Pottetan

Hello everyone! I have a SkyMiles account with a bonus from an AMEX Delta Gold, so I'd like to book a flight for August.

My SkyMiles account was created by AMEX when I opened my card. The issue is that I have two last names, and somehow the system shorted the last one, missing some letters.
I contacted Delta and they have the weirdest way to update it, send an email thru a contact link with my passport/id and ask them to change it. It can take all the way up to 30 days.

However, I need to book a flight for August, and prices are already going up. I plan to use my bonus miles from the card, so, can I just select "I'm not travelling" when making the reservation and then put the correct info on the ticket? Will I run into any issue?

Thanks!
James.

Zorak

Ugh. The name change can be incredibly frustrating. I had to resort to sending a fax (yes, in this day and age) to get a correction a few years ago, dunno if the situation has improved.

Here's a relatively recent thread, with a link to some other threads in the 4th post, which may give you an idea of the experience that awaits you

That shouldn't cause a problem. If you have elite status you might miss out on those benefits, although you could also possibly add the number afterward (not sure if there will be an issue if the names don't exactly match)

Good luck and welcome to FT!

TerryK

Sounds pretty normal to me although 30 days is a little long.

No issue. You can add your Skymiles number later after name change. Your flight is not until August, you have plenty of time.

Often1

Name changes are a process because of the significant fraud potential. As with many time ranges, customer service estimates are generally much longer than the reality.

jdrtravel

It seems to me that you could book a ticket under your current Sky Miles profile, with the incorrect name, and then ask Delta to correct your name in both your profile and also on your ticket when you send in the name request.

You can't be the first person to request a name change who also has outstanding tickets so I have to believe this is part of the SOP. I'm rather certain that people who get married and change names often already have honeymoon tickets booked, for example.

mnbp

Hey - all OP has to do is book the ticket with the correct name, right? A SkyMiles member can spend their miles on anyone's ticket. Why wait?

jdrtravel

In any event, the ticket will have to be corrected after the name is correct in DL's system so that it is attached to OP's account. This is why I think OP should go ahead and book with current incorrect name under the current profile. I am guessing that the ticket will be automatically corrected upon the name change request being granted.

MSPeconomist

jdrtravel

Yes, they can, to correct a mistake or for a name change, following the proper procedures. Tickets cannot be transferred, but that's another issue. To correct a name, the ticket needs to be reissued.

https://pro.delta.com/content/agency...on-policy.html

Weekend Away

I had a similar, but not quite the same, problem a year ago. I booked a revenue flight for a minor family member and his mom. I used the bane we all call him, which I thought to be his legal name. We decided to create him a skymiles account after booking. His legal name, used to create his SM account, and the name I used on ticket were slightly off. I called and they were able to correct the ticket without problem at no additional cost.

I've also seen where AFKL will add MR/MS/MRS to ones last name on the reservation but it's never caused a problem with TSA or Delta.

mnbp

Step 1) Book your ticket, now, with the correct name on the ticket.

Step 2) Begin the process of correcting the name on the SkyMiles account. If this takes 30+ days, it does not matter since the flight won't attempt to post to the Sky miles account until August. Flights only credit to a SkyMiles account once you've flown them. By the time you travel, your SkyMiles account will match your ticket (which you never changed because the ticket was originally booked with the correct name) and since the names now match the flights will post just fine.

flyerCO

They might refuse since there was no reason to book it incorrectly to begin with.

OP simply needs to book it under his correct name. If on off chance the name isn't fixed before he flies, once it is he can request credit for any flights that didn't post.

paterwdb

It's only anecdotal, but I have booked tickets with every combination of First Middle Last, F. Middle Last, FM Last, Middle Last, and Middle F. Last, on a variety of airlines and I've never been questioned in checking in, boarding, or at security. In fact, I flew on EY recently with only Middle Last and no one said a word. Maybe I've just always been lucky, and I think I've finally resolved the name changes so they are all consistently FIRST MIDDLE LAST, but I've definitely never had issues.

But try to get miles for a ticket where the ticket name and account name don't match, and then you'll find trouble. And yes, they do suggest fax machines. Fax machines?

flyerCO

OP problem is that name is spelled incorrectly on SM account. His isn't problem with only one name showing up.

Also, FWIW, a middle name is technically considered another first or given name. Its why theres no issues with only one showing up or both showing up joined together.

As for last part, once account name is fixed can get credit. No different from forgetting the number to begin with.