Wrong initial!

[Julia Says]

I was just about to check in for my flight when I realized that I used the wrong middle initial! My DL has my maiden name as my middle name, but I used the initial of my given middle name. (I feel like a huge idiot right now! I KNOW better!!)

I called AA, got a very nice, sympathetic CSR, who said she would fix it in the TSA system, but that it shouldn't be a problem anyway. I asked if I should bring my marriage license and she suggested bringing a copy of it, just in case.

Crisis averted, I hope. We'll see what happens tomorrow, I guess! Boy was I about to freak out! I was googling while on hold and reading horror stories about having to pay change fees, etc., because of a name being wrong.

 

[sam_gordon]

I called AA, got a very nice, sympathetic CSR, who said she would fix it in the TSA system, but that it shouldn't be a problem anyway. I asked if I should bring my marriage license and she suggested bringing a copy of it, just in case.

Crisis averted, I hope. We'll see what happens tomorrow, I guess! Boy was I about to freak out! I was googling while on hold and reading horror stories about having to pay change fees, etc., because of a name being wrong.

I'm not sure what TSA system she's talking about unless it's one that looks for people on a "no fly" list. Granted, I don't fly often, but the last time I flew there was a TSA official looking at your boarding pass and your ID. They weren't comparing to a 'system'.

My .02... get to the airport early, wait at the counter and get a boarding pass with a name that matches your ID. If they say you have to pay a "change" fee, ask for a supervisor. Be courteous but firm.

I would think you would probably be ok with the wrong initial between the boarding pass and your ID, but it would depend on the TSA official checking.

 

[erin7075]

We were given A LOT of grief both at MCO AND at BWI when we flew out last week by TSA. My husband's first name is a family name "Lealon". However, he has ALWAYS gone by "Lee" and on his Drivers license, it is "Lealon". When he did his boarding pass, he used "Lee". The TSA agents at Security in both airports nearly wouldn't let us through and almost made us go have the boarding pass changed and get back in line. I'm not sure why they didn't but they let us through. From now on, we'll always have our boarding passes match our names exactly.

I don't know if that will make any difference with your name, being just an initial but that was our experience. Good luck!

 

[JandT'smom]

Had it happen before and the Airline corrected the Middle initial in the computer for us no problem. Had no trouble with security out of Chicago.

 

[dudspizza]

It is always important that the name your book your ticket for is the same as on your ID.

Lealon and Lee are very different to some TSA folks, even though you know they are the same.

As far as simply having the wrong initial, there shouldn't be any issue....

duds

 

[Julia Says]

I'm not sure what TSA system she's talking about unless it's one that looks for people on a "no fly" list. Granted, I don't fly often, but the last time I flew there was a TSA official looking at your boarding pass and your ID. They weren't comparing to a 'system'.

My .02... get to the airport early, wait at the counter and get a boarding pass with a name that matches your ID. If they say you have to pay a "change" fee, ask for a supervisor. Be courteous but firm.

I would think you would probably be ok with the wrong initial between the boarding pass and your ID, but it would depend on the TSA official checking.

Sorry, my wording was a little off there- I don't remember exactly how she phrased it, but basically, my boarding pass has my given initial, but in the computer system it has my maiden initial. We will get there early anyway, and I'll have a copy of my marriage license with me just in case.