Advice for Airline Ticket - Wanting to Avoid Fee to Change Name Details

inotkaayo on 23/05/2024 - 09:15
Last edited 24/05/2024 - 10:09 by 1 other user

Hello OzBargain community, I bought an airline ticket scheduled in a month ago through I Want That Flight site via BYOjet travel agency.

My dilemma is I forgot to add my middle name in the reservation which is in my passport. I have advised the TA already and after asking for my passport they advised that they can edit my details but it's going to cost me $150.

I did bargain my case that the amount is quite substantial for just a change of name. TA replied that it is what it is and if I don't pay for the fee the airline SingAir may cancel my ticket 1 week before the flight without any refund. My flight is in 16 days still yet they have been doing follow-up email and sms for 3 times a week as reminder to pay the fee.

I have tried to contact Singair on this matter but they suggested to direct my inquiries to the TA.

I logged in to Singair website to check my ticket . status is "reserved" - passenger is not ticketed yet. Seat and meal selections will be allowed once ticket has been confirmed.

I would pay for the fee if it is fair but I hate the feeling of being fleeced by my TA.

Question is - Can the airline cancel my ticket ? Should I cough up the fee to TA ?

Thanks and I appreciate your wisdom on this matter

edit: May 24

New development upon checking Singair with my reservation , I found that the passenger details contains my middle name but it is in "lowercase". . This leads me to think that I had added my middle name when buying the ticket and TA might have made the issue on putting in lowercase. I could be paying for their mistake hence the constant follow-ups.

I thought I didn't include my middle name because the booking / email only contains my first and last name.

Travel Airfare

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 23/05/2024 - 09:21
    +10

    Advise for Airline Ticket

    Just pay the $150 for peace piece of mind. Enjoy your holiday.

  • JimmyF on 23/05/2024 - 09:22

    I would pay for the fee if it is fair but I hate the feeling of being fleeced by my TA.

    All 3rd party ticketing services have these fees. It is how they make their money on the cheap tickets.

    Question is - Can the airline cancel my ticket ?

    If you rock up and can't board as your passport doesn't match your ticket details, then yes.

    Should I cough up the fee to TA ?

    Up to you.

    • inotkaayo on 23/05/2024 - 09:39

      TA advise that airline will cancel my ticket a week before the flight

      • jv on 23/05/2024 - 09:57
        +14

        Singapore Airlines does not require a middle name.

        First and last name must be spelled correctly though.

        • [Deactivated] on 24/05/2024 - 14:38
          +1

          I just booked a flight direct through airline and purposely did not include the middle name because they did not ask for it on the booking method. I feel it is more likely to cause issues including the middle name on the first name box and then it formats weird and combines both first and middle names. Just chill, the TA is just trying to make a quick buck off your fear.

  • oscargamer on 23/05/2024 - 09:25
    +2

    Only you can decide OP. Do you like to be risky?

    Opt 1 - Do nothing. You might get refused entry onto the plane. Lost every $.
    Opt 2 - Do nothing. You might get entry onto the plane. Saved $150.
    Opt 3 - Pay $150. You will get on the plane.
    There is no Opt 4.

  • jv on 23/05/2024 - 09:27
    +6

    Should I cough up the fee to TA ?

    @tightarse ????

  • freefall101 on 23/05/2024 - 09:27
    +4

    If it was more than $150 cheaper than going direct through the airline, then you still win. If it was less than that, you've learned an important lesson about why you go direct through the airline.

      • kiitos on 24/05/2024 - 14:07

        The initial saving on airfare

    • donga100 on 23/05/2024 - 15:36
      +1

      Most of that $150 fee will be from the airline anyway.

  • Shadowsfury on 23/05/2024 - 09:28
    +2

    Some airlines and agents care more about middle name than others - my wife and I both have middle names so always make sure they're included when booking

    Personally I'd pay $150 to update it to not run the risk - not worth the hassle of something going wrong when you get to the airport and need to scramble for another ticket.

    If you put the risk at 33% of not being able to use your ticket when you get to the airport, and new tickets are $1000, that's $333 at risk which is more than the $150 cost.

    Note even if you booked direct with the airline they'd often have a similar fee for name changes beyond a certain number of letters.

    • JimmyF on 23/05/2024 - 10:45
      -5

      my wife and I both have middle names

      You say this like it is something different to the normal. In Oz, the normal is to have a middle name!

    • TEER3X on 24/05/2024 - 09:11
      +2

      Never had an issue not putting in middle name, but your YMMV.

  • inotkaayo on 23/05/2024 - 09:28

    Ok that settles it , I will pay for the fee.

    I forgot to mention I have flown without using my middle name for the past 4 years with no issues until I found a post here in ozbargain about someone who was refused entry because of his middle name

    • jackofspade on 23/05/2024 - 09:57
      +2

      Ignorance is bliss

    • onetwothreefour on 23/05/2024 - 10:10
      +1

      Why would you never put your middle name on things if you have one? Just start using your middle name when booking tickets.

