Middle name shown on passport but not flight tickets

[TraveltoParty]

Sounds good. But make sure that you don’t fly into certain ME counties.

Are certain ME countries a lot stricter? My flight home I'll have to transit through Dubai

Post automatically merged: Apr 7, 2022

I think the much bigger issue here is, will CX actually fly to Barcelona at all? The May schedule uploaded a few days ago (see CX forum), had LHR, CDG, FRA, and another European airport I think being serviced twice per month (or similar). All other European destinations are gone for now. I am not convinced that CX will/can scale this up that quickly. If I were you, I would certainly book Plan B now.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll have a sus of what you just said and start a plan B!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are certain ME countries a lot stricter? My flight home I'll have to transit through Dubai

Post automatically merged: Apr 7, 2022

Thanks for the heads up, I'll have a sus of what you just said and start a plan B!

My transit through DXB just before covid, Qfff issued ticket on EK, no middle names…. not an issue.

 

[bam71]

Never bothered with my middle name on ticket. Never had an issue travelling to US, Middle East, Europe - anywhere!

 

[andye]

I'd avoid removing your middle name from passport as it can cause difficulties outside airline tickets.
My middle name is awful and it was never on my UK passport and hence Australian permanent residency visa
When it came to applying for citizenship, I had to sign a Stat Dec renouncing the middle name
I have sometimes had questions about the middle name when applying for things for my UK-born children that require their birth certificates (which have my full name) to prove I'm the parent
My medical registration however has the full name from my birth certificate, so my patients can all have a giggle when they are given appointments to see me

 

[TraveltoParty]

My transit through DXB just before covid, Qfff issued ticket on EK, no middle names…. not an issue.

Glad to hear, thanks!

Post automatically merged: Apr 8, 2022

Never bothered with my middle name on ticket. Never had an issue travelling to US, Middle East, Europe - anywhere!

Very reassuring, definitely needed all these responses haha

 

[TraveltoParty]

I'd avoid removing your middle name from passport as it can cause difficulties outside airline tickets.
My middle name is awful and it was never on my UK passport and hence Australian permanent residency visa
When it came to applying for citizenship, I had to sign a Stat Dec renouncing the middle name
I have sometimes had questions about the middle name when applying for things for my UK-born children that require their birth certificates (which have my full name) to prove I'm the parent
My medical registration however has the full name from my birth certificate, so my patients can all have a giggle when they are given appointments to see me

Thanks andye for the insight. My middle name ain't so pretty either either lol

I definitely was speaking emotionally, it does seem like it's more trouble than it's worth. Just have to be extra careful when booking flight tickets, lesson learned!

 

[TraveltoParty]

I think the much bigger issue here is, will CX actually fly to Barcelona at all? The May schedule uploaded a few days ago (see CX forum), had LHR, CDG, FRA, and another European airport I think being serviced twice per month (or similar). All other European destinations are gone for now. I am not convinced that CX will/can scale this up that quickly. If I were you, I would certainly book Plan B now.

Think I'll definitely have to rebook once Cathay cancels my scheduled bookings. Will be a pain since I won't be notified until end of this month when they release the June schedule.

Do people know how quick points are refunded when a flight is cancelled? I assume since it's not a Qantas flight it'll take a little longer.

 

[ellen10]

I had the same problem on flights we took 2.5 years ago. We had 6 different flights, with various airlines CX, BA,IB,QR. It was an award booking and my only option to change the names was to cancel the booking and start again (which wasn't going to happen!).

I stressed about it so much, asked lots of questions on this site and some other sites. I was reassured by everyone that it would not be a problem. Held my breath as we checked in to our first CX flight (all ok and I didn't even think of it again the whole trip!).

Have a great trip.

 

[TraveltoParty]

I had the same problem on flights we took 2.5 years ago. We had 6 different flights, with various airlines CX, BA,IB,QR. It was an award booking and my only option to change the names was to cancel the booking and start again (which wasn't going to happen!).

I stressed about it so much, asked lots of questions on this site and some other sites. I was reassured by everyone that it would not be a problem. Held my breath as we checked in to our first CX flight (all ok and I didn't even think of it again the whole trip!).

Have a great trip.

Thanks for sharing Ellen! I feel reassured with everyone's experiences.

Now I have to stress about the high probability of CX flights being cancelled

 

[exLXCXFF]

BA, EK, Virgin not returning to HK until Sept/Oct based on article on ET published today. I think that chances are low that CX will run.

Based on the refund & call centre thread, returning points can take anything from a couple of hours to a couple of months. It’s a total gamble atm, albeit I haven’t seen a CX cancellation experience recently.

 

[drron]

My first international flight was 56 years ago. I have never had my middle name on my BP. When I ticketed with AA it would have my middle initial. Never been pulled up for not having a middle name.

 

[Lynnelanne]

I Am a recently retired lecturer. My University used to always book tickets with ‘Dr.’ which I am of course but would not normally use in a non-uni setting. Multiple times the doctor part has been tacked onto my Christian name making the spelling absolutely wrong. So my name is, let’s say Fred, it’s typed as Drfed. I’ve tried multiple times to get this eliminated but it keeps cropping up. I’ve never been knocked back on an international flight. I suspect they see these things all the time.

 

[TraveltoParty]

BA, EK, Virgin not returning to HK until Sept/Oct based on article on ET published today. I think that chances are low that CX will run.

Based on the refund & call centre thread, returning points can take anything from a couple of hours to a couple of months. It’s a total gamble atm, albeit I haven’t seen a CX cancellation experience recently.

