United Airlines joined my first name and middle name on boarding pass. How to correct this?
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I am traveling within the US, but my boarding pass shows my first name and middle name joined as such: Firstmiddle instead of First Middle. How do I correct this, or is this something that shouldn't be a problem with identification? I am already on hold with the airline to bring this to their attention, but I am not sure if there's a better way to correct this.
united-airlines domestic-travel
asked Jan 7 at 19:51
question2018
218124
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
43
down vote
favorite
I am traveling within the US, but my boarding pass shows my first name and middle name joined as such: Firstmiddle instead of First Middle. How do I correct this, or is this something that shouldn't be a problem with identification? I am already on hold with the airline to bring this to their attention, but I am not sure if there's a better way to correct this.
united-airlines domestic-travel
asked Jan 7 at 19:51
question2018
218124
6
It's not a problem. I used to fly all the time with tickets with my name in the formSMITH,JMRinstead ofSMITH, JOHN; I have no reference to support this though, and the rules have changed a bit, hence the comment rather than an answer.
– phoog
Jan 7 at 19:55
1
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
2
Another factor I forgot to mention: I never give my middle name when booking tickets, even though my passport shows it.
– phoog
Jan 7 at 20:06
12
Unfortunately, it is sometimes an issue, as specifically United does often not allow online check-in for international travel, as the name in the passport doesn’t match the (incorrectly joined) name on the ticket. I have been complaining for years with them. It is no issue at the airport though, just disables online check-in (and seat selection, meal preferences, etc.)
– Aganju
Jan 7 at 22:55
For some reason my government-issued photo id (driver's license) only lists my middle initial, not my full middle name. I've flown pretty regularly for business for years, and it's never even been mentioned.
– GalacticCowboy
Jan 8 at 14:56
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
43
down vote
favorite
up vote
43
down vote
favorite
I am traveling within the US, but my boarding pass shows my first name and middle name joined as such: Firstmiddle instead of First Middle. How do I correct this, or is this something that shouldn't be a problem with identification? I am already on hold with the airline to bring this to their attention, but I am not sure if there's a better way to correct this.
united-airlines domestic-travel
asked Jan 7 at 19:51
question2018
218124
I am traveling within the US, but my boarding pass shows my first name and middle name joined as such: Firstmiddle instead of First Middle. How do I correct this, or is this something that shouldn't be a problem with identification? I am already on hold with the airline to bring this to their attention, but I am not sure if there's a better way to correct this.
united-airlines domestic-travel
united-airlines domestic-travel
asked Jan 7 at 19:51
question2018
218124
asked Jan 7 at 19:51
question2018
218124
edited Jan 8 at 5:56
user67108
asked Jan 7 at 19:51
question2018
218124
asked Jan 7 at 19:51
question2018
218124
asked Jan 7 at 19:51
question2018
218124
218124
6
It's not a problem. I used to fly all the time with tickets with my name in the formSMITH,JMRinstead ofSMITH, JOHN; I have no reference to support this though, and the rules have changed a bit, hence the comment rather than an answer.
– phoog
Jan 7 at 19:55
1
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
2
Another factor I forgot to mention: I never give my middle name when booking tickets, even though my passport shows it.
– phoog
Jan 7 at 20:06
12
Unfortunately, it is sometimes an issue, as specifically United does often not allow online check-in for international travel, as the name in the passport doesn’t match the (incorrectly joined) name on the ticket. I have been complaining for years with them. It is no issue at the airport though, just disables online check-in (and seat selection, meal preferences, etc.)
– Aganju
Jan 7 at 22:55
For some reason my government-issued photo id (driver's license) only lists my middle initial, not my full middle name. I've flown pretty regularly for business for years, and it's never even been mentioned.
– GalacticCowboy
Jan 8 at 14:56
 |Â
show 6 more comments
6
It's not a problem. I used to fly all the time with tickets with my name in the formSMITH,JMRinstead ofSMITH, JOHN; I have no reference to support this though, and the rules have changed a bit, hence the comment rather than an answer.
– phoog
Jan 7 at 19:55
1
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
2
Another factor I forgot to mention: I never give my middle name when booking tickets, even though my passport shows it.
– phoog
Jan 7 at 20:06
12
Unfortunately, it is sometimes an issue, as specifically United does often not allow online check-in for international travel, as the name in the passport doesn’t match the (incorrectly joined) name on the ticket. I have been complaining for years with them. It is no issue at the airport though, just disables online check-in (and seat selection, meal preferences, etc.)
– Aganju
Jan 7 at 22:55
For some reason my government-issued photo id (driver's license) only lists my middle initial, not my full middle name. I've flown pretty regularly for business for years, and it's never even been mentioned.
