New TSA name policy - required to call DL SMS each time!
#31
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 115
Nothing Delta itself can fix
It's not a matter of some "techie" at Delta fixing the system to accomodate larger names or more letters. All airline and travel reservertions systems share a common foundation. A name field can only hold so much. Doesn't matter if it's Delta, AA, United, Southwest, SABRE, APOLLO or APOLLO (travel agent systems). It's always been a problem. Call the TSA. The airlines can't do anything about it.
#32
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ATL, BHM, DUB, County Wexford
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Posts: 4,873
It's not a matter of some "techie" at Delta fixing the system to accomodate larger names or more letters. All airline and travel reservertions systems share a common foundation. A name field can only hold so much. Doesn't matter if it's Delta, AA, United, Southwest, SABRE, APOLLO or APOLLO (travel agent systems). It's always been a problem. Call the TSA. The airlines can't do anything about it.
See how much they care. They don't answer to you, the don't answer to the airlines and they don't answer to the government.
#33
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 628
It's not a matter of some "techie" at Delta fixing the system to accomodate larger names or more letters. All airline and travel reservertions systems share a common foundation. A name field can only hold so much. Doesn't matter if it's Delta, AA, United, Southwest, SABRE, APOLLO or APOLLO (travel agent systems). It's always been a problem. Call the TSA. The airlines can't do anything about it.
Is there a way to go back in (not while purchasing tickets) to enter the data? I couldn't find a "way in" through the web-site search, but I'm sure it has to be there somewhere.
You'd think it would be in your Skymiles Profile, but if it is there, I didn't stumble across it.
Last edited by Seminole_Kev; Aug 17, 2009 at 7:07 am
#34
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Join Date: Jun 2001
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The OP needs to bame his mother for giving him an awkward name.
Back in the day, computer code size was a real concern and parties agonized over whether x characters was enough or if x+1 was really needed. That problem continues with a variety of legacy systems and is known to frequent flyers in different ways: think of the FO designation rather than Silver Medallion, or of United's 1K designation.
Back in the day, computer code size was a real concern and parties agonized over whether x characters was enough or if x+1 was really needed. That problem continues with a variety of legacy systems and is known to frequent flyers in different ways: think of the FO designation rather than Silver Medallion, or of United's 1K designation.
#35
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Don't tell that (the fact that the light might actually be effective) to many people on this thread! TSA can do no good.
#36
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Kingdom of the Sun
Programs: DL GM/MM
Posts: 3,708
We rest our case.
#38
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ATL, BHM, DUB, County Wexford
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Posts: 4,873
The OP needs to bame his mother for giving him an awkward name.
Back in the day, computer code size was a real concern and parties agonized over whether x characters was enough or if x+1 was really needed. That problem continues with a variety of legacy systems and is known to frequent flyers in different ways: think of the FO designation rather than Silver Medallion, or of United's 1K designation.
Back in the day, computer code size was a real concern and parties agonized over whether x characters was enough or if x+1 was really needed. That problem continues with a variety of legacy systems and is known to frequent flyers in different ways: think of the FO designation rather than Silver Medallion, or of United's 1K designation.
#39
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Okay, back on topic: Some blame the TSA for this ridiculous regulation. Some blame Delta for not following up when they knew this was happening. But as Coleman the butler's girlfriend said, "Can't we have both?"
Mike
#40
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: ATL, BHM, DUB, County Wexford
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Posts: 4,873
It is hard to believe that with all of the diverse membership here on FT, that someone does not have the ear of people who could do something about the TSA.
#41
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
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In reading comments here and in the past on the Travel Security forum, who in their right mind would even want to help? Constant bashing and whining, no slack given. If I had any way to do something (I don't), I would not want to admit it to such people.
#42
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Given the substantial cadre of CYA politicians, bureaucrats and those in the public, quasi-public and private sector that make money from the paranoia-related systems remaining and/or expanding, it's one huge struggle for anyone to even effectively squeeze the TSA to the point of a huge public slap-down no matter whose ears are available.
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 13,644
Given the substantial cadre of CYA politicians, bureaucrats and those in the public, quasi-public and private sector that make money from the paranoia-related systems remaining and/or expanding, it's one huge struggle for anyone to even effectively squeeze the TSA to the point of a huge public slap-down no matter whose ears are available.
Mike
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Northern Ireland
Programs: MR Lifetime Titanium, United Silver
Posts: 625
yeah - my name is Christina. Quite common really. Middle name Michelle. The combination of the two is what is getting me in trouble - too many characters for the name field in the DL system.
Thanks to safigan for answering my Q - guess it IS a big deal to change the number of characters and to set aside time each month when I book all my travel to follow-up and call SMS to link my name / Skymiles to my name / itinerary.
#45
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: PHX
Programs: DL GM/SC/SkyBonus, UA (xCO), AS, AA, US, FL, Hilton Gold, Best Western Gold, Choice, Wyndham
Posts: 658
yeah - my name is Christina. Quite common really. Middle name Michelle. The combination of the two is what is getting me in trouble - too many characters for the name field in the DL system.
Thanks to safigan for answering my Q - guess it IS a big deal to change the number of characters and to set aside time each month when I book all my travel to follow-up and call SMS to link my name / Skymiles to my name / itinerary.
Thanks to safigan for answering my Q - guess it IS a big deal to change the number of characters and to set aside time each month when I book all my travel to follow-up and call SMS to link my name / Skymiles to my name / itinerary.
Even though my First+Middle names only add up to 13 characters, I only have my First Name+Middle Initial on my SkyMiles profile. Until the TSA starts bugging me about it, I'm not going to switch to my full First+Middle names. However, if the TSA *DOES* start bothering me, then I'll have to do it.