Author Topic: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?  (Read 12026 times)

Offline azhoopsfan

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 373
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Booked a flight on Alaska with BA miles (Avios) and they incorrectly spelled my 3-year-old daughter's first name (one letter off).  I called BA and they said they can't fix it but called Alaska and noted the record and that it's okay as long as it's 3 letters of fewer that are wrong. 

I then called Alaska twice.  The first agent told me it is a problem and to call BA back to have them fix it.  The second agent said that when I call back with the passport information, the correct name can be added then and that's the info sent to TSA.  She said that the misspelled first name on the ticket won't be a problem b/c the TSA will have the correct name and security won't be a problem because she's a minor. 

Any thoughts?

Offline damaxer91

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 3182
  • Total likes: 64
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2011, 11:19:34 AM »
No worries. Have had this many times and it has never been an issue

Offline sky121

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 11513
  • Total likes: 168
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 12
    • View Profile
Re: Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2011, 11:20:37 AM »
Booked a flight on Alaska with BA miles (Avios) and they incorrectly spelled my 3-year-old daughter's first name (one letter off).  I called BA and they said they can't fix it but called Alaska and noted the record and that it's okay as long as it's 3 letters of fewer that are wrong. 

I then called Alaska twice.  The first agent told me it is a problem and to call BA back to have them fix it.  The second agent said that when I call back with the passport information, the correct name can be added then and that's the info sent to TSA.  She said that the misspelled first name on the ticket won't be a problem b/c the TSA will have the correct name and security won't be a problem because she's a minor. 

Any thoughts?

Youll PROBABLY be fine.

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline SuperFlyer

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 9351
  • Total likes: 414
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2011, 06:22:40 PM »
No worries, I actually change sometimes names with intend.

As long as it looks like the real name, and, NOT like another name.

Offline dealvr

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 1192
  • Total likes: 5
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
  • Programs: AA ExPlat, Qantas Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2011, 06:23:51 PM »
Not to worry. I've had similar experiences and never had an issue.
Hey there! I am using WhatsApp.

Offline Nitantnel

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 2957
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2011, 08:35:23 PM »
No worries, I actually change sometimes names with intend.

As long as it looks like the real name, and, NOT like another name.

Curious as to why?

Offline Cbs

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 4466
  • Total likes: 19
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Programs: HHonors Gold, Delta Diamond Medallion, AA Platinum Pro
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2011, 08:47:29 PM »
U should be fine.  I once flew with a minor and i didnt realize till I got to the airport that his tickets had a few letters of his first name and a few of his last name. 
His name is tzvi Menashe and iy said "tzmens"!  This was a flight flying out of China. I just told the chinese it was a messup.  We were fine


Offline Yeki89

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Mar 2011
  • Posts: 3845
  • Total likes: 19
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 5
    • View Profile
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2011, 08:51:01 PM »
i once flew with my named spelled with an a instead of an o. no prob
ex. boruch - baruch, binyomin - binyamin ect

Offline azhoopsfan

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 373
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2011, 11:45:12 PM »
Thanks everyone.

Offline MLM

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jul 2010
  • Posts: 1206
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
  • Programs: AA LT PLAT, UA LT PP, FPC LT PLAT, HH DIAMOND,
Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2011, 12:05:24 AM »
Legally TSA can let you through even if your name does not match the ticket at all. As long as you have valid ID.

I once flew and my wife only had maiden name ID and ticket was new name. No proof of marriage. Airline tried charging me $150 for name change. Another agent tipped me off to try to go through security anyway. She said the name matching thing is an airline rule. TSA doesn't care as long as you have valid ID.

We got through Security and as we were finishing up the TSA agent that checked us told us "as they say in Italian " gay gezunt aheit" .

