There are a few details missing:
- Is this a domestic trip, or an international one? You make mention of his passport, but this could be just what form of ID he plans to use for a US domestic flight (such as if he doesn't live in the US and therefore doesn't have a state-issued drivers license or ID card).
- Did you buy the ticket from the airline's own web site, or from a third party such as Orbitz or Travelocity?
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pinniped:
If this is a case where your friend used a legit name, but one that doesn't exactly match the passport, then he should bring ID that has the ticketed name. If he can produce a couple forms of ID and a passport that clearly show him to be the correct passenger, he will be fine. </font>
I think this is the best advice so far. Does he have a government-issued ID that has the name as ticketed? If so, just use that at check-in to meet the airline's requirement that the ticket is non-transferrable.
You're unlikely to get a straight answer from the airline's reservation center. They're going to stick to the party line that the name on the ticket must match the ID, but the subtleties of how this is actually implemented at the airport are a separate matter.