Hi all,

I did a bit of searching on the forums to find out if anyone has some advice on getting my name changed on my FF (united MP) account. I have a very long first and last name and when I created my account I just used my nickname which, unfortunately, is *not* a simple abbreviation of my first name (yeah, I know I'm a bonehead!) and is completely unofficial.

I created the account about 7-8 yrs ago when nobody really cared what first name you used on your ticket. Obviously, with the post 9/11 security, I have to travel with my real first name. This was fine for a while and I was able to accumulate FF miles because United only matched up last name and FF #. After about a year, United started cracking down and now I can't accumulate anymore miles.

I made a cursory attempt and called CS, I explained the situation and that I used my nickname unofficially and they said that if that had been my middle name and that I can show some id with both names they *may* change it. They didn't sound encouraging to say the least.

Anyway, I don't travel a lot but since I've never redeemed any miles, I have collected around 250K. I was going to use them for a couple of FC tickets to Japan for my honeymoon. Now the question is how best to handle the situation:

1) Try to get CS to change my first name (any ideas how?)
2) Just get the tickets and claim that I'm getting it for a family member.
3) Other suggestions?

It is completely my mistake to open the account under anything but my real name and I'm not trying to screw them out of anything that I didn't earn, but it seems like United could decide to be unpleasant and I'd lose the use of those miles.

Anyway, wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions,

Thanks in advance
--dixon