I guess YMMV and we got lucky

Offline txtmax4

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 6954
  • Total likes: 12
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2011, 12:49:00 AM »
It probably isn't a problem but since you mentioned British Airways, let me share my story and rant about how ridiculous they are (and their system).
I once booked a Lan ticket with BA miles over the phone for an infant named Devorah and the agent told me that I must pick a title before the name, I didn't know infants have titles as well but he wouldn't book it unless I picked something so I settled at "miss". (Don't even get me started on THAT one! Did you see how many choices they have on their website?? I pity the people who have to carry most of those titles including "Tengku", "viscountess" and "Graaf".
Anyway, to make the long story short the system turned "Miss Devorah" into "DMiss" that's how the name appeared on the ticket, DMiss.
BA said they couldn't change it although they clearly saw in the reservation that the name was Devorah but since the ticket was already booked the only thing they were offering to do was cancel and rebook which meant cancelling the ticket of the adult flying with the infant and risking not finding availability.
It took multiple calls and escalation until they finally changed the name on the ticket without cancelling anything.
So if you want peace of mind, it IS doable, just gotta keep on trying.
Good luck!
If You See Something, Say Something!!

Offline elikay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 5400
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #11 on: December 01, 2011, 01:14:12 AM »
It probably isn't a problem but since you mentioned British Airways, let me share my story and rant about how ridiculous they are (and their system).
I once booked a Lan ticket with BA miles over the phone for an infant named Devorah and the agent told me that I must pick a title before the name, I didn't know infants have titles as well but he wouldn't book it unless I picked something so I settled at "miss". (Don't even get me started on THAT one! Did you see how many choices they have on their website?? I pity the people who have to carry most of those titles including "Tengku", "viscountess" and "Graaf".
Anyway, to make the long story short the system turned "Miss Devorah" into "DMiss" that's how the name appeared on the ticket, DMiss.
BA said they couldn't change it although they clearly saw in the reservation that the name was Devorah but since the ticket was already booked the only thing they were offering to do was cancel and rebook which meant cancelling the ticket of the adult flying with the infant and risking not finding availability.
It took multiple calls and escalation until they finally changed the name on the ticket without cancelling anything.
So if you want peace of mind, it IS doable, just gotta keep on trying.
Good luck!
Oh, I love picking titles I actually have admiral on one of my accounts. For my wife its Dr as that is gender neutral (so I can be the Dr).

Offline Chaikel

  • Global Moderator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: Jun 2008
  • Posts: 6812
  • Total likes: 174
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 20
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: LH SEN, SPG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Rav Kav Platinum
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #12 on: December 01, 2011, 02:25:17 AM »
"Graaf".
I pity the person with that title, and a name like "Shel R'eai"
Create professional looking itineraries.
Check out eliteitinerary.com

Offline txtmax4

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 6954
  • Total likes: 12
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #13 on: December 01, 2011, 02:47:50 AM »
For my wife its Dr as that is gender neutral (so I can be the Dr).
Why would the neutrality of Dr. help in this case?
If You See Something, Say Something!!

Offline dwkl

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 293
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NJ
  • Programs: AA lifetime platinum
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #14 on: December 01, 2011, 03:13:37 PM »
i as a t/a always dbl/ triple ck spelling but when a mistake does happen we a)add a note in the reservation with the correct spelling
b)call airline and ask them to  notate the reservation as to the correct spelling this can avoid any surprises @ the airport as u can always tell them the airline was advised about the mistake b4 hand
as long as goldstein doesnt turn into hershkowitz your safe  one letter wont affect your flying
can get messy though when girls  change their names after marrige and are still tvling under maiden name etc   they forget to book it with maiden name etc

Offline Cashman

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 424
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #15 on: June 15, 2013, 10:22:14 PM »
Wondering if anyone has any recent experience with this. A friend of mine is flying with 2 kids tomororow Alitalia LAX-FCO.  One of his kids first names is off by one letter.

Offline chff

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 5895
  • Total likes: 686
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 25
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC (not anymore)
  • Programs: All of them...
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #16 on: June 15, 2013, 10:57:50 PM »
As a TA, I already had a client fly with one letter missing in last name (DL/KL/SU) and missing in first name (LH/SQ)

Offline Cashman

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 424
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New Jersey
Re: Misspelled letter in first name of international flight --- Problem?
« Reply #17 on: June 15, 2013, 10:58:26 PM »
Thanks.
As a TA, I already had a client fly with one letter missing in last name (DL/KL/Aeroflot) and missing in first name (LH/SQ)
Thanks