I couldn't find the answer to this on the TSA website, did I miss it?

Under Secure Flight, the ID you use must match the ticket name, but how specifically are middle names handled? Consider the following 4 cases:

1. Ticket= John Doe, ID=John Robert Doe
2. Ticket= John R. Doe, ID= John Robert Doe
3. Ticket= John Robert Doe, ID= John Doe
4. Ticket= John R. Doe, ID= John Doe

My thinking is that #1 and #2 is okay, since the ID is more specific than the ticket, but #3 and #4 are not.

In all cases, assume the correct DOB is in the reservation.

The reason for the question is that I'm trying to book some US domestic tickets today for family members coming from overseas, and I won't be able to verify exactly how their middle names appear (or don't appear) in their passports for a couple of days, at which point the cheap seats might be gone.

So if I get tickets issued as per option 1 above, will that pose a problem or not?

And yes, I know full well the whole concept of ID check for security is pointless theater, don't get me started!

I wouldn't worry too much - my passport and DL have my full middle name, but my tickets never do, not even a middle initial.

I've never had a problem - and add to that, I enter garbage DOB data in the SF entry every time I book a ticket.

It's all a bunch of crap.

The only caveat I'd point out is your ticket says John Robert Doe or John R Doe and your ID has J. Robert Doe or vice versa.

I have the same situation, full middle name on DL and PP, only middle initial or sometimes nothing on the ticket, and never had a problem either, so I'm not really bothered.

I'm only concerned in this case because the travelers in question (family) will all be using their foreign passports as ID and are all from south Asia, and I want to minimize "opportunities" for TSA screeners at BWI to exercise "vigilance" in search of The Big Catch. I suppose worst case would be an extra SSSS for some of them. At least I'll be with them to help mitigate any issues.

Guess I shouldn't worry about it too much, it's just that I've heard too many negative things about TSA at BWI, but haven't personally flown out of there in a long time.

I think they will be fine - but yes, TSA at BWI is among the nastiest in the country. You should probably buy a refundable ticket a day or two out and accompany them to the gate to see them off and make sure there aren't any issues. Also, try to use OLCI wherever possible to minimize contact with airline agents.

I'm travelling with them, so fortunately, no need for the refundable ticket route.

Real World:

1. No problem.
2. No problem.
3. No problem.
4. No problem.

TSA World�:

1. You might be a terrorist. Got a Costco card to back up that passport?
2. "BRAVO", terminal dump.
3. "LEO" Bust em Denno, this one's an illegal immigrant.
4. The Big Catch�, you win a free trip to Gitmo.

You're forgetting the bonus round, where the luckiest of checkpoint contestants get to spin the Wheel of Misfortune. Prizes include a full body search, having your laptop stolen, and causing a terminal dump by merely walking away from the checkpoint with your carry on in hand.

The SecureFlight information is not the same as the "name on the ticket": it's in a different field and is added at a different time. Make the reservation and get the ticket issued with as close an approximation of the name as you know. Then find out how it's on the password and sometime between when the reservation is made and 72 hours before the flight, enter the SecureFlight information.