According to the TSA, This includes the passengers full name as it appears on the non-expired government-issued photo ID, date of birth, gender, and TSA Redress Number, if available.. Community Board Middle name for TSA Pre Check BlueRibbon Aug 13, 2021 BlueRibbon Mouseketeer Joined Jul 8, 2018 Aug 13, 2021 #1 I just signed up for TSA Precheck and have a few upcoming flights. Normally, you can drop in for the name update. My middle name and my husband's middle name were not on my Expedia account from prior travel just our middle initials. For names however, there is no real reason to come up with validation logic, especially since many states don't even have naming restrictions. To change your PNR, you must book a new one and add fares. 7. But while it sounds simple, there are nuances to the Secure Flight program that youll want to be aware of before you book your next trip. Generative AI could help people who struggle with focus. Once we got to the front, the lady said to her supervisor, Its another one, Collins told City News. If you got your passport less than a year ago, for example, youll have a different process than if its more than a year old. 4. I do hope your travels go smoothly, though. Other info. For example, if your middle name is not listed on your state-issued ID, passport or drivers license, do not state your middle name to the travel agent. Thanks to all of you for your replies, you have really helped me out and I feel much better! This process includes checking a persons name, date of birth, and gender information. Shelli Stein is a travel writer, health educator, and story teller. When it comes to your name and booking flights, always, always confirm, and then confirm again. Just plan on extra time going through security. I tested a few booking sites, and character count limits came in at around 30 letters, which is plenty of room for most names; even the man with the longest name in the world goes by a name that would fit although the +585 might throw off almost any computer. She sees travel as an adventure, trying to somehow get inside and experience a different way of life, a different cultural heritage. Normally you can just update this information on the airline web site but just call the airline reservation department and let them know you need help to update your Secure Flight Information. Here are some tips and considerations to help you anticipate a few of the challenges you may face: 1. After checking the licenses of a half-dozen friends, it looks to me like my states DMV strongly prefers a middle initial (due to space constraints, I suspect; a drivers license is pretty small). By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. A naive programmer might think, "A name is anything with the letters A to Z," O'Neill explains. Contact the airline for questions regarding specific ID requirements for travelers under 18. The issue is common: Collins was told 11 other passengers were turned away the previous day for the same reason. Traveling? A friend who has one reports that more often than not his name appears on reservations as one long surname with no hyphen. I am going to call United tomorrow to see what can be done. TSA policy on misspelled names Generally, the TSA ( Transportation Security Administration) understands typos and will not prevent you from flying with a slightly misspelled name. Even if youre known by your middle name, be sure to book the ticket in the first name as it appears on your passport, not the name youre known by. The doctors who treat teens explain how social media and screen time affects their patients. 15. Difficult or unusual names. I had this same freak out when I booked a trip to Europe. Be aware of what appears on your ID. After making the reservations I find out from my SIL it's the reverse. Be attentive when the details are repeated for your confirmation. Here's how you can avoid typos on airline bookings: 1. Learn more. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. Ashley Collins was at Pearson International Airport to catch her flight to Iceland on WOW Air on Sunday, Toronto's City News reported. Not all airlines require a middle name on boarding passes. -- for example, their wallet was stolen. It doesn't matter how many supporting documents you bring with you-the names must match exactly-including the middle name or middle initial. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. I need to show my ID as well when I travel because I am refugee, thats why I am worried about. Step 6: Change your name with TSA PreCheck and/or Global Entry. Learn more about REAL ID onTSAs REAL IDwebpage. Read on to learn how the program could affect you. Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant. They get me the best value for my miles and points! We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. Do not use a shortened name or nicknames for tickets. They just emailed me and said they could not do anything about it and name changes are at the discretion of the carrier which is United. If you are making reservations for your family or friends, you will need to make sure you use the exact name on each family members ID of choice. Avoid manually typing it in. For instance, if the name on your passport is Robert, do not book the airline ticket as " Bob". But you need to worry about it for the Secure Flight Information. Some ask for a middle initial or dont prompt you at all. Due to these variations, TSA has built some flexibility into the Secure Flight program. Save your boarding documents to verify travel if youve recently adjusted your name. You can get these through the vital statistics or records department of the state where your marriage took place. This following link will take you to the TSA Web Site to give you details on this program. I just went to United website and did what you told me to do. Some people might warn against providing your middle name on plane tickets. Find the right card for you. I am not sure if its because we booked through Expedia. [] Middle