Correct spelling of names

Thanks, Miss B!! Great tip

Its funny... Yesterday, I emailed a Rick-traveler my email address via the personal message here, and got back a message saying I gave him a wrong email. Yup, I mistyped my own last name!! DUH

I think we get over zealous in typing a name we've done over and over again, that we "think" we're doing it right.

Hi Miss B,

... lots of minor errors can have large consequences. For example, an errant name could be one which happens to be on the USA Security No-Fly list...
... Even when I provide my name correctly, hotels seem bent on getting it wrong ... and never heard of me when I try to check in....
... Happy Traveling ! P

When I was told my husband could possibly be denied boarding on our flight to England I have been persistent to get the problem fixed. I thought it had been fixed then when I called NWA today I found they took my husband off the current confirmation number and used the new one from Airfare.com. I'm glad I called because I would not have known there was more of a problem when NWA had fixed it. I'll be diligent in re-reading what I type in the future.

Last year I bought our tickets on Air France's site.
The first passenger's information asked for last name and then first. The second passenger was first name and then second. I didn't notice so of course one of the names was backwards.
I called Air France and they told me it happens all the time. Turned out not to be a problem but don't understand why they wouldn't change the procedure.

Let me reiterate to make sure all your spelling of names and other information is correct, especially your name. I thought I had this cleared up but NOPE! Airfare.com reissued a ticket incorrectly for my husband's correct spelling of his last name but...they used the old e-ticket number. After being told by NWA - there is a paper ticket, no there isn't, yes there is, contact Airfare - after on hold twice for 20 minutes and them disconnecting me I faxed and emailed them. John from AF called on Wed. saying he would call NWA and fix it. He would call on Thurs. Today is Friday, 4 pm and no call and still not fixed. Airfare.com has to reissue a new e-ticket number. NWA just emailed me saying once there is a change the first e-ticket number is no longer open to be used. I'd like Airfare.com to fix their mistake even though I was told I misspelled Tom's last name in the beginning. IF there were CS, they would have called to confirm the last name as the same as mine. Oh well. PAY ATTENTION!

I was aware of this problem and panicked when my United Airlines ticket (booked from United Airlines) had my name spelled incorrectly. I called them (in 2006), and they said that up to 3 letters off would be OK. So if you book from a consolidator and not direct, be really, really careful.

I can't agree with you more. In2006 I booked through a travel agent on Air France. My ticket came through with my first name first. My passport has my last name first. My agent and AirFrance went ballistic. Thanks to my TA spending many hours on the phone I got my ticket refunded and then I had to rebook. Air France would not issue a new ticket even though the error was theirs. Luckily I got on a different airline with a more convienient schedule. My TA said never let this sort of thing happen. Common sence does not rule here. I could have been denied boarding. Passport,visas and tickets should all be exactly the same.

Another few things to watch out for are nicknames (My wife using Cathi but her passport says Catherine) and those who use a middle name or other name as a common name (Son-in-law who uses Mike as a common name though it appears nowhere on his passport)

I always have a problem entering my name in computer systems.

I go by my middle name all of my ID's and other documents are " R. Donald Smith"

When asked what the "R" stands for I tell them the 18th letter in the alphabet, unless I am in a good mood and then I tell them "Robert".

So My passport, drivers license, credit cards every thing else in my life all have my name printed as "R. Donald Smith"

I have had two times when they people filling out paperwork put down my first name after I told them I do not use it. They said it is required by law.

They then asked for my ID and guess what the names do not match. Kinda blew a hole in their system, so they fixed it on their end and I moved on gee I guess they did not know the law after all!

Maybe some day people programing computers will take this into account. When only given the First name Last name choice I enter R_Donald in the first name block the underscore allows a space between my name.

Well, I do believe my problem with the reservation/ misspelled name is fixed! After many contacts and different answers with Airfare.com and disconnecting me - to NWA Cust. Svs w/at least 10 different answers, a two minute call this morning from Lane fixed the eticket number and presto, Tom's online reservation detail is good. But, two minutes later I rec'd from NWA cust. serv. a completely different Conf. #. for this reservation. I called. There is no reservation/no itinerary/on this number just Tom's name. They can't delete it BUT I was assured that the current online Reservation Detail is good!!! In the end, the E-ticket number Airfare had on their "name change" conf. to me is different than the original number. Now the number NWA just gave me on Tom's info is the same as in the beginning of this fiasco with the misspelled name. Go figure what has been happening for two months. I "think" I can breath now.
Look twice on your work. Thanks for the info.