Middle name hassle on CX day of departure
Dec 1, 2017, 1:48 pm
#61
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
I booked an award reservation through AA who asked me for first and last name. I never provide my middle name for any itineary, but in any case the AA reservations line never asked and I expected no issue.
I showed up to the airport (HKG) where the CX agents were adamant they could not check me in because the middle name was missing. The system let me add the Asia Miles number which had the middle name and everything. CX agent on the ground forced me to call AA reservations on roaming to reissue the ticket. Told me it was strict policy to have middle name and told me it was my fault for not checking in advance.
Some seriously great ground service from CX flying C. Gifted me SSSS on the boarding pass too.
I showed up to the airport (HKG) where the CX agents were adamant they could not check me in because the middle name was missing. The system let me add the Asia Miles number which had the middle name and everything. CX agent on the ground forced me to call AA reservations on roaming to reissue the ticket. Told me it was strict policy to have middle name and told me it was my fault for not checking in advance.
Some seriously great ground service from CX flying C. Gifted me SSSS on the boarding pass too.
However, I had an even more serious problem than you back in Feb: AA award on CX. Multiple words in my first name, AA messed up my first name in the award tix on CX. I remembered I checked in without problem on CX website. CX airport check-in desk showed the first name wasn't right. I asked if all the words were in middle name section, but CX agent couldn't figure it out. She took it up to the manager, and manager just put a stamp on it saying I was ok to fly. Considered ridiculously lucky.
Last edited by PaulInTheSky; Dec 2, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Dec 1, 2017, 2:07 pm
#62
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,124
One potential issue would be for those who use their HRP (Home Return Permit) to enter Mainland China.
Name on HRP:
陈小明
Chan, Siu Ming
Name on Ticket:
CHAN/SIU = Maybe NOT ok to fly as the person's name in this case would be just "陈小" as opposed to "陈小明".
Also, I think they are more likely to give westerners and ABC/BBC/CBCs (who have their English name as their genuine "First Name" [英文名行先] as opposed to their HK born counterparts where their English name is their middle name [中文名行先]) a blind eye and let them board.
Westerner:
Last Name: Smith
Given Names: John David Jacob Micheal Peter III
Ticket: SMITH/JOHN = OK to Fly
ABC/BBC/CBC:
Last Name: Chan
Given Names: John Some-Thing
Note: [英文名行先]
Ticket: CHAN/JOHN = OK to Fly.
Name on HRP:
陈小明
Chan, Siu Ming
Name on Ticket:
CHAN/SIU = Maybe NOT ok to fly as the person's name in this case would be just "陈小" as opposed to "陈小明".
Also, I think they are more likely to give westerners and ABC/BBC/CBCs (who have their English name as their genuine "First Name" [英文名行先] as opposed to their HK born counterparts where their English name is their middle name [中文名行先]) a blind eye and let them board.
Westerner:
Last Name: Smith
Given Names: John David Jacob Micheal Peter III
Ticket: SMITH/JOHN = OK to Fly
ABC/BBC/CBC:
Last Name: Chan
Given Names: John Some-Thing
Note: [英文名行先]
Ticket: CHAN/JOHN = OK to Fly.
Dec 1, 2017, 6:47 pm
#63
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: 0°48′24″N 176°36′59″W
Programs: Taiwan is a country.
Posts: 1,206
I think this is a matter of caution, not paranoia. As I mentioned above, I was not allowed to OLCI. When I call and they say, "Maybe they won't let you fly", it's hard to be cavalier and just assume it's not going to be a problem.
Of course, I wouldn't mention it to the counter person during check-in... no need to call attention to it. :-)
Of course, I wouldn't mention it to the counter person during check-in... no need to call attention to it. :-)
Im only reporting 10 years of flying CX without a middle name on a ticket.
The paranoia is on FT about this.
Dec 1, 2017, 7:05 pm
#64
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,103
It's not paranoia when we have first hand accounts of pax being denied checkin due to this issue. Currently, CX won't even issue award tickets from AA without a middle name. The issue is a real one. A change in status quo occurred a few months ago, so your experience before that is irrelevant.
Dec 1, 2017, 7:48 pm
#65
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,635
It's not paranoia when we have first hand accounts of pax being denied checkin due to this issue. Currently, CX won't even issue award tickets from AA without a middle name. The issue is a real one. A change in status quo occurred a few months ago, so your experience before that is irrelevant.
AA is sending itineraries without a middle name to a manual processing queue per middle name requirement directive they are receiving from CX.
Dec 1, 2017, 7:52 pm
#66
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,103
Dec 1, 2017, 9:14 pm
#67
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,420
I've booked and flown close to two dozen CX flights over the past few years using Avios, no middle name, no problem.
