Global Entry Question
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 61
Global Entry Question
I've just recently been approved for Global Entry. I want to add my KTN to several existing SW reservations, but I also want to make sure the names match up exactly, so that I don't have any issues with TSA Precheck. My question is what name needs to match up? When I look at my reservations online, it always shows the passenger name as "FIRST LAST". When I print my boarding passes, it usually shows LAST/FIRST MIDDLE. So, it seems like my middle name is tied to the reservation somehow. When I applied for GE, I included my middle name in the application. All of the letters I have received from them thus far were addressed to FIRST LAST. Anyone have any experience so that I can hopefully avoid any missed opportunities?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,832
I've just recently been approved for Global Entry. I want to add my KTN to several existing SW reservations, but I also want to make sure the names match up exactly, so that I don't have any issues with TSA Precheck. My question is what name needs to match up? When I look at my reservations online, it always shows the passenger name as "FIRST LAST". When I print my boarding passes, it usually shows LAST/FIRST MIDDLE. So, it seems like my middle name is tied to the reservation somehow. When I applied for GE, I included my middle name in the application. All of the letters I have received from them thus far were addressed to FIRST LAST. Anyone have any experience so that I can hopefully avoid any missed opportunities?
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This should not be an issue. If the name on your GE and passport is "Fred A. Smith", you would enter:
First Name: Fred
Middle: A.
Last Name: Smith
The fact that various uses of that data sometimes print out as Smith, Fred or SMITHFREDA is not relevant.
The key is that the names in your profile are entered exactly (down to spaces and punctuation) as they appear on your GE.
First Name: Fred
Middle: A.
Last Name: Smith
The fact that various uses of that data sometimes print out as Smith, Fred or SMITHFREDA is not relevant.
The key is that the names in your profile are entered exactly (down to spaces and punctuation) as they appear on your GE.
#4
Join Date: May 2011
Location: 2C
Programs: MR PP & LT Plat, HH Diamond, WN A+ and CP, Avis First, National E+
Posts: 201
I've just recently been approved for Global Entry. I want to add my KTN to several existing SW reservations, but I also want to make sure the names match up exactly, so that I don't have any issues with TSA Precheck. My question is what name needs to match up? When I look at my reservations online, it always shows the passenger name as "FIRST LAST". When I print my boarding passes, it usually shows LAST/FIRST MIDDLE. So, it seems like my middle name is tied to the reservation somehow. When I applied for GE, I included my middle name in the application. All of the letters I have received from them thus far were addressed to FIRST LAST. Anyone have any experience so that I can hopefully avoid any missed opportunities?
The name order should not be a big deal.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 61
My concern was that sometimes SW use the middle name and sometimes they don't. I wasn't sure what the GE list was compared against, i.e., should I leave the middle name field blank if my letters from GE don't use my middle name even if I entered it into the middle name field. I guess people are saying that even though the field says, "middle name", some individuals must put a middle initial or leave it blank rather than typing in their middle name.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 61
This is correct. I did have to call to add it, that was easy. Just trying to make sure the names will match exactly.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,832
My concern was that sometimes SW use the middle name and sometimes they don't. I wasn't sure what the GE list was compared against, i.e., should I leave the middle name field blank if my letters from GE don't use my middle name even if I entered it into the middle name field. I guess people are saying that even though the field says, "middle name", some individuals must put a middle initial or leave it blank rather than typing in their middle name.
It's fairly routine for different documents to use different formats, ie, "last name, first name, middle initial" or "first name middle name last name."
Personally, I think you're overthinking this.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: BOS/PVD/BDL
Programs: PC Plat, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold,HHonors Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite
Posts: 726
In my experience I have had Precheck on my BP both when my name matched my GE profile and two times when I just had my middle initial on it.
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
An individual small anecdote like that is not useful. Mismatches don't guarantee failure, they just increase the likelihood of it. It may depend on other factors as to how much they increase the likelihood of it. And thus YMMV for everyone.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: SJC, Northern Cal.
Programs: SWA RR BIS 6.2M, A+'20, CP'20, AA, UA Gold, Hertz PC, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 909
After I received GE, I went through my FF programs and made sure my correct ID matched the name on the programs *exactly*. With United, I had used my first initial and last name as my FF name with no middle initial. UA had to have some sort of approval to "change" my name to my full name with middle initial, but I told them it was to match GE. A week later an email from them confirmed it now matches my passport and GE.
#11
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: BWI, MD
Programs: AA Gold, UA Silver, HH Lifetime Diamond, Marr Lifetime Titanium, Avis Presidents
Posts: 337
Under My Preferences and Contact Information just make sure that F/M/L name match your GE infor and enter your KTN in the KTN field.
If you need to make any changes to your name, those can't be done online. Those have to be mailed in to them per the guidelines on that page.
If you need to make any changes to your name, those can't be done online. Those have to be mailed in to them per the guidelines on that page.
#12
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 297
Under My Preferences and Contact Information just make sure that F/M/L name match your GE infor and enter your KTN in the KTN field.
If you need to make any changes to your name, those can't be done online. Those have to be mailed in to them per the guidelines on that page.
If you need to make any changes to your name, those can't be done online. Those have to be mailed in to them per the guidelines on that page.