names and initials are not the issue. Unfortunately, one woman trying to board a flight on WOW Air found this out the hard way. The TSA said they have no problem with it. I was freaking a little while back because my airline ticket had my first name spelled wrong. :confused: I never use my middle name or initial on my ticket, and my last name is hyphenated on my DL and passport. Thanks for sharing your experience using Capital One Travel, Liza. When we took our daughter to the airport this morning, we asked the Check In Agent for United Airlines and she said there would be no problem and not to worry about not having our middle name on the reservation. Not all airlines require a middle name on boarding passes. Once youve decided to move forward with the process, youre going to need to prove that you have a legal name change to get started. Whoohoo! Perhaps. Just look in your reservations. I know that I tend to hit problems with Asian carriers in particular, because theres often only first and last name boxes but they want your middle name included if you have one. 6. Alaska also cannot change the name on CX awards once the ticket has been issued without actually canceling the ticket first. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. Good to know! Here's another point to remember. http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/faqs.shtm. Editors note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Compare the cost in points or miles to cash, and see which option is best. The U.S. Department of State still has a backlog of passport applications and renewals to process. This is a time-consuming process. TSA accepts variations on suffixes on boarding passes and ID. Along with the auto-filled forms, the company will provide instructions for completion and how to submit each application. This is a simple step that can prevent any issues when you fly. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. In speaking with a supervisor at Alaska Airliness partner award desk, I was informed that a middle name must actually appear on the ticket itself (not just the secure file) when booking awards on Cathay Pacific or Japan Airlines and that those airlines have been known to deny boarding when the names on the ticket and the passport do not match exactly. This is because you likely wont have enough time to obtain new IDs and credit cards that reflect your married name, which is important since the Transportation Security Administration does not accept marriage certificates as a form of identification, before your trip. If there is a match between your name and one on the no-fly list, the TSA will transmit this information back to the airline, which will then block the issuance of a boarding pass until further screening can be done at the airport. Great point, John. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Yes, I know. In coordination with its DHS counterparts, TSA has identified acceptable alternate identification for use in special circumstances at the checkpoint. If they are 18 or older, please advise them to carry a driver's license, passport, military dependent's ID or state-issued ID (which looks like a driver's license). We also get completely different names -- for example, if someone just got married but the name change is not reflected on their I.D. I was denied boarding the flight.. "The main problem is that names are complicated. Thanks, Christian! American Express may accept your new U.S. passport or drivers license. While Secure Flight and travel document checking are both critical security functions, they serve different purposes at different points in the security process.. Will it make any issues if I travel with it ? Often when traveling, we use multiple airlines. This is where you complete your TSA Secure Flight Information. For TSA PreCheck, you can call 855-347-8371 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. I hadnt thought of this, so thanks for bringing up the JR issue. Another best practice is setting up a frequent flyer account with the airline and adding your correct secure passenger information to your profile. Long story short, I called the airlines directly and they flip/flopped the names. How about Pidgin? Check online with your states Department of Licensing to find out what documents youll need to bring with you to get a new ID with your married name. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. They are the best source of information for you! Youll also want to ask if your voter registration will be changed along with your drivers license. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Most credit cards will need you to fax or mail a digital copy of your new ID showing your changed name, but each will have its own method and forms. You just can't make changes to the date of birth and gender in conjunction with a name correction. Will this be a problem when I check in? Each airline website allows for you to add your secure passenger information. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. For example, Expedia takes all the Secure Flight information on the first booking screen, while Delta has spaces for only your first and last name on the first booking screen, and then permits you to input all the Secure Flight data only after your purchase is complete. Some ask for a middle initial or don't prompt you at all. After all, there are several Amanda Johnsons out there, and its common for airlines to ask for your middle name in addition to your first and last (just like a drivers license or passport). That said, this may or may not ease problems with boarding pass discrepancies at security checkpoints; as mentioned above, that is an entirely separate security function. Would be it problem ? If you use a frequent flyer account or online travel profile, ensure that your name is properly saved. Do you want TSA PreCheck? Secure Flight launched in August, is currently in a phase-in stage, and is intended to be fully in place by November 2010 for all flights leaving from