Originally Posted by jayer

Elaborating, but slightly disagreeing with the previous answer.

As previously noted, If you did not already do so, make sure your son is on the reservation as an additional guest. That should allow him to check in without you or before you. Done all the time.

When or if asked for a card swipe, he should tell them to use the (your) card on file and ask for two keys. If they ask, tell them his father booked the room and is expected as soon as you can get there. (Which is even true. Just you might not make it at all. They don't need that many details). That should be enough. If they should insist on a card swipe, tell them your son's card is for incidentals only and you already booked the room on your card. They probably will hand him any Globalist information or breakfast certificates with the keys.

That should be enough. (You don't need to try and change the reservation name). It would still allow you to arrive later if that is what works out. When our children were shopping colleges, especially grad school, we were often arriving at different times on different airplanes. Did something similar all the time.