Name on airline ticket...help.
 

My husband has flown before with tickets made out with his full first name, but his driver's ID has the shortened version for example Dave vs. David.
It hasn't been a problem in the past and it wasn't when we flew this same airline last year, but I'm wondering if we've just been lucky.
I hesitate to call the airline to ask because since this airline has outsourced it's call center it hasn't beem a pleasant experience calling up with questions.
Anybody know if this is a big deal?

I'd repost this on the Airlines forum. There are some airline-knowledgeable people who check that forum often.

It might be worthwhile to get a driver's license with his proper name on it.

And IMO and IME it won't be a problem in the future, either.

It shouldn't be a problem with domestic flights, but he should make sure his name on a passport agrees with names on air tickets for foreign travel.

Yes this for travel with in the US.
I actually never gave the airline my husband's name, they used what they had on file under his frequent flyer number.
Thanks for responses.

Does your husband have a passport with his full first name on it? If so, I'd bring that along, just in case. My mother-in-law did have trouble flying domestically as her ticket had her nickname on it rather than her full first name. She was able to fly, but it took some time at the airport to straighten out the matter (for both segments of her round trip flight.)

There are actually 2 parts to your question:
If you have bought the ticket using "Dave" and you put David's ff# in the record, you are fine.
If you didn't put any ff# in the record and try to get the ff miles after you have flown, the difference in names will be a problem. The situation is not as bad if it is Dave vs David, it becomes more of an issue if the traveler uses his middle name and the ticket is in the first name. For example Allen David Jones who has Dave on his driver's license but Allen on his ticket. So I think he is OK.

If you are asking if you fly internationally and his passport has "Dave" not David, there still shouldn't be a problem. The agents are pretty savvy to this situation. Same as the driver's license.

Are you asking a TSA question The TSA situation really depends on the TSA agent, and people in general are afraid to argue with the TSA. I travel a lot for work, and have a similar situation to your husband, but have never been turned back by the TSA. More info on the TSA policies on documents can be found at http://www.tsa.dhs.gov/what_we_do/index.shtm

Recently I had to book over the phone and the agent was most definitely nto from or i think IN the US. he got the spelling of my name wtong. I called delta and they changed the info over the phone. It should not be a problem for you to call the airline and just tell them the situation and have them change it from David to dave. If they say they can't do it ask for a supervisor and if they say no, hang up and try again. I would also change his FF name while you're at it-- though my DH has that name situation, and as long as we give the right FF number, it doesn't matter if i use his given name or the shortened version. We always use his given name on tix though since that is what his license says.

Simplest thing would be to get a new drivers' license with his full name on it. (Why would he have used "Dave" on it anyway?)

Even though many states' DMV offices can be a problem, I'd rather deal with them than the call-center of an airline on an issue like this. And this will simply erase the problem in the future.

g2......YOu are unfortunately getting a lot of misinformation in the responses.Your question is simple and straightforward.It is not a multi-edged sword.The name on the ticket MUST match the name on the ID.Letter for letter.Dont worry about the name on the frequent flier account:that can be dealt with later and has NOTHING to do with being boarded or not being boarded on the flight.According to the info you have posted, the name on the ticket is "Dave" and the name on the ID is "Dave".Have a nice day.

beachboi- according to her post, the name on the ticket is david and the name on the ID is dave, therein lies the issue.

I agree that the names should match exactly, which is why i called the airline when there was a spelling error on a trip i planned. I wouldn't chance it. i'd change one or the other.

Thanks for all the info. Yes driver's license says "Dave" ticket says"David". I have no idea why my husband put Dave on his ID, but I'm sure it's just been that way since he was 16.
No he doesn't have a passport, although it was New Year's resolution so I guess we should get on that one!
When I bought our tickets on this airline last year, I gave them David, because for some stupid reason I thought that was what was on his ID. We didn't have a problem at all.
When I enrolled our whole family in their FF program it went through as David. When I booked this year I used a reward coupon and the ticket agent just asked for his FF #. Whew!
Anyway I think I'll just call the airline and give them the scoop. Their call center used to be in Hawaii and it was a piece of cake calling them up, now not so much. In fact I told the agent that my husband's ID said Dave, not David, but I don't think it sunk in. I really doubt we'll have a problem, but you never know what kind of mood your TSA agent might be in.