Which last name to use for airline ticket?
 

Mrs. Tepes979, who is both an American and Russian citizen, will be flying to Russia at the end of the year.

Her Russian passport, which she will need in order to enter Russia without a visa, is in her maiden name.

The question that I have is do I buy a ticket under the Mrs. Tepes979 name, or under her maiden name? Or does it even matter?

Most likely will be flying SU or UN out of LAX.

Any insights would be much appreciated.

Which last name to use?
 

I would be the ticket in the last name of the passport she would use! Is she planning on using different passports at departure/arrival?

She can use any passport she wants to leave the U.S. It is only for identification. It is seen only by airline personnel, not by any immigration authorities. She should use one that matches the name on the ticket, but that's not a factor in deciding what name should go on the ticket.

Nobody is going to care about her ticket when she enters Russia or re-enters the U.S. Those are not factors in this choice either.

The only part where it matters is leaving Russia, where she has to go through an exit check and will also have to show her ticket. Therefore, the name on the ticket must match the name on the passport she will use to leave Russia. That will normally be the passport she uses to enter Russia. If that's her Russian passport, she should use her maiden name on the ticket.

It might not be a bad idea to carry a copy of her marriage certificate if she also will be carrying any other ID (Drivers license, credit or bank cards) that have her married name.

When leaving the US she will have to present proof to the airline that she has the right to enter Russia, hence the need to present her Russian passport.

When leaving Russia, she will have to present proof to the airline that she has the right to enter the US, hence the need to present the US passport.

In the past, when both her passports were under her maiden name, this was never issue.

I am just not sure if having passports under two different names will cause any sort of problems.

Does she have time to go to the embassy and have her Russian passport reissued with the last name she is currently using? That would avoid any complications.

The Russian consulate has stopped issuing new passports for the purpose of changing a name, have to go to Russia for that. The only thing they do is put a stamp in the passport which states that she is also known as Mrs. Tepes979. They point out that the stamp does not really have any official purpose. The downside to the stamp is that after they put it in the passport, you are required to get a new passport within 30 days (and she will not be in Russian long enough to get a new passport). But then again, maybe there is no such requirement... As with most everything in Russia related to laws, it is very murky... you can talk to 10 people at the embassy and get 10 different answers...

I think this is the route we will take... have the tickets issued in her current name and take the marriage certificate as a back up.

I may be wrong, but I don't see an issue with Russian immigration officials. I am more concerned with the airline staff letting her board. She will have to check in with her US passport and present her Russian passport as proof that she does not need a visa...

Perhaps asking airline and having them note her RU passport is in maiden name etc. I'd expect two different passports with different last names could cause concern if not noted in rezzie ahead of time.

A travel agent today mentioned that one option is to put both last names on the ticket.

Any thoughts on that?
My opinion, not really based on any facts, is that it may cause even more trouble...