United gave me a sex change!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Silicon Valley
Programs: UA GS, WN A-List, AA Exec Plat, National Emerald
Posts: 1,020
United gave me a sex change!
My name is
Mr. Robert A Reamworks
Since 3/3, my boarding passes say
Mr. ROBERTA REAMWORKS
or sometimes
REAMWORKS ROBERTAMR
I just called the UA GS hotline, and they say there's NOTHING they can do about this. The way it was explained to me is that the system internally stores it as LASTNAME-MIDDLE INITIAL-MR with no space, and it tries to space the names by guessing when it prints them out.
So I will have to be "Roberta" and explain to the TSA everytime my name doesn't match my DL, because that may mean I'm a terrorist! (And yes, I've been hassled over this several times.)
Mr. Robert A Reamworks
Since 3/3, my boarding passes say
Mr. ROBERTA REAMWORKS
or sometimes
REAMWORKS ROBERTAMR
I just called the UA GS hotline, and they say there's NOTHING they can do about this. The way it was explained to me is that the system internally stores it as LASTNAME-MIDDLE INITIAL-MR with no space, and it tries to space the names by guessing when it prints them out.
So I will have to be "Roberta" and explain to the TSA everytime my name doesn't match my DL, because that may mean I'm a terrorist! (And yes, I've been hassled over this several times.)
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,252
My name is
Mr. Robert A Reamworks
Since 3/3, my boarding passes say
Mr. ROBERTA REAMWORKS
or sometimes
REAMWORKS ROBERTAMR
I just called the UA GS hotline, and they say there's NOTHING they can do about this. The way it was explained to me is that the system internally stores it as LASTNAME-MIDDLE INITIAL-MR with no space, and it tries to space the names by guessing when it prints them out.
So I will have to be "Roberta" and explain to the TSA everytime my name doesn't match my DL, because that may mean I'm a terrorist! (And yes, I've been hassled over this several times.)
Mr. Robert A Reamworks
Since 3/3, my boarding passes say
Mr. ROBERTA REAMWORKS
or sometimes
REAMWORKS ROBERTAMR
I just called the UA GS hotline, and they say there's NOTHING they can do about this. The way it was explained to me is that the system internally stores it as LASTNAME-MIDDLE INITIAL-MR with no space, and it tries to space the names by guessing when it prints them out.
So I will have to be "Roberta" and explain to the TSA everytime my name doesn't match my DL, because that may mean I'm a terrorist! (And yes, I've been hassled over this several times.)
#4
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: DAL
Posts: 3,385
I don't think this will be an issue. In the future you can just omit the middle initial and it will solve you problems. Most airline computer systems around the world put the middle name with the first name. That is because on passports the middle name appears in the line given name and not surnames.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA 1K MM, SPG Plat For Life, Marriott Plat, Nexus/GlobalEntry
Posts: 9,198
Just email MP customer service and ask them to remove your middle initial from your account.... I did this very thing in March and it was no problem (although it did take a few weeks for them to complete the request). As long as you use your full name in the secure flight info you don't need your middle initial printed on your BP's.
#7
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Hyatt GLOB, Marriott Lifetime PLT, UA 1K 1MM.
Posts: 1,728
i assume that's a SHARES thing as my BP's have always said LASTNAME/BOBDMR for as long as i can remember (just checked my BP from yesterday's flight, same thing). first time i've ever heard of it being a problem though, for all the screwups that happen with the TSA, usually they're smart enough to figure that part out...
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SEA or BGR, Lower Earth Orbit
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 17,216
i very literally have the same problem, aside from a strange look from time to time from the tsa i have never had a problem. my solution? i simply stopped using my middle name. btw you can't blame this on shares. united would mess things up before, and continential would not...
#11
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,867
My name is
Mr. Robert A Reamworks
Since 3/3, my boarding passes say
Mr. ROBERTA REAMWORKS
or sometimes
REAMWORKS ROBERTAMR
I just called the UA GS hotline, and they say there's NOTHING they can do about this. The way it was explained to me is that the system internally stores it as LASTNAME-MIDDLE INITIAL-MR with no space, and it tries to space the names by guessing when it prints them out.
So I will have to be "Roberta" and explain to the TSA everytime my name doesn't match my DL, because that may mean I'm a terrorist! (And yes, I've been hassled over this several times.)
Mr. Robert A Reamworks
Since 3/3, my boarding passes say
Mr. ROBERTA REAMWORKS
or sometimes
REAMWORKS ROBERTAMR
I just called the UA GS hotline, and they say there's NOTHING they can do about this. The way it was explained to me is that the system internally stores it as LASTNAME-MIDDLE INITIAL-MR with no space, and it tries to space the names by guessing when it prints them out.
So I will have to be "Roberta" and explain to the TSA everytime my name doesn't match my DL, because that may mean I'm a terrorist! (And yes, I've been hassled over this several times.)
#12
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Southern California, GVA, SIN, LHR, BRU, CDG
Programs: UA LT GS 4.12MM (4.08MM BIS), AA EXP 1.86MM ,DL DM 1.1MM, HH LT Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,182
I had the identical "sex change" on UA...and it has been going on for the last 30+ years...with numerous attempts to correct the problem The only time it was ever an issue was on a couple of mid-80s international flights where the First Class amenity kits were gender specific...I ended up with a couple of female kits issued based on the flight manifest...which Mrs. 1KPath used and appreciated when I got home! I never experienced any problem with TSA...but I did get teased about it in Paris by a very attractive customer service agent
#13
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: 1K on UA, Platinum on CO
Posts: 336
I don't think it is a big issue - Mine has always done this.
COdbaUA did address a response to me on a concern as "MS." they did not respond to the e-mail I sent them back that my title is Dr. and I'm a MAN as it clearly says in EVERY piece of data they have for me.
COdbaUA did address a response to me on a concern as "MS." they did not respond to the e-mail I sent them back that my title is Dr. and I'm a MAN as it clearly says in EVERY piece of data they have for me.
#14
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 182
There's nothing new here to blame on the CO takeover. pmUA has been rendering my "Michael A" as "Michaela" for many years . . . and, if I remember correctly, it used to be without the "Mr."
#15
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,933
So I will have to be "Roberta" and explain to the TSA every time my name doesn't match my DL, because that may mean I'm a terrorist! (And yes, I've been hassled over this several times.)
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