Yep, definitely not an ideal situation. I have to wait until the end of this month before the June schedule comes out. Won't know my next move until then and my flight is on the 7th of June

 

[TraveltoParty]

I Am a recently retired lecturer. My University used to always book tickets with ‘Dr.’ which I am of course but would not normally use in a non-uni setting. Multiple times the doctor part has been tacked onto my Christian name making the spelling absolutely wrong. So my name is, let’s say Fred, it’s typed as Drfed. I’ve tried multiple times to get this eliminated but it keeps cropping up. I’ve never been knocked back on an international flight. I suspect they see these things all the time.

Good to hear that it never caused any issues as I heard first name matching is much stricter.

Post automatically merged: Apr 8, 2022

My first international flight was 56 years ago. I have never had my middle name on my BP. When I ticketed with AA it would have my middle initial. Never been pulled up for not having a middle name.

Thanks ddron. The general consensus here is that omitting the middle name isn't a big deal. Puts me at ease now.

 

[prozac]

Firstly, welcome to AFF TraveltoParty.

Think I'll definitely have to rebook once Cathay cancels my scheduled bookings. Will be a pain since I won't be notified until end of this month when they release the June schedule.

Do people know how quick points are refunded when a flight is cancelled? I assume since it's not a Qantas flight it'll take a little longer.

If your ticket is likely to be cancelled, I think you can bank it will, it will happen around 35-40 days prior to flying. You will receive an email to that effect. Refund of points seems to depend on where you are in your account reporting calendar at time of cancellation so it may not show on your next statement but will on the following one. AM know how many points you have if you are re-booking.

I think the much bigger issue here is, will CX actually fly to Barcelona at all? The May schedule uploaded a few days ago (see CX forum), had LHR, CDG, FRA, and another European airport I think being serviced twice per month (or similar). All other European destinations are gone for now. I am not convinced that CX will/can scale this up that quickly. If I were you, I would certainly book Plan B now.

The Euro schedule for April is pretty skinny.


May is a small improvement. June has not been published yet. TraveltoParty, you might be lucky, but don't hold your breath.

 

[jxv]

I wonder if anyone here has had experience of being denied boarding their flight.

Mrs jxv, who has two middle names, which I had never before bothered with, was denied boarding on BV (blue express, an LCC), for a flight MXP-TIA. Luckily we were early and I could arrange a name change at their airport service desk for €80. The ticket originally cost €99! Included was extra cost of seats near the front. There were only about 20 pax and we were told to sit in the back for weight distribution. It also was the most turbulent flight we have ever experienced. Two hours of wild bouncing and swinging making drinks and meals service impossible.

I checked their website and it only asked for “first name”. When I later wanted to show someone back home, this had been changed to enter “first and middle name(s)” in the single input field.

 

[LondonAussie]

Interestingly my most recent WF international ticket came as Josephine Q Public - despite the fact that my QF FF profile has my full name of Josephine Quintessential Public, as does my passport. This has never happened before and I also wondered if I should call to change it. I’m going to Japan, QF flights. What do you think, Brains Trust?

I've never put my middle name on bookings and never had an issue.
Japan was the only place that someone seemed to notice or care in the slightest, where without comment the check in agent wrote my missing middle name onto the boarding pass with a pen.

 

[Quickstatus]

passport has two middle names.

We can trump that
My kids have 3 middle names (another story over a few beers). In fact there is also a hyphen between the 2nd and 3rd which does not seem to translate to tickets

Never a problem anywhere - even when ticket only showed first and last. Even in PEK
But usually when we book tickets we include the name “as indicated on passport” which is the technical requirement.

 

[TraveltoParty]

Firstly, welcome to AFF TraveltoParty.

If your ticket is likely to be cancelled, I think you can bank it will, it will happen around 35-40 days prior to flying. You will receive an email to that effect. Refund of points seems to depend on where you are in your account reporting calendar at time of cancellation so it may not show on your next statement but will on the following one. AM know how many points you have if you are re-booking.


The Euro schedule for April is pretty skinny.
View attachment 274601

May is a small improvement. June has not been published yet. TraveltoParty, you might be lucky, but don't hold your breath.
View attachment 274603

Thanks prozac! This forum has helped slot with easing my stress and anxiety. Very happy and appreciative to get everyone's feedback and experiences.

I'm hoping if the HK to Barcelona flight does get cancelled they can reroute me to a different European destination but I won't bank on that.

I'll have plenty of points to rebook if there are still availability for reward bookings and I get my points refunded in time. Otherwise I'll just have to fork out an extremely expensive one way.

 

[TraveltoParty]

Mrs jxv, who has two middle names, which I had never before bothered with, was denied boarding on BV (blue express, an LCC), for a flight MXP-TIA. Luckily we were early and I could arrange a name change at their airport service desk for €80. The ticket originally cost €99! Included was extra cost of seats near the front. There were only about 20 pax and we were told to sit in the back for weight distribution. It also was the most turbulent flight we have ever experienced. Two hours of wild bouncing and swinging making drinks and meals service impossible.

I checked their website and it only asked for “first name”. When I later wanted to show someone back home, this had been changed to enter “first and middle name(s)” in the single input field.

That is unfortunate and sounds like a terrible experience! Seems like the cheaper airlines are less inclined to let it slide and will gouge customers for it. That is real sneaky, should have taken a screenshot

Post automatically merged: Apr 10, 2022

I've never put my middle name on bookings and never had an issue.
Japan was the only place that someone seemed to notice or care in the slightest, where without comment the check in agent wrote my missing middle name onto the boarding pass with a pen.

Good to hear! I'm pretty much fully relieved about leaving my middle name off the booking phew