Name should be listed like Smith, John Doe but they switched the first name w/ the middle name. So it is Smith, Doe John. Travel agency says they can't change it and it won't be a problem. We are flying on Cathay Pacific. Has anyone had to do a name change/correction before? We called Cathay Pacific and they said it would be fine as long as the passport has both the first and middle name on there. I'm still a bit worried since we are going overseas. Just wondering if others have gone through this before and if it's possible to correct it. Thanks!

I wouldn't be comfortable with it. In my experience, the name on the ticket has to match the name on the passport. It's fine for the first name only to be on the ticket, or first name and middle initial on the ticket. But swapping the order of the names makes for a different name in my opinion. If it were me I would insist on it being changed. Even if the person on the phone says it's fine, who's to say the person checking you in will think it's ok...with security so strict these days, I would think the check in and security checkers will be very diligent indeed. I have noticed, too, in the last couple of years, they are carefully checking us to our pictures as well. Yes...I'd insist on it being corrected.

Yes, they can be very picky! When leaving Bangkok recently, the immigration officer was very concerned because my daughter's hair style was different from the one on her passport photo (which was taken seven years previously). It took quite a bit of talking to convince him that she was the same person. I definitely would not gamble with a problem with your name.

I think that's sage advice, and I fully agree with KimJapan. Even though everyone at the point of issue, or in the airline office, may be comfortable with it, the point is that you won't be dealing with them once you leave your home, and the people you ARE dealing with may not be "au fait" with the special rules of Cathay Pacific. And that means trouble for you.

I recall a problem my wife had in Varanasi with a ticket issued by their local carrier, Jet Airways. It was printed correctly -- last name, middle name, first name, Mrs -- but the computer ran out of letters right near the end, so the 'Mrs" only got printed as 'Mr'. Guess what happened at the airport, where there are separate entry queues for men and women? Yep, you got it.... they refused to let her through the women's entry because her ticket said 'Mr'.... and they refused to let her through the men's entry, because she obviously wasn't a man. The bottom line was, they wouldn't let her onto the plane! We had to go all the way back to the Jet Airways office and get them to manually write the ticket, and then start the process all over again! Of course, the Jet Airways people thought the officials at the airport were too stupid for words, and that the whole thing was very funny, but we had long since stopped seeing the funny side of the event; it wasn't Jet Airways who were inconvenienced .... it was us! Make them do it right -- you're paying for the ticket and it's your holiday.

I just got off the phone with 2 different Cathay airlines customer service reps. They said it was noted in their computers and both said that it guaranteed that their won't be a problem with Cathay airlines. Tried calling the travel agent to have the name change and pretty much and a shouting match with her because she said there's not problem. Looks like she's not planning to change it for me. Couldn't get a confirmation of the change with Cathay. Not sure where to go from here.

I'd still push for it. The phone agent isn't going to be the person checking you in or clearing you through security. The fact remains that it is one of the check in person's job to be sure the names match, and security's job to be sure the names match. Honestly, I think it might be about 50-50 that you'll have trouble.

We had trouble at security in Thailand a few years ago when our daughter was 4 years old and travelling on her passport issued when she was born...of course the pictures didn't match, and of course the passport was legitimate. Problem was, the seccurity personnel couldn't be sure she was who we said she was since she no longer resembled the 2 week old infant in her photo. We waited quite a while for the group of security guys to confer about what they should do...finally, they decided to ask her what her name was...we got through, yes...but we had trouble with everything right, just as Alan did...his trouble was only one letter missing. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that none of the people you have spoken to are actually going to have any authority whatsoever over whether your name is fine as it is or not. It will come down to the check in and security at the airport on the day you travel. You could depart without trouble, but not be allowed to board your return flight. International flights must provide a list of passengers to US Immigration before arrival, and the names are from the passenger list, from the ticketed passengers. Your name will be wrong. It will not match your passport number. I can just see all kinds of potential problems..check in and security for each flight, passenger lists, immigration...Yes, I'd push and push hard to get it changed. Speak to someone higher up at Cathay Pacific. Speak to someone higher up at your travel agency.

I would ask for a faxed copy of the notes in your record and the names and id numbers of the Cathay employee who guarantees you will have no trouble - not that it will do you much good at security checkpoints.

