CO refuses to remove initial
 

My onepass and milage plus names do not match because of a middle initial on the onepass account. CO refuses to remove the initial; says to call UA and add an initial. I was one hour on hold at the number they give to change account names. They could at least post what name changes they will make on the phone.

None of my official documention has an initial, but the full middle name; so the error is in the onepass name.

Adding a non-official middle initial to UA account is the wrong way to go.

What has others experience been in correcting name mismatch?

I have to ask: why is the middle initial there? is it also on your license?

When setting up the onepass account I did not have to provide any name documentation. In those days you could board a flight without any ID at all. No restrictions on gate access either. I just filled out the form and sent it in. I usually used my initial on anything. These days you have to only use what can be verified on documentation.

My driver license says "Michael" but my OP and MP accounts both say "M". No one cares at the airport. Besides, you can still verify the the initial from a full middle name. It's the initial letter of the middle name.

Also interested in knowing since I can't get my accounts combined and it's probably because of the middle name initial issue.

CO fixed the m.i. issue for me and the two accounts combined about 5 days later.

Had middle initial issue. Called 1k line on United side. Fixed within 3 minutes.

Continental took care of it after some mild chastising and trying to get me to add the mi to United. This was a ways back though, pretty close to the linkage time, so they may have put in an official policy since then.

I went through this in June 2011, also to match my CO and UA accounts (no middle initial on UA). I emailed CO to drop the middle initial, they emailed back "Your request to modify the name on your OnePass account must be accompanied by legal documentation. Please mail a copy of your government-issued identification such as a passport, driver’s license or birth certificate"

I simply emailed back, saying literally "I wish to DROP the middle initial. There should be no need for documentation for that."

That did the trick. I never heard back from them, but a few days later they dropped the middle initial.

I hope this helps.

Whoever or whatever you are CaptainMiles, I wish my issue was that easy...

I had the toughest time making changes for my father. After he got naturalized, he decided to drop his name that no one can pronounce and make it a middle initial while using his Christian name, per INS document. Oh no, CO had a fit. They wanted this and that and everything I sent, they were not satisfied. At one point, the CO rep wanted a copy if the naturalized form copied and submitted. When I informed her that it is illegal to make a copy she laughed at me and said “that is absurd – think German accent, and told me that it was only a photo copy.” Oh well, I gave up. BUT found a work around. Sad…

Same experience here. UA removed it in seconds... even on the lead line. Or, maybe I should say, the Zero-K line.

This is an area where OP and MP policies differ. Both have rules for name changes, divided into simple changes (no doc needed) and significant changes (doc needed). For MP, deleting a middle initial is a simple change, no doc needed. For OP, it is a significant change, doc needed.

References: MP link OP link

I guess I got lucky that OP removed my middle initial without docs.

I had a similar problem because of my middle name/initial in my accounts.

It was
First Middle Last on UA
First M. Last on CO

Since it is First Middle Last on my DL, passport, SS#, I called CO and asked how I can have my middle name spelled out instead of just an initial. The lady tried and had some difficulties. Then she told me she would make my first name First Middle in two words and delete the initial M. in the middle name box. Somehow it solved the problem. I'm still not quite sure if that's what she did, or how she could add another word(name) to my first name, but my accounts are since registered and linked, and I've transferred miles from one to the other and my status is matched in both accounts. :cool:

P.S. How 9-11 has made the simplest things a hassle and the way we do things.

Funny, my accounts are linked and my MP has the middle initial while OP does not.

They are linked, but are they matched? as one good fellow FT Evangelist tried to remind us in this Sneak Preview: New Mileage Plus/OnePass mileage transfer and Elite status tools thread, post #1224.

I had to add my husband's middle initial to his CO account because it was on his UA account. I had no problems doing so.

My UA (MP) account just has my first and last names (SMITH/JOHN). My CO (OP) account has me listed as Mr. John Smith which turns into SMITH/JOHNMR on tickets. (That isn't my middle initial, which neither airline uses.) Early this year the accounts wouldn't merge, but later they did, with no input from me except for trying to merge them automatically online every few months.

You men. Don't ever get married and have to change your names. It is a PITA. I wasn't going to change mine but my DH got offended. Of course he did not have to change his name on every single thing that had a legal name on it.

Just call CO or UA and ask for what proof of name change they want and ask for the specific address or fax you need to send it to.

You will need some proof of name, passport, marriage license, etc.

You will have to show old name or error and provide proof of naming correction.

It does require supporting documentation, they will NOT just change it over the phone.

CO Credit Card Saves the Day!
 

I saw this thread and figured I better work on linking my two accounts. My MileagePlus account was "Firstname I Lastname, Jr." My OnePass account was in the name of "Firstname Lastname." I thought the "Jr." would be a problem, seeing this thread. I called CO anyway, and the agent thought it would be a problem, but she saw that my CO credit card had both the middle initial and the Jr., so problem solved.

She changed the name on the CO account to match the MileagePlus account and all was well.