– GalacticCowboy
Jan 8 at 14:56
6
6
It's not a problem. I used to fly all the time with tickets with my name in the form
SMITH,JMR instead of SMITH, JOHN; I have no reference to support this though, and the rules have changed a bit, hence the comment rather than an answer.– phoog
Jan 7 at 19:55
It's not a problem. I used to fly all the time with tickets with my name in the form
SMITH,JMR instead of SMITH, JOHN; I have no reference to support this though, and the rules have changed a bit, hence the comment rather than an answer.– phoog
Jan 7 at 19:55
1
1
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
2
2
Another factor I forgot to mention: I never give my middle name when booking tickets, even though my passport shows it.
– phoog
Jan 7 at 20:06
Another factor I forgot to mention: I never give my middle name when booking tickets, even though my passport shows it.
– phoog
Jan 7 at 20:06
12
12
Unfortunately, it is sometimes an issue, as specifically United does often not allow online check-in for international travel, as the name in the passport doesn’t match the (incorrectly joined) name on the ticket. I have been complaining for years with them. It is no issue at the airport though, just disables online check-in (and seat selection, meal preferences, etc.)
– Aganju
Jan 7 at 22:55
Unfortunately, it is sometimes an issue, as specifically United does often not allow online check-in for international travel, as the name in the passport doesn’t match the (incorrectly joined) name on the ticket. I have been complaining for years with them. It is no issue at the airport though, just disables online check-in (and seat selection, meal preferences, etc.)
– Aganju
Jan 7 at 22:55
For some reason my government-issued photo id (driver's license) only lists my middle initial, not my full middle name. I've flown pretty regularly for business for years, and it's never even been mentioned.
– GalacticCowboy
Jan 8 at 14:56
For some reason my government-issued photo id (driver's license) only lists my middle initial, not my full middle name. I've flown pretty regularly for business for years, and it's never even been mentioned.
– GalacticCowboy
Jan 8 at 14:56
 |Â
show 6 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
90
down vote
accepted
There's nothing to correct. This is very common with airline reservation systems, and everyone handling your boarding pass should know what it means.
answered Jan 7 at 19:53
Zach Lipton
54.3k9162225
2
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
19
@question2018 Yes, exactly. My United boarding passes are usually of exactly that form (actually, they usually add "Mr" on the end so it's more like "Smith JohnWaltermr", sometimes even truncated) and nobody blinks twice at it. It does have your last name on there somewhere, right?
– Zach Lipton
Jan 7 at 20:01
13
That likely is a technical standard going back many years. They combine it into two fields and the separator in some transfer is a space - so first and middle name must be without space. Most of those system standards are OLD.
– TomTom
Jan 8 at 8:26
12
It's also a case study in silly validation assumptions when dealing with real-world identifying information. Think of all those "ZIP Code" forms online that require you to live in just one of almost 200 countries available.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 8 at 15:07
3
Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff = Adolph Blaine Charles David .. plus, of course Some societes have naming rules you wouldn't expect
– quetzalcoatl
Jan 9 at 14:42
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
8
down vote
Having worked on airline reservations software development teams, PNR name records are usually using antiquated systems and the names are limited to 10 characters for first-middle name. They id you by your drivers license or passport numbers (if that) If you think John Smith is a problem, wait until you see some Asian and pacific islander names, and even middle eastern names... ArtsrunHovhannisyan, VohanHovhannisyan, and a million duplicate Zhang Wei Changs, Wang Fang Chungs, etc. The systems were not designed to handle long names so they are often, very often abbreviated. I.A.T.A. and others have been trying for decades to fix things like this.
answered Jan 9 at 15:53
Richard Howes
813
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
90
down vote
accepted
There's nothing to correct. This is very common with airline reservation systems, and everyone handling your boarding pass should know what it means.
answered Jan 7 at 19:53
Zach Lipton
54.3k9162225
2
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
19
@question2018 Yes, exactly. My United boarding passes are usually of exactly that form (actually, they usually add "Mr" on the end so it's more like "Smith JohnWaltermr", sometimes even truncated) and nobody blinks twice at it. It does have your last name on there somewhere, right?
– Zach Lipton
Jan 7 at 20:01
13
That likely is a technical standard going back many years. They combine it into two fields and the separator in some transfer is a space - so first and middle name must be without space. Most of those system standards are OLD.
