New identification rules?

[mcdomzal]

I have heard that beginning 5/15 if the name on your ticket doesn't exactly match the name on your identification, i.e. middle initial, etc., that you won't be allowed to board the plane.

Has anyone heard or experienced this? We booked our flights months ago and the names on our tickets are not an exact match. I would hate to get to the airport and not be allowed on the plane!

[liamsaunt]

It is true, but it applies to tickets PURCHASED on or after 5-15, not people traveling on tickets bought a while back. Here is the email I got from my business travel agent:


A new program from TSA that has just gone into effect which will require EXACT name matches (including middle names and initials) with I.D.

Briefly the plan is that TSA will want the following information on tickets purchased on or after the dates shown here (2009):


May 15: Exact name match (including middle name/initials) on domestic tickets with the I.D. presented at check-in

Aug 15: Date of birth and gender for domestic flights

Oct 31: Exact name match on international tickets with Passport I.D.

Date of birth and gender for international(to/from/over USA)

The biggest difficulty is when the name on Driver's license is different than on passport. For domestic air tickets, we have to make sure the name matches the Driver's License; otherwise they would have to travel with their passport.

Frequent flyer memberships may have to be updated as well but the jury’s still out on that — see comments in the attachment.

[mcdomzal]

Thanks! That puts my mind at ease. I couldn't find anything on the TSA website about it.

[mbw1024]

I'm really bad with my name. My given name is Mary Elizabeth but my whole life I've been called Mary Beth so I'm all over the map but I seem to always revert to the legal name on the important stuff - so license, passport, etc is Mary E.

Make sure your airline accounts are a match as well. If you are a member and you just sign in and buy a ticket your name is already filled in most likely.

[mcdomzal]

Actually, I just found it on TSA and they just say as of May 15 the full name requirement goes into effect. It doesn't differentiate between when the ticket was purchased.....

[mcdomzal]

OK, read it again and I think I get it. Like Liamsaunt said, I think they are referring to tickets purchased after 5/15. The wording isn't exactly clear to me, but I believe that that is the only way that makes sense because so many people purchase their tickets well in advance.

[Teresa_Rae]

Hmm...so if your name is Mary M. Smith and your ticket says Mary Smith you won't be allowed on the plane?

I have two middle names (I kept my maiden name as a second middle name) so this could get complicated.

[Gromit]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing.

My maiden name is my middle name and my middle name appears on my ID. But when I book tickets I just use my first and last name. Not the middle.

But the first and last will match.

So what the hell??

ALl I can say is is some SOB tries to keep me off my plane to STJ I am calling my Congressman (thankfully I am friends with him).

And they are going to have to arrest my ass because I will pitch a FIT.

Effing TSA!!

[toes in the sand]

As far back as 2003 I had a TSA agent stop me and point out the difference in my passport, ticket and drivers license. She said that in the "future" I would be at least selected for search and questions because of the discrepancies.

[Lulu76]

Seriously? My full name is Laura Jo and it says that on my driver's license and passport. However, I have never, to the best of my recollection, been given the option to put my full middle name on my airline reservation.

I wonder if this will cause issues with credit cards going through, because most places want the name on your card when you're using it to make a purchase, and they all say Laura J.

Ay, I can see a big mess with this.

[Teresa_Rae]

My passport and license both have my full name with both middle names spelled out, so they match. But I've never had a plane ticket with both of my full middle names on it. And if I remember correctly when I booked on Spirit a few weeks ago there wasn't an option at all for middle name, initial(s) or otherwise.

[chrisn]

All our passports have everyone's full middle name listed. I don't use middle names but our tickets were booked before May 15th. Guess I better call the airline and find out what's what. What a PITA!

[Bill L.]

This might be just me being paranoid but I'm going to have a problem with a plane ticket that has not only my full name but also my DOB. That's a lot of information if someone were to find the receipt if it was not disposed of correctly and use it to steal my identity.

Adjusting my tinfoil hat and off to have a drink.
Bill