TSA processes Pre-Check based on an exact match of the name associated with the KTN and that matches your passport. This can mean that even periods and commas (let alone apostrophes) have to match.

There is no reason that AS can't adjust your profile to exactly match your KTN and then passport. You may need to provide photocopies / scans of these documents, but it should not be an issue. Web support should be able to help you. Best time is doing regular business hours. Just be prepared to set aside a block of time when you can put the phone on speaker / mute while you do something else productive.

Alternatively, have them wipe out your profile and book manually. You can then add your AS#. But, bottom line is that there is zero give on the TSA / Secure Flight side of things.

Reviving this thread. Just applied and was approved for Global Entry. Received my card and it's:

FULL MIDDLE LAST

My DL, Passport, UA Mileage Plus are all:

FULL M LAST

Had my GOES number applied to a reservation...no precheck. Read up online, including this thread. Decided to call TSA. Response:

"Since you only have Global Entry only, that name will be used for PreCheck, thus it will need to match your reservations/BP's."

Ugh. Now I have a call into GOES on how to change the GOES account to MI. Looks like I'll have to schlep it to the GOES center and pay $25? What a PITA.

I handed them everything at the appointment and it still have full middle. Duh.

Middle name - should I bring passport?
 

My GE application used my full name, as that is what is on my passport. To make sure I get TSAPre, I booked with my full name even though my DL only has a middle initial. It isn't a problem when I fly internationally since I have my passport.

But my first domestic flight is coming up soon since my GE approval, so I wouldn't normally be using my Passport for the TSA ID check. Should I carry it because of the middle name / middle initial situation? Or will I be fine with my DL. Common sense would say that if a ticket has a middle name but the corresponding initial is on an ID it would be fine. But I never assume common sense with the TSA.

You should be fine with using just your DL with the initial there. What I do is use my GE/Nexus card as my ID for TSA anyways. TSA doesn't need to know my address and I have had instances where I didn't get PreCheck (back when international flights didn't qualify) and a few other instances where the TSO saw my GE card and sent me to the the Precheck line or gave me PreCheck lite if it exists at that portal. This isn't a guarantee of that service but it has happened to em.

MI's aren't a problem unless they are different. But, "missing" doesn't really count.

Some people find that they experience a lower % of pre-check selection when their tickets are not booked exactly as the GE name, but that is not confirmed. Having your passport or GE card won't get you pre-check if you aren't pre-selected, so that's a no too.

Were you able to make this work? I went this morning to apply for TSA precheck. Due to my birth certificate having an apostrophe, and my drivers license not having an apostrophe (and Ohio BMV system doesn't support characters of any sort), I decided to apply for a passport rather than be rejected because it doesn't match.

Having read your email, I called Southwest airlines to see if they could put an apostrophe in my name and, as often the case, their system won't support it. Did you find a way around it with AA? I dont' want to waste my money on TSA Precheck if it isn't going to work.

I'm surprised they haven't been able to fix this issue yet. There are a lot of us with apostrophe's. Can you offer any support?

Question - apostrophe help!
 

Below, what does AS stand for? I would like to do this. I travel ALOT and really would like precheck but my apostrophe is messing me up. Can you offer any support?

AS = Alaska Air

Great to know
 

Thanks for this! Just got my GE today, tried entering it and no pre-check. Good to know it's not the apostrophe!

My GE KTN didn't work right away. Have to give it a few days to get activated in the TSA's system.

Out of curiosity, what happens if there is a middle name on GE and that entire middle name is missing from the airline booking?

PreCheck name issue - space sensitive?
 

Just got approved for GE and PreCheck and naturally am a bit excited :D

But I read about how the names have to exactly match for PreCheck to work...

My first name is (e.g.) John William Allen (yes, a first name of three words) and that's what's on my GOES and passport. But because of a shortage in space my name on AA (FFP, BP, everything) goes by Johnwilliamallen. Will I have a problem with getting pre check because of that?

I've seen a lot of info about middle names and stuff but mine is strictly a space issue within my first name. I wonder if that's okay...(AA disregards spaces for names). If I call AA to change my name, it'll become John William Al (cut short) and in that case that won't meet the requirements either?

I started booking my domestic tickets with my full name to match my PC account - the tickets don't have enough characters, but it hasn't affected my selection that the boarding pass is cut off/truncated. Are you truncating it or is AA? That might make a difference.

Also, TSA has not complained that my driver's license doesn't have my full middle name, just my middle initiial.

You are probably fine on your first trip, but if not, just modify your AA profile. I had to fuss around a bit a few years ago with my Concur profile. Flights I booked on United's site were fine, things booked on Concur never got Pre-Check. I found out I had a space between my first and middle names on one and not the other.

Thanks everyone! Update - if this helps others in the future - I was able to get PRE with my BPs despite the conflict of having and not having spaces in my first name between GOES and AA. Happy flying!