Qantas Frequent Flyer - Middle Name on Tickets? Travelling to US

We're travelling to the the USA early next year. Our FF is set up as First Last, hence our tickets were issued this way as well. EG Mary Smith. But our passports contain our full names, eg Mary Jane Smith.

Should I be concerned? Is it something I should contact Qantas over and have changed?

No problem. I've had tickets issued both ways and it makes no difference. Now the spelling of first and last names must match exactly -- but the middle name is irrelevant. And of course the US now has a special ID number program, for those who are unfortunate enough to match names on the banned list ....

No, you will be fine. As long as your passport doesn't say Jane Mary Smith.

Thank you both - one less thing to worry about, or call Qantas for! The order of names on our passport is correct.

In theory your middle name should be there - and Qantas should be asking for it when you book the ticket.

It's all a part of the US governments new "Secure Flight" program, which you can read up on at http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm

However for the time being, they are not strictly enforcing some parts of the requirements, including those including middle initial/name.

In theory your middle name should be there - and Qantas should be asking for it when you book the ticket.

It's all a part of the US governments new "Secure Flight" program, which you can read up on at http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm

However for the time being, they are not strictly enforcing some parts of the requirements, including those including middle initial/name.As I understand it, it is being progressively rolled out across different airlines. When an airline becomes covered by Secure Flight, it will start to demand the information for new bookings. Old bookings will not need to be amended.

As I understand it, it is being progressively rolled out across different airlines. When an airline becomes covered by Secure Flight, it will start to demand the information for new bookings. Old bookings will not need to be amended.

I just ticketted a DCIRC29 through CX and they were insistent that passenger middle names were included in the reservation - all middle names.

Oh, and OT, the extra cost of ticketting through CX as opposed to AA was about AUD $80. CX got to do the ticketting because the BKK AA office was closed due to a (seemingly non publicised) National Holiday :rolleyes:.

EDITED: Just got an email from UA on this very topic - extract of email follows:

How will Secure Flight affect you?

In the coming months, United will begin to request the following information from all customers when making a reservation:

* Full name (first and last, as it appears on the non-expired, government-issued photo ID you will present at the airport)
* Date of birth
* Gender
* Redress number (if one exists)*

If you use a travel agency or an online booking agent to purchase a ticket, you may be asked to provide all of the above information; including your full legal name, as it appears on your non-expired, government-issued photo ID.

Please note the importance of the name on your ticket matching exactly the name on the ID you will present at the airport.

It is a new TSA program.

http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/index.shtm

Two weeks ago I drafted a couple of LONE4's and was asked for First and Last names only.

Today while ticketing these with an AAgent, I was asked for middle names or initial - "Exactly how they appear in Passport".

This Secure Flight nonsense is making me want to get my name legally changed and get a new passport now instead of when I had planned to in 5 years when my current passport expires.

Today while ticketing these with an AAgent, I was asked for middle names or initial - "Exactly how they appear in Passport".

This is my experience with T/Agents - "Exactly how they appear in Passport". While on the phone bookings have tended to be 'last name and first name'.

E

This is my experience with T/Agents - "Exactly how they appear in Passport". While on the phone bookings have tended to be 'last name and first name'.

E

It makes sense to make sure your ticket is the same as your passport.

Not once, has my ticket ever had the exact same spelling used in my passport.

Close enough is good enough me thinks

Not once, has my ticket ever had the exact same spelling used in my passport.

Close enough is good enough me thinks

You mean your ticket says dOOt instead of d00t ? :D

Not once, has my ticket ever had the exact same spelling used in my passport.

Close enough is good enough me thinks

So therefore you are estopped from whinging when it becomes an issue.

Not once, has my ticket ever had the exact same spelling used in my passport.

Close enough is good enough me thinks

For the US, under "Secure Flight", near enough is definitely not good enough - if your documents don't match then you will, at best, be going off for secondary screening.

How strict other countries are will obviously depend on the country.

Just a follow up - just got off the phone with Qantas. The consultant took our secure flight info that included our middle names. The though remains as First/Last and he claimed as long as secure flight matched we should have no probs. I'll probably follow that up again down the track.

I booked some internal flights in the US with Southwest on the weekend and they requested the full name as it appeared on the ID, so naturally I used first middle last for all of us.

I booked some internal flights in the US with Southwest on the weekend and they requested the full name as it appeared on the ID, so naturally I used first middle last for all of us.This is because Southwest's participation in Secure Flight has already gone live.

This is an interesting thread.

Im of Chinese origin. My passport as it appears (names are made up):

Surname: Chung

Name: Chin Chong James

I have only ever booked flights under "James Chung"

When filling in immigration entry forms- I sometimes fill in James Chin Chong Chung or Chin Chong James Chung depending on what mood i'm in.

I've never had a problem entering any country or had any problems using just my english name + surname.

But I have not boarded a plane to the US since this secure flight initiative was implemented and yes i do have several flights booked to the US next year. I am a little concerned after reading this thread.

Basically you need to book as it shows on your passport.

see posts #7, #9, #11 and #12.

Too bad if there is a maximum number of characters permitted - we have some pax from Sth/Central America with 21 names...

Too bad if there is a maximum number of characters permitted - we have some pax from Sth/Central America with 21 names...
Now I feel ripped-off. My parents were so poor they could not afford to give me even one middle name :(

Now I feel ripped-off. My parents were so poor they could not afford to give me even one middle name :(

Be glad. Saves a lot of hassle!

This is an interesting thread.

Im of Chinese origin. My passport as it appears (names are made up):


I got similar problems. In Germany the "middle name" is not existing. But you can have a lot of first names. I have two first names. The problem is that my "second" given name is the one I use. It shows as only name on my credit cards, driving license. Only in my birth-certificate and my passport the two names appear.
If you swipe my passport electronically, only my "second" first name appears.
I have a lot of problems with that. My credit card does not match my passport. My frequent flyer-card does not match my passport.

I got airline officials that insisted that I change my names!
I am used to trouble. At the moment I fight with the :td::td: Accor A-Club, because a nice clerk used my passport for two invoices: That is not you, so no points!

It may be hard for foreigners to understand the concept, but why do some nations do not accept that other countries have different naming systems.

Be glad. Saves a lot of hassle!
But sometimes needs a lot of explaining why I have left the field blank on forms. And things can get confiding when "systems" try to create unique user names etc based on adding a middle initial. In my uni days the computer username was created as First Name Initial, Middle Name Initial, First six letters of Surname. I was given a Z as my middle initial :rolleyes: for the purpose of gaining access to the computer (DEC-10 :eek:).

I got similar problems. In Germany the "middle name" is not existing. But you can have a lot of first names. I have two first names. The problem is that my "second" given name is the one I use. It shows as only name on my credit cards, driving license. Only in my birth-certificate and my passport the two names appear.
If you swipe my passport electronically, only my "second" first name appears.
I have a lot of problems with that. My credit card does not match my passport. My frequent flyer-card does not match my passport.

I got airline officials that insisted that I change my names!
I am used to trouble. At the moment I fight with the :td::td: Accor A-Club, because a nice clerk used my passport for two invoices: That is not you, so no points!

It may be hard for foreigners to understand the concept, but why do some nations do not accept that other countries have different naming systems.

I have a similar issue and as you have already noted is common in many European countries.

Looking forward to the secondary screening treatment shortly.