Name mismatch between ticketing and passport
 

I am travelling next week and I have this big un-easy feeling about this travel. The reason being that I got my US passport about 6 months back and so started using my abbreviated version (which is usually easier to spell than my expanded full name with my old passport.

But, without realizing this I purchased a ticket last week to fly from Newyork - CDG - Dubai - MAA and back. But, I am also taking some time off in Paris and Dubai that I need to check out my bags and re-check them in later.

Now, the bigger question is will I be stopped after arriving in Paris and then leaving to Dubai, as the Paris immigration or the airlines staff not recognize my ticket? I spoke to the travel agent and also to airlines and they say there shouldn't be a problem, but also added that they cannot guarantee that there will be no issues enroute. The only option is to cancel my tickets and then re-issue them which could cost me about 1000$ (Non-cancellable ticket) plus the additional risk of not getting the tickets if they are all sold out.

I am going to take all my documents which have my full expanded name but I am still not excited about this whole travel as I am not sure where I would be stopped.

SO, my primary questions are .

- Can airlines deny boarding even though there are notes in the system explaining the old and new name format?
- Would immigration verify the name in the passport vs the boarding pass as I dont think they would care what my boarding pass says as my name
- apart from carrying additional documents can any expert suggest any thing I should take care of ?

Thanks for your time on this and I really do appreciate your answers,

Welcome to FT.

While this may be a case of YMMV, your biggest issue is most likely to be the airline being able to pull up your record locator. Once they open that up, I doubt you'd have too many issues on your way to India or on your return.

As long as your above itinerary doesn't include stopovers enroute your biggest issue (if most any) will be an airline rep. That is, immigration most probably won't create a stink anywhere on your way to India (as you really won't be dealing with them for any serious "examination" if you are just transiting through those airports and not entering the country for whatever reason.

On your return to the US, an airline might make a bit more of an issue but they can still send the correct info over to the US government as part of the APIS manifest feed.

Personally, this kind of situation wouldn't even concern me, for airlines and immigration see this kind of stuff often enough.

Also, the very long names show up as truncated on the boarding pass anyway.

Are you talking your last name or your first name? I'm not sure getting a passport in anything other then your full name is the best idea.

Immigration and customs probably won't even look at your ticket and boarding pass, just the passport. You will probably be OK if they are at least close, but of course the next time everything should agree. I don't see them turning you away, but you may have to explain it to a supervisor if the person checking you in has a problem, or the TSA does, etc.

Even if it's last name truncation (or even both first and last name), "difficulties" (if any) would be substantially the same in the OP's situation. I say this because a variety of people from Hungary, China, Korea, and various parts of Central, South and SE Asia fly with all sorts of various "name issues" find themselves in a situation that comes close to the OP's.

Thanks for the responses every one. The issue is with my middle name that is in the abbreviated form in the passport and expanded in the boarding pass. Even though I am having stop overs in Paris and Dubai, I think my biggest issue would be the last leg of travel from Gatwickm, London on the way back to US. But, at least I feel a lot more comfortable to travel now and thanks for your pointers....