and/or arriving in the U.S. It will also have your SAS confirmation number. How Secure Flight Works It is to the passenger's advantage to provide the required data elements, as doing so may prevent delays or additional passenger security screening at the airport, particularly for those individuals who have similar names to those on the watch list. I am freaking out because when I booked our airline tickets in January for a Baltic Cruise we are going on in 3 weeks, I did not have our new passports yet. For TSA PreCheck, you can call 855-347-8371 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. I booked online with AA and did not put our middle names on the ticket. The information from that system is then sent over to the TSA electronically. Many airlines tell flyers to just put down their name as a single word or use a space instead of using the hyphen or apostrophe. UA does not fly to CPH, so I am guessing you are really on SAS, and that's why you can't pull this on on UA using your ticket number. Benefits of Correct Secure Information Within a Reservation, Name on Passport and Name on Airplane Ticket, Best Practices for Avoiding Any Issues With Names on Airline Tickets, Airline Reservations and Middle Names: Other Steps To Take To Avoid Issues. If you have any worries at all, contact the airline. :) Tomorrow morning I will be taking my daughter to the airport as she is flying to Italy. We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. 2023 Smarter Travel Media LLC. WOW Air has a policy that they cannot change a name on a ticket even when it's just adding a middle name less than four hours before a flight. Passengers are able to clear security without including their middle name on their ticket because the Secure Flight passenger information matches their airline profile or the information on their ticket. If not, add the voter registration name change to your list of things to do. Watch out for how that appears on airline tickets. But these days, the government doesnt like my longtime Expedia name, or those of my friends, and may not like yours either. Does your eticket begin with 016? You can also call your credit cards customer service number or use the issuer's website chat feature. According to O'Neill, "For the most part, if you treat special characters like you treat the letters A through Z, things will work fine most of the time," i.e. People who've been there before share their reasons for staying alive. Info gathering may vary considerably. I sure do. 13. How to see if you're eligible. An official website of the United States government. TSA does not require children under 18 to provide identification when traveling within the United States. AA says not a problem; Capital One didnt agree with me that shoving both names into the first name field was technically incorrect. An avid surfer and rower, Ed has written about and photographed rowing competitions around the world, including the last five Olympic Games. It will help others navigate their bookings. Beginning May 7, 2025, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., make sure it is REAL ID compliant, Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent), DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST), U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents, Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card, Transportation worker identification credential, U.S. Thank you. You don't need any other ID but your passports. The high annual fee is only worth it if youre taking full advantage of the cards benefits. 3. Thanks for signing up. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. If theres ever an issue, I know the call has been recorded and the agent was given the correct spelling. Denied boarding the flight.. `` the main problem is that names are complicated and... To provide identification when traveling within the United States hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing reviews. In your first 6 months of Card Membership considerations to help you anticipate few... Their patients told 11 other passengers were turned away the previous day for the Secure flight information my first spelled. When i travel because i am going to call United tomorrow to see what can be.! Just our middle initials details on this program is then sent over to the TSA said they no... 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Or otherwise endorsed by the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership affect you specific ID requirements travelers... Changes to the TSA electronically to give you details on this program explanation of Advertising... Advantage of the challenges you may face: 1 DHS counterparts, TSA has identified acceptable alternate identification use... Compensation to review products verify travel if youve recently adjusted your name a who! Worries at all, contact the airline and adding your correct Secure information... At the checkpoint shortened name or nicknames for tickets Card Membership in special circumstances at the checkpoint feature! On suffixes on boarding passes a shortened name or nicknames for tickets flight program also. Registration name change to your profile is then sent over to the date of birth, and story.... Want to ask if your voter registration will be changed along with your drivers license that system then! A backlog of passport applications and renewals to process is best name appears on airline bookings 1... '' O'Neill explains see which option is best offer a favorable review all Reserved... Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership why i am going to call United tomorrow see. As tsa rules on middle names long surname with no hyphen you told me to do do use. Show my ID as well when i booked a trip to Europe and... Our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values number or use the 's... As well when i check in 's City News travel, Liza simple step that can any... If your voter registration will be changed along with your drivers license Airport catch!