at that time; some mail it to you.




I can't find the TSA page right now, but there's a page discussing what happens if you lose your ID, or just don't have it with you. It just takes TIME. Now she'll need that time both ways, of course!

Just bring all the documentation she's got, go early, and make sure she's patient!

 

[kidsrfun]

All is well at this point. I called the airline and they made a BIG exception and changed the name on her ticket to reflect the name on her license. When they found out that I had purchased the ticket as a surprise Christmas gift, they were really sweet about the whole thing. I know that this is a one time exception... and believe me, if I ever buy tickets as a surprise again, i'll sneak into the persons wallet to see what name is on their license!!


Thanks for all of the responses. I appreciate the help!

 

[Sam33]

Something like this just happened to a friend of mine in Miami....she had major issues and nearly missed her flight. In her case it was to do with an initial. She goes by her middle name so the ticket had her usual name....(ex)J Marie Smith but her ID says Jane Marie Smith. When she checked in at the airline counter they missed this detail and sent her on to security....security denied her and sent her back to the counter to straighten it out. She spent a very long time at the counter with several staff and a manager. You have to have ID that matches your ticket exactly. She had a few pieces of ID that had name and a few with picture but nothing matched exactly. With literally a few minutes to spare she remembered one other piece of ID that she had(which is not a legal form of ID but is government issued)....they allowed her to go through.

The frustrating part of it was that they all agreed that she was who she said she was and the staff felt really bad about the whole thing. She had 5 different pieces of ID and still had a problem.

I am leaving for vacation on Thursday and had my father in law but the wrong name on my ticket (Samantha LeFever on the ticket, but I haven't changed my name yet) The Southwest people told me they could add on my Maiden name and all I'd need was my Driver's license with my maiden name and my marriage certificate showing that I married a guy with LeFever for the last name. So I have zero identification that says Samantha Irwin-LeFever but that's what she changed the ticket to. Am I going to have issues with this?

 

[raydurz]

Even though your issue was fixed, I'd like to add that if you would have had an original or certified copy (not a photocopy you do at home)of the marriage license, that would have worked. I work for the TSA and this happens at my airport a couple of times a week. Sometimes they may call for a supervisor or a "specialist".

But its still a good idea to get there early in case there is an issue, because I can't speak for all of the employees. Sometimes you get someone who doesn't know exactly what they are doing

 

[dancin Disney style]

All is well at this point. I called the airline and they made a BIG exception and changed the name on her ticket to reflect the name on her license. When they found out that I had purchased the ticket as a surprise Christmas gift, they were really sweet about the whole thing. I know that this is a one time exception... and believe me, if I ever buy tickets as a surprise again, i'll sneak into the persons wallet to see what name is on their license!!


Thanks for all of the responses. I appreciate the help!

That's great news.....I'm sure you feel sooooo much better now. Let the excitement begin!!!!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I am leaving for vacation on Thursday and had my father in law but the wrong name on my ticket (Samantha LeFever on the ticket, but I haven't changed my name yet) The Southwest people told me they could add on my Maiden name and all I'd need was my Driver's license with my maiden name and my marriage certificate showing that I married a guy with LeFever for the last name. So I have zero identification that says Samantha Irwin-LeFever but that's what she changed the ticket to. Am I going to have issues with this?

I have no idea if you will have an issue.....I wasn't there. I was just re-telling my friends story.

My feeling is that you will have a bit of a problem. I would be trying to get that ticket changed.....keep calling them or else cancel and rebook a new ticket.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

My feeling is that you will have a bit of a problem. I would be trying to get that ticket changed.....keep calling them or else cancel and rebook a new ticket.

OP did get the name changed on the ticket. I am really surprised SWA did this.

Otherwise, it really wouldn't have been such a big deal. Just bring the old DL and the marriage certificate. No problem.