Originally Posted by
alouie81
JAL and Cathay Pacific bind the same rule, "The name on boarding pass must match the name exactly on passport." Other airlines like Air France, British Airways that fly to Europe are much more linear. They have a TSA data slot in their system where it stored your passport name so even if boarding pass only shows First and Last, you can still check in and board. If you get lucky and able to check in with first and last name with either above airlines, that's just that agent "hit and miss". I wouldnt take this risk. So in my case, I cancelled my son's ticket, paid the high penalty, and booked another date for him with FULL NAME as on passport.
I understand your frustration in this instance, but you are not taking a risk by doing it and there was no need to cancel the ticket. Airlines are solely concerned about the passenger being who is booked to fly. The name in the reservation system, and the name submitted by scanning the passport on check-in, don't even need to match - they can be different (and often are). The only time it's relevant for you is if if/when you complete online check-in (or fill in APIS) and input the passport details.
I fly CX and JL regularly, plus many other airlines around the world, and never input my middle names into my bookings. It has not been an issue.