Airline ticket - missing (4th) name

[C-J]

Hoping to tap into the wider knowledge assembled here.

Family member (not me!) has booked flight tickets and forgot to include the 2nd of the 2 passport middle names
e.g. passport: Arthur Bill Craig SMITH
entered as just: Arthur Bill SMITH

Therefore the name does not match the passport. Airline advising that they cannot correct the booking - but that it will probably be ok (though they can't guarantee) - but state that it might not be ok.

Given that legally passport control/airline embarkation presumably have to ensure that tickets and passports 'match' then I can understand why no-one can guarantee - although I don't understand why they can't help and update the booking.

Does anyone have any good experiences or bad experiences of a missing name? - especially when the the 3 names included do match?

Note: The passenger in this case is just 10 years old, so I'm hoping that common sense will prevail.

cheers

Edited by C-J on Saturday 5th March 12:49

[anonymous-user]

I’d say it would be ok, I’ve seen all sorts of mix ups at passport control and you’ve not only got a surname that matches the passport, you’ve even got a first and middle plus surname that matches the passport. It’s pretty obviously the correct person.

[C-J]

El stovey said:

I’d say it would be ok, I’ve seen all sorts of mix ups at passport control and you’ve not only got a surname that matches the passport, you’ve even got a first and middle plus surname that matches the passport. It’s pretty obviously the correct person.

That's what I'm assuming - Meat Loaf worked on the assumption that '2 out of 3 ain't bad' - and they have one more than that!

Not sure what happens if 'computer says No' though.

[4Q]

I never put my middle name on a flight booking

[cashmax]

Not sure I follow this. The ticket will not show the middle names in anycase. So unless the airline have a problem, then no one else will have the first clue.

[MikeM6]

I've just flown without using my middle name which is on my passport. BA didn't seem to care, neither did security in Egypt or Heathrow. Maybe they had bigger problems to deal with

[LuS1fer]

I worried about this once but I worried needlessly, it was fine.

[stuthemong]

I'd gamble that all day long

[x5tuu]

4Q said:

I never put my middle name on a flight booking

Me neither, never been an issue at all

[C-J]

cashmax said:

Not sure I follow this. The ticket will not show the middle names in anycase. So unless the airline have a problem, then no one else will have the first clue.

Fair point re the physical print on the ticket - if there was a snag anywhere I guess it would be with the airline check-in system.

[C-J]

cheers folks. I agree - however it's not me travelling.

My thinking is missing any middle name at all might possibly slightly be a risk - but with 3 names shown it doesn't tickle my risk radar.

But any recent experiences in a range of airports welcomed. cheers.

Edited by C-J on Saturday 5th March 14:03

[Pica-Pica]

4Q said:

I never put my middle name on a flight booking

Until recently, no organisation seemed to be able to spell my middle name, using a computer, because it has an accent. A few years back, when registering my mum’s death, I gave my middle name, saying where the accent was, ‘But I don’t suppose you can do that, though’. ‘Ooh, yes I can’, she replied, positively rapturous.

When I pay for something on line and it says, ‘name as written on card’; most don’t seem to care whether the middle name is exactly as stated, or just the leading initial letter.

[captain_cynic]

El stovey said:

I’d say it would be ok, I’ve seen all sorts of mix ups at passport control and you’ve not only got a surname that matches the passport, you’ve even got a first and middle plus surname that matches the passport. It’s pretty obviously the correct person.

This.

Passport control barely even checks. I've had my name transposed on a ticket before and they didn't even blink (I.E. Smith JOHN instead of John SMITH). The biggest problem was checking in and that was nothing they couldn't sort out.

[S17Thumper]

I’ve had the same (for a 5 week multi-stop trip ). Was fine.

I’ve also had an occasion where my EA booked the trip as my middle then last name! Again, no one seemed to care.

Can’t see you've said where you're going, the US might me ‘stickier’.

[C-J]

Cheers for all inputs - they concurred with my advice to ignore and not worry.

As it happened the airline offered a no charge cancellation - however why that was better business practice and Custer service than offering to just type in the extra name is beyond me - and as the prevailing price had only changed by a few pounds they then rebooked a few minutes later. All sorted.

[Poisson96]

I've had no issues without middle names for either traveller at LHR, STN, MAN, Eindhoven, Krakow and Frankfurt

[C-J]

Poisson96 said:

I've had no issues without middle names for either traveller at LHR, STN, MAN, Eindhoven, Krakow and Frankfurt

Thanks.
They have now rebooked at no penalty - however good to know that LHR was on the good list as that is where they are flying from.

[Xenobian]

Middle names are not required for flight bookings on any airline that I know of, I don't think I've ever specifically put mine on bookings.

[Xenobian]

S17Thumper said:

I’ve had the same (for a 5 week multi-stop trip ). Was fine.

I’ve also had an occasion where my EA booked the trip as my middle then last name! Again, no one seemed to care.

Can’t see you've said where you're going, the US might me ‘stickier’.

It is also no issue for flying into the US, I do this regularly without middle name on booking. As long as the first name and surname are correct as per your passport and visa/ESTA.