– TomTom
Jan 8 at 8:26
12
It's also a case study in silly validation assumptions when dealing with real-world identifying information. Think of all those "ZIP Code" forms online that require you to live in just one of almost 200 countries available.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 8 at 15:07
3
Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff = Adolph Blaine Charles David .. plus, of course Some societes have naming rules you wouldn't expect
– quetzalcoatl
Jan 9 at 14:42
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
90
down vote
accepted
There's nothing to correct. This is very common with airline reservation systems, and everyone handling your boarding pass should know what it means.
answered Jan 7 at 19:53
Zach Lipton
54.3k9162225
2
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
19
@question2018 Yes, exactly. My United boarding passes are usually of exactly that form (actually, they usually add "Mr" on the end so it's more like "Smith JohnWaltermr", sometimes even truncated) and nobody blinks twice at it. It does have your last name on there somewhere, right?
– Zach Lipton
Jan 7 at 20:01
13
That likely is a technical standard going back many years. They combine it into two fields and the separator in some transfer is a space - so first and middle name must be without space. Most of those system standards are OLD.
– TomTom
Jan 8 at 8:26
12
It's also a case study in silly validation assumptions when dealing with real-world identifying information. Think of all those "ZIP Code" forms online that require you to live in just one of almost 200 countries available.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 8 at 15:07
3
Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff = Adolph Blaine Charles David .. plus, of course Some societes have naming rules you wouldn't expect
– quetzalcoatl
Jan 9 at 14:42
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
90
down vote
accepted
up vote
90
down vote
accepted
There's nothing to correct. This is very common with airline reservation systems, and everyone handling your boarding pass should know what it means.
answered Jan 7 at 19:53
Zach Lipton
54.3k9162225
There's nothing to correct. This is very common with airline reservation systems, and everyone handling your boarding pass should know what it means.
answered Jan 7 at 19:53
Zach Lipton
54.3k9162225
answered Jan 7 at 19:53
Zach Lipton
54.3k9162225
answered Jan 7 at 19:53
Zach Lipton
54.3k9162225
answered Jan 7 at 19:53
Zach Lipton
54.3k9162225
54.3k9162225
2
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
19
@question2018 Yes, exactly. My United boarding passes are usually of exactly that form (actually, they usually add "Mr" on the end so it's more like "Smith JohnWaltermr", sometimes even truncated) and nobody blinks twice at it. It does have your last name on there somewhere, right?
– Zach Lipton
Jan 7 at 20:01
13
That likely is a technical standard going back many years. They combine it into two fields and the separator in some transfer is a space - so first and middle name must be without space. Most of those system standards are OLD.
– TomTom
Jan 8 at 8:26
12
It's also a case study in silly validation assumptions when dealing with real-world identifying information. Think of all those "ZIP Code" forms online that require you to live in just one of almost 200 countries available.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 8 at 15:07
3
Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff = Adolph Blaine Charles David .. plus, of course Some societes have naming rules you wouldn't expect
– quetzalcoatl
Jan 9 at 14:42
 |Â
show 6 more comments
2
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
19
@question2018 Yes, exactly. My United boarding passes are usually of exactly that form (actually, they usually add "Mr" on the end so it's more like "Smith JohnWaltermr", sometimes even truncated) and nobody blinks twice at it. It does have your last name on there somewhere, right?
– Zach Lipton
Jan 7 at 20:01
13
That likely is a technical standard going back many years. They combine it into two fields and the separator in some transfer is a space - so first and middle name must be without space. Most of those system standards are OLD.
– TomTom
Jan 8 at 8:26
12
It's also a case study in silly validation assumptions when dealing with real-world identifying information. Think of all those "ZIP Code" forms online that require you to live in just one of almost 200 countries available.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 8 at 15:07
3
Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff = Adolph Blaine Charles David .. plus, of course Some societes have naming rules you wouldn't expect
– quetzalcoatl
Jan 9 at 14:42
2
2
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
19
19
@question2018 Yes, exactly. My United boarding passes are usually of exactly that form (actually, they usually add "Mr" on the end so it's more like "Smith JohnWaltermr", sometimes even truncated) and nobody blinks twice at it. It does have your last name on there somewhere, right?
– Zach Lipton
Jan 7 at 20:01
@question2018 Yes, exactly. My United boarding passes are usually of exactly that form (actually, they usually add "Mr" on the end so it's more like "Smith JohnWaltermr", sometimes even truncated) and nobody blinks twice at it. It does have your last name on there somewhere, right?
– Zach Lipton
Jan 7 at 20:01
13
13
That likely is a technical standard going back many years. They combine it into two fields and the separator in some transfer is a space - so first and middle name must be without space. Most of those system standards are OLD.
– TomTom
Jan 8 at 8:26
That likely is a technical standard going back many years. They combine it into two fields and the separator in some transfer is a space - so first and middle name must be without space. Most of those system standards are OLD.
