Originally Posted by
sdsearch
You'll notice very few people use their real names on FlyerTalk as their handle. Now you're starting to learn why.
You can change your FT username. It will still show your old user name for a while (I'm not sure how long), but that'll be in small type, so much less noticeable.
As to how many people? Keep in mind that AA's charts at gates for upgrades and standbys is just the first three letters of the last name and the first letter of the first name. There's apparentlly little enough duplication in those 4 letters on a given flight that they've never felt the need to use anything more than those 4 letters.
With a valid reason (a handle like jacksonqthrockmortonIII 
would certainly qualify), one may apply for a one-time handle change by sending a PM to the Community Director or an Administrator, such as IBgkim) to request a handle change. I'd come up with something I could live with, perhaps contact with that username as a request but offer a couple of alternates in case that was taken up. (You can bring up a PM box in My FlyerTalk and insert the username as if sending a PM and check informally if it's already in use.)
From the FT Rules: "For privacy purposes, it is strongly recommended that you not use your real name in your username."
Members with fewer than ten posts will not have their old handle reflected in their username post box (to the left of their posts); those with over ten posts will show the old handle below their new handle for a period of thirty days.
/Moderator
Last edited by JDiver; Mar 14, 2015 at 10:50 pm