I would also ask your travel agent to provide you with a written on company letterhead signed letter which states their guarantee that the names on the ticket not matching the passport isn't a problem and that IF you have any problem all expenses incurred because of any problem will be borne by the agency. Don't bother getting into a shouting match over it...politely state what want...if she says no or is angry, politely ask to speak to someone who can help you.

This clearly seems like an agent mistake...you probably have bought a discount ticket that has a fee for reissue, which a name change requires. Of course, the agent doesn't want to pay the fee, and can't very well charge you for it. The airline has it's rules about reissue and won't bend the rules for an agent's mistake.

Here a links with similar questions and answers indicating that the name must match.
http://www.ticked.com/chriscrossings/2004/fire.htm

Yes, I'm not sure what to do now. My travel agency would not help. They are a Chinese Travel Agency and I did get the ticket at a discount. It was one of those package deals. Since this is one of those Chinese Travel Agencies, there is no one else that I can talk to that would help. She's obviously not willing to help me. I paid $1000 for my ticket. Peak season.

Cathay Pacific said only the travel agency can do name changes. They wouldn't provide a faxed copy of the notes in my record.

Not sure what to do now.

Not sure this will do anything but I would call this agent and tell them you intend to post this sad story on every travel forum you can find and post the name of the agency, etc.
Again - I doubt it will move them but its worth a try!

Have your laywer send them an official letter, notifying them that you will hold them legally responsible for any cost or trouble caused by their error in the name. Even a Chinese agency will understand that, that could cost them a lot of money.
Casey.

It's interesting, I think, that this travel agent is so conscious of its obligation to be of service to you and ensure that you have an easy mind about your holiday, that they resort to shouting and arguing (and balnd statements that it won't make any difference -- says them!)rather than doing the relatively-simple act of re-issuing the tickets! It doesn't give you much confidence, does it, that if, despite their reassurance that you won't have any trouble with this botched-up ticket, you actually DID get held up in some foreign country, that the agent would lose any sleep over it!

In Australia there is a federation of travel agents who look after customers' interests in cases where the agent's performance isn't professional. If I found myself in your position, here in Sydney, I'd be onto them like a shot. In your country, is there no one you can complain to?

I note that Cathay Pacific isn't really being very helpful about this, either, are they? That's something for us all on this forum to remember when we come to make our next flight booking. Seems to me that, regardless of whose fault this is and how serious it's likely to prove, Cathay Pacific are in a position to make one of their customers feel at ease by taking a couple of very simple and painless steps. If you ever do set foot on one of their flights, if I were you I'd accidentally bump my food tray -- at the very least! -- into the aisle, and use up ALL the soap!

Alan's reply got me thinking, here in the U.S. we have the USTA which most travel agents are members of. See if your agent is a member and if so, contact them (and/or any other group they are a member of) and let them know. Perhaps they can contact the agent and help. Your agent's brochures should list what they are members of. If not, call them but don't say who you are, tell them you are interested in using them for a big trip and want to know what travel agent socities they belong to. Good luck.

catnap, where are you traveling to? Some countries are more flexible than others.

Asian names are often written with the family name first which can lead to all kinds of mix up in order. As long as all three names are there and accurate, I wouldn't worry about the order.

It sounds like both the airline and the travel agent have dug in their heels and are not likely to help you as that would be admitting they were wrong in the first place.

Immigration officials in some countries (China, Thailand and Indonesia come to mind) occasional use small discrepancies in documentation to encourage, shall we say, a contribution from the person who's under time pressure to catch a plane. When money changes hands the the problem goes away. This isn't right and I wish this weren't true, but it's a fact of travel in some Asian countries. I keep a $US10 handy in an envelope for such problems.

When my son was young he had an interesting boarding pass name. His initials are H.A. and the airlines used the title Master, abbreviated Mster, surname first. So he traveled under the name: Hamster Smith!

I will be traveling from San Francisco to Hong Kong. I have an American name and not a Chinese name. That's why I think there might be a problem.

Because it is international travel, the problem you may most likely have may be in the eyes of the immigration officials in the US. When the passenger list is sent from all US incoming flights, the names MUST match the passports, and they do check. It may not be likely, but it is possible that your whole flight be denied entry to the US because there is a passenger on board whose documentation isn't right. This won't depend on your travel agent's or Cathay's opinions on whether the mistake is ok or not...it will be immigration's call. I did see one case like this recently where a flight was forced to land in Canada...don't remember the exact details, but it did have something to do with the documentation names. With an American name, the problem may be even more likely...Smith, John Robert and Smith, Robert John are surely and definitely two different names.

