Quick question about updating my name to meet TSA rules..

[cigar95]

. . . . . and when I asked they told me it's not mandatory at this point and those tickets do not need to be changed.

Can't stress this point enough - right now what is mandatory is for airlines to begin *COLLECTING* all this information.

There is no scheduled date for when all this information will require a precise match at the airport, although it will probably happen at some point. Yes, it's true that some media outlets have reported otherwise - they are clueless.

For all those concerned who have tickets - there is NO NEED to stress out, and no need to change tickets you already have.

When the time comes that a precise match is required, two things will happen - first, it will be announced well in advance - no less than the eleven month booking window that most carriers use. And, second, it will be announced loudly, largely, and everywhere. (Think "digital television transition" - including at least one extension of the deadline, I'll bet.)

Think of it this way - if even a quarter of passengers failed the match, the roofs of airports all over America would be raised, air traffic would screech to a halt, and congressmen would be called in to hold hearings.

Whenever it eventually happens, this will be a policy that you won't have to hear about via a story from the dentist of your sister-in-law's mailman - it will be made clear everywhere you look.

so at the risk of having been overly verbose, the message is "Don't Worry About Precise Name Matching On Your Airline Tickets Until You Hear A Nationwide Announcement That You Can't Miss".