I know in the past I've been told the names on the tickets need to match the names on the passports. But when I booked on line with Austrian Airlines tonight, they did not give me an option to include middle names. So my ticket reads first name, last name and my passport reads first name, middle name, last name. Is this okay? There was absolutely no option on the website to add a middle name. Please let me know if this may be a problem, since I think I can possibly try to make a change within 24 hours of booking?
Thanks!
Posted by
Green Bay
21151 posts
That is because many Europeans do not generally use middle names. The use of a middle name or initial is an Americanocentric construct. Many airlines still have only so many spaces in the reservation system for the name field anyway. Travel agents always hammer on this issue because they want to cover their hinders.
Posted by
Chicago
8165 posts
speaking as a traveler that books tickets for others in my party not knowing middle names
and as a former pax service agent at Virgin Atlantic that happens all the time nothing to worry about
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
I never use the middle name or the III listed on the passport -- picked up from the birth certificate. Never had a question asked.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5507 posts
Not a problem. Austrians think middle names are weird.
Posted by
OP
Ithaca, NY, USA
741 posts
Thanks everyone!!! One item to remove from my "travel worry list." On to the next 999! :)
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5507 posts
Travel should be a cause for joy - not worry!
Posted by
OP
Ithaca, NY, USA
741 posts
Emily, I do agree with you! I very much enjoy figuring out where to visit and how to organize our time...that's half the fun of the trip. And love the actual travel itself. I do find searching for and purchasing plane tickets to be stressful, however, and I'm very happy to have checked that off my list this time around!
Most of my 999 remaining worries aren't about the trip per se, but about making sure I have a good plan in place for my elderly mother, who has had a very rough 2 years health-wise. I desperately need a vacation....but, at the same time, I need to make sure I've put everything in place to ensure she is well cared for and that there is a comprehensive plan in place in case of unforeseen circumstances while we are so far away.