Dec 2, 2017, 2:55 am
#68
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: MPC-DM, Enrich-Plat
Posts: 1,310
Suggestion: write your middle name always behind your surname, without a space in between. Then you always do have everything there, sometime "wrong" order, still sorting fine, and it's all in there.
And the same when you do have multiple first names in use.
And the same when you do have multiple first names in use.
Dec 2, 2017, 9:04 pm
#69
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: ADL
Programs: QFF, AAdvantage, All
Posts: 1,137
I too have flown CX recently without middle name on ticket. Last flight was Oct 26. However, the flight was part of an AAward, ticketed at the beginning of the year.
Yesterday, booking another CX flight via an AAward, I was asked for middle name.
This makes me wonder if only more recent booking require the middle name, and if I need to check up on a CX flight I have Dec 15, that was booked in April, that doesn't have my middle name.
Last edited by LukeO9; Dec 2, 2017 at 9:04 pm Reason: clarity
Dec 2, 2017, 11:13 pm
#71
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,124
I'm assuming this issue is relatively recent, and now current.
I too have flown CX recently without middle name on ticket. Last flight was Oct 26. However, the flight was part of an AAward, ticketed at the beginning of the year.
Yesterday, booking another CX flight via an AAward, I was asked for middle name.
This makes me wonder if only more recent booking require the middle name, and if I need to check up on a CX flight I have Dec 15, that was booked in April, that doesn't have my middle name.
I too have flown CX recently without middle name on ticket. Last flight was Oct 26. However, the flight was part of an AAward, ticketed at the beginning of the year.
Yesterday, booking another CX flight via an AAward, I was asked for middle name.
This makes me wonder if only more recent booking require the middle name, and if I need to check up on a CX flight I have Dec 15, that was booked in April, that doesn't have my middle name.
As far as I know, I've been asked my middle name by AA before and all they did was have it included in the "Secure Flight" field of the PNR (used for TSA purposes and also to partially complete APHIS/Passport info). The "name" field of the PNR stayed the same as LAST/FIRST.
How do I know? I have the travel agent version of Sabre and can pull up AA award booking PNRs and saw the full history!
Dec 2, 2017, 11:16 pm
#72
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,773
P.S. for my passport name Smith/Percy Tai Man, currently I fill out my name as follows in a first name/middle names/last name ticket form (commonly encountered outside Asia):
First name: Percy Tai Man
Middle names: [leave blank]
Last name: Smith
Only when a multiple first name is rejected do I proceed to fill in middle name field.
I don't see the point of a middle name field - it can only cause omissions later.
I do not mind being addressed as Percy Tai Man - it should only appear in correspondence and I should be addressed as Mr Smith in speech anyway.
First name: Percy Tai Man
Middle names: [leave blank]
Last name: Smith
Only when a multiple first name is rejected do I proceed to fill in middle name field.
I don't see the point of a middle name field - it can only cause omissions later.
I do not mind being addressed as Percy Tai Man - it should only appear in correspondence and I should be addressed as Mr Smith in speech anyway.
Dec 2, 2017, 11:21 pm
#73
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seat 1A
Programs: Non-status paid F/J (best value for $$$)
Posts: 4,124
P.S. for my passport name Smith/Percy Tai Man, currently I fill out my name as follows in a first name/middle names/last name ticket form (commonly encountered outside Asia):
First name: Percy Tai Man
Middle names: [leave blank]
Last name: Smith
Only when a multiple first name is rejected do I proceed to fill in middle name field.
I don't see the point of a middle name field - it can only cause omissions later.
I do not mind being addressed as Percy Tai Man - it should only appear in correspondence and I should be addressed as Mr Smith in speech anyway.
First name: Percy Tai Man
Middle names: [leave blank]
Last name: Smith
Only when a multiple first name is rejected do I proceed to fill in middle name field.
I don't see the point of a middle name field - it can only cause omissions later.
I do not mind being addressed as Percy Tai Man - it should only appear in correspondence and I should be addressed as Mr Smith in speech anyway.
SMITH/PERCYTAIM
Dec 3, 2017, 12:21 am
#74
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SNA
Programs: AA gold, DL Gold, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat
Posts: 446
Had similar issue with AS-issued award tkt. Olci failed. Called cx and was told we may deny boarding. Called AS and was told we only issue tkts with first and last names. Showed up at airport and had no issues. All my travel docs have middle name except the tkt. Must have flown 100s of times on various airlines with no middle name on tkt.
Dec 3, 2017, 12:38 am
#75
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
AA awards now require either a middle name or statement that you don't have one (on passport anyway). If this field is not filled out by agent the ticket will remain "on request" - this change happened a few months ago. Never was an issue before. Maybe b/c of the issues reported in this thread?