My friend's [completely incompetent] travel agent has booked an international ticket ticket in the form LASTNAME/MIDDLENAME instead of LASTNAME/FIRSTNAME. The middle name is listed as the second name under "given names" under his passport. I am assuming he will have a problem at the airport; however, is there anything the agent can do to still let him on? The fare is non refundable and non transferable. He asked the TA to fix it since it was the TA's mistake but the TA insists that it won't be a problem.

FWIW, in his family everyone is given the same first name and people are differentiated based upon their middle names. Any chance he can link this to 'cultural differences'?

Thanks!

Cheers,