– TomTom
Jan 8 at 8:26
12
12
It's also a case study in silly validation assumptions when dealing with real-world identifying information. Think of all those "ZIP Code" forms online that require you to live in just one of almost 200 countries available.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 8 at 15:07
It's also a case study in silly validation assumptions when dealing with real-world identifying information. Think of all those "ZIP Code" forms online that require you to live in just one of almost 200 countries available.
– Lightness Races in Orbit
Jan 8 at 15:07
3
3
Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff = Adolph Blaine Charles David .. plus, of course Some societes have naming rules you wouldn't expect
– quetzalcoatl
Jan 9 at 14:42
Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff = Adolph Blaine Charles David .. plus, of course Some societes have naming rules you wouldn't expect
– quetzalcoatl
Jan 9 at 14:42
 |Â
show 6 more comments
up vote
8
down vote
Having worked on airline reservations software development teams, PNR name records are usually using antiquated systems and the names are limited to 10 characters for first-middle name. They id you by your drivers license or passport numbers (if that) If you think John Smith is a problem, wait until you see some Asian and pacific islander names, and even middle eastern names... ArtsrunHovhannisyan, VohanHovhannisyan, and a million duplicate Zhang Wei Changs, Wang Fang Chungs, etc. The systems were not designed to handle long names so they are often, very often abbreviated. I.A.T.A. and others have been trying for decades to fix things like this.
answered Jan 9 at 15:53
Richard Howes
813
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
Having worked on airline reservations software development teams, PNR name records are usually using antiquated systems and the names are limited to 10 characters for first-middle name. They id you by your drivers license or passport numbers (if that) If you think John Smith is a problem, wait until you see some Asian and pacific islander names, and even middle eastern names... ArtsrunHovhannisyan, VohanHovhannisyan, and a million duplicate Zhang Wei Changs, Wang Fang Chungs, etc. The systems were not designed to handle long names so they are often, very often abbreviated. I.A.T.A. and others have been trying for decades to fix things like this.
answered Jan 9 at 15:53
Richard Howes
813
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
Having worked on airline reservations software development teams, PNR name records are usually using antiquated systems and the names are limited to 10 characters for first-middle name. They id you by your drivers license or passport numbers (if that) If you think John Smith is a problem, wait until you see some Asian and pacific islander names, and even middle eastern names... ArtsrunHovhannisyan, VohanHovhannisyan, and a million duplicate Zhang Wei Changs, Wang Fang Chungs, etc. The systems were not designed to handle long names so they are often, very often abbreviated. I.A.T.A. and others have been trying for decades to fix things like this.
answered Jan 9 at 15:53
Richard Howes
813
Having worked on airline reservations software development teams, PNR name records are usually using antiquated systems and the names are limited to 10 characters for first-middle name. They id you by your drivers license or passport numbers (if that) If you think John Smith is a problem, wait until you see some Asian and pacific islander names, and even middle eastern names... ArtsrunHovhannisyan, VohanHovhannisyan, and a million duplicate Zhang Wei Changs, Wang Fang Chungs, etc. The systems were not designed to handle long names so they are often, very often abbreviated. I.A.T.A. and others have been trying for decades to fix things like this.
answered Jan 9 at 15:53
Richard Howes
813
edited Jan 9 at 16:17
answered Jan 9 at 15:53
Richard Howes
813
answered Jan 9 at 15:53
Richard Howes
813
answered Jan 9 at 15:53
Richard Howes
813
813
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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6
It's not a problem. I used to fly all the time with tickets with my name in the form
SMITH,JMRinstead ofSMITH, JOHN; I have no reference to support this though, and the rules have changed a bit, hence the comment rather than an answer.– phoog
Jan 7 at 19:55
1
To give a better example, if your name was John Walter Smith, it would be Johnwalter if your boarding pass was showing up like mine is right now. Is that still okay?
– question2018
Jan 7 at 19:59
2
Another factor I forgot to mention: I never give my middle name when booking tickets, even though my passport shows it.
– phoog
Jan 7 at 20:06
12
Unfortunately, it is sometimes an issue, as specifically United does often not allow online check-in for international travel, as the name in the passport doesn’t match the (incorrectly joined) name on the ticket. I have been complaining for years with them. It is no issue at the airport though, just disables online check-in (and seat selection, meal preferences, etc.)
– Aganju
Jan 7 at 22:55
For some reason my government-issued photo id (driver's license) only lists my middle initial, not my full middle name. I've flown pretty regularly for business for years, and it's never even been mentioned.
– GalacticCowboy
Jan 8 at 14:56