It really isn't Cathay Pacific's mistake or problem...if the agent or the customer pays the fee to reissue the ticket as outlined in the rules for the fare, then they will happily reissue the ticket. The reason they won't just reissue it is because doing so for free would allow people/agencies to buy up low fares with fake names, then change them after they are resold.

Provided you gave the agent your name correctly in the first place (filled in their form correctly, provided a passport copy or other id for example) and that you did not OK any itinerary for ticketing that had your name wrong on it, then it is the agent's problem and responsibility.

Did you pay with a credit card? If so, dispute the charge...you didn't get what you paid for. Perhaps even get another ticket elsewhere if you can.

I agree with Marmot and I wouldn't worry about it at all. You're going to Hong Kong, where they interchange the first name, middle name, and last name ALL the time! It's the same in China too. When you arrive, they probably won't even know the difference if your names are switched around!, even though you're not Chinese.

From the US Embassy:
"Will I have a problem if the name on my airline ticket does not exactly match the name in my passport?

If your middle name is not included on your ticket, or if your name is shortened or abbreviated on your ticket, you should not have any problems boarding the plane or entering the U.S. This is a common occurrence.



If you have recently changed your name, for example after marriage, and the name in your passport and the name on your ticket are different, we cannot guarantee that you will be allowed to board the plane or enter the United States. That is a decision for your airline and for the immigration officer at the port of entry in the U.S.

We encourage all passengers to travel with all of their documents matching their current legal name. If this is not possible, we encourage passengers to travel with clear documentation about any changes, such as a marriage certificate or change of name certification. The Embassy is unable to guarantee that you will be admitted. "


In this case, the name is not shortened or omitted...it's wrong. I wouldn't give the advice not to worry about it, as it just isn't that simple.

I think the advice to forget about it and don't worry is ill-advised. It has always been my experience when travelling that if something can go wrong, it will; and there are some airport officials who are very happy to make a mountain out of a molehill in order to give themselves the balance of power, especially where the "ugly American" is concerned. I'd be showing this wrong ticket to the US Immigration people AND the Hong Kong embassy and telling them your tale of woe.... let's see how easily THEY are willing to guarantee that this is all a storm in a teacup. My own experience may not be worth much, but my whole family and myself got thrown out of the Czech Republic for a much more minor mistake on the part of the Czech consulate in Sydney... just the number "1" printed on the visa where it SHOULD have said "2". All the explaining in the world didn't help us... it was "off the train at 3:45 in the morning and back to Poland with the lot of you".

Actually, this has happend to me and on Cathay Pacific!!!! One of the letters in my last name was missing, ie Bidle instead of Biddle. I never noticed it because I got the ticket at the last moment at JFK. The agent at check-in noticed it, but let me on the plane anyway. HOWEVER, and this is a BIG HOWEVER, he was obviously gay, and I kind of flirted with him to let me on the plane. So, unless your agent at check-in finds you attractive, you may be out of luck. GO GET A NEW TICKET.

I'm going to give another point of view and may get clobbered for it . If you are flying just the one airlines, CP, I don't think it will be a problem as long as you clear it up at the first time you check into a flight. They can reissue tix at that time in the correct name and should do so when asked . You can't fly with the paper tickets that they issue you anyway, you will be issued bording passes to enter the flight so the tickets are not really tickets they are just receipts saying that you purchased the tickets. That said, I would be all over this Chinese travel agent and would personally pay them a visit. Hope it all works out for you!
Aloha!

HawaiianTraveller's idea about the boarding passes sounds like a good one -- just ask Catrhay Pacific to alter it when issuing the passes -- but I am surprised that, if it's that simple, Cathay Pacific themselves didn't tell you that they would be happy to do this. You'd think they would have jumped at something as easy as this to put you at your ease. Will they actually supply you with a document on their letterhead instructing/authorising their officers that this be done at the check-in counter?

I remain aghast at how little these companies seem to care about customer satisfaction, and how unhelpful they have all been -- not a good way to encourage return business! I hope you've pointed out to them that their attitude has been much-remarked-on in this forum (if I were you, I'd post it at Frommers, Tripadvisor, and Thorn Tree, too!)and that with every day's delay, they are losing potential customers who now wouldn't dream of flying with an airline who was so reluctant to deal with a legitimate passenger concern.