    • team teri on 23/05/2024 - 10:11
      +2

      In that case, why would some anecdote trump your own experience?

    • Lunarboogie on 23/05/2024 - 19:03
      +6

      My middle name isn't in my Qantas profile, so whenever I book with them only my first and surname gets used and in 20 years, it's never been an issue. What's changed?

  • FoxJump on 23/05/2024 - 09:31

    is it cheaper to change your name?

    • inotkaayo on 23/05/2024 - 09:33

      no but longer.. change my name in the next passport renewal

    • jv on 23/05/2024 - 10:00

      is it cheaper to change your name?

      No, new passport will cost more

  • pharkurnell on 23/05/2024 - 09:39
    +2

    My dilemma is I forgot to add my middle name in the reservation which is in my passport

    What is it with this lately, this is about the 10th person going thru this… ????

    • Sammy2000 on 23/05/2024 - 15:29

      ADA..something something

  • sumyungguy on 23/05/2024 - 09:41

    Head over to Australian Frequent Flyer forums, there's plenty of shared experience on this topic.

  • mulimulix on 23/05/2024 - 09:48
    +2

    I had this same issue when I flew to Europe with Emirates and it didn't make a difference. Did some googling and most people seemed to have the same experience where middle name didn't matter and it's quite common for TAs to either forget or just not put in your middle name. Might be a case of if the person at check-in really cared maybe they could pull you up but I doubt it.

  • djsweet on 23/05/2024 - 10:01
    +14

    I never put my middle name. I've flown with Singapore Airlines many times. Never been an issue.

  • boomramada on 23/05/2024 - 10:05
    +1

    More reading for you https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/838109

  • team teri on 23/05/2024 - 10:18

    BYOJet are useless. I have a booking with them where I entered all details correctly. The booking confirmation from the agent has my name as it should be, fist name, middle name, last name.

    But they mangled up my name when they sent it to the airline. They joined my first name and middle name into one word (no space between) and sent that concatenated string as first name.

    BYOJet refused to make a change request to fix this in the airline system. The airline tells me only the agent can make that request. The agent tells me they can't make the request. Stalled.

    I don't think I will have a problem checking in, but I already had to pay more for my seat selections, since my SIA frequent flyer account can not be linked (to get a discount). Plus of course I won't get SIA points…

    Won't go through any agent again in future unless the savings are a lot more substantial than they were this time.

    • jv on 23/05/2024 - 10:22
      -1

      They joined my first name and middle name into one word and sent that concatenated string as first name.

      That is how it should be done.

      That is exactly how it appears in your passport.

      Passports don't have a 'middle name' field.

      • team teri on 23/05/2024 - 10:27

        My passports (I have 2) both have the first name and middle name separated by a space. As they should. It's not one word.

        In the past airline tickets showed the name as "Last/First MR" and didn't include the middle name on the printed ticket at all, even if it was mentioned during the booking.

        • jv on 23/05/2024 - 10:31
          +2

          first name and middle name separated by a space

          That is in the first name field.

          read this…

          https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/9zv87wv9#r7

          • team teri on 23/05/2024 - 10:35

            @jv: No, the field on the passport is called "Given Names". And in that field first name and middle name are separated by a space.

            During the booking BYOjet asks for first name and middle name in separate fields. And apparently for their own booking confirmation keep them separate. But not when sending to the airline.

            SIA, for their frequent Flyer program asks for first name and last name. Not for middle name.

            Given this discrepancy no one with a middle name who books with BYOjet can link the frequent flyer account for SIA flights.

            • jv on 23/05/2024 - 10:36
              +2

              @team teri:

              And in that field first name and middle name are separated by a space.

              The software that does the name matching ignores any spaces.

              • Muzeeb on 23/05/2024 - 10:42

                @jv: Sounds like jv has a side hustle generating fake passports. How much are they jv?

                • jv on 23/05/2024 - 10:46

                  @Muzeeb:

                  How much are they jv?

                  5000 Rupees.

                  • Muzeeb on 23/05/2024 - 10:49

                    @jv: PayID completed. I have attached the photoshopped original receipt for your records.

              • team teri on 23/05/2024 - 10:43

                @jv: I am quite sure it will not be an issue during check-in.

                But I can't link the frequent flyer account, which only asks for "First Name". The error is that the name on the ticket does not match the name on the account.

                • jv on 23/05/2024 - 10:47
                  +1

                  @team teri:

                  I can't link the frequent flyer account

                  That's off-topic…

                  Best to start another thread.

                  • team teri on 23/05/2024 - 11:03

                    @jv: Sure. :-)

                    Well at least you (maybe) learned that Australian passports have a field for "Given Names".

                    • jv on 23/05/2024 - 11:04

                      @team teri: I already knew that all passports don't have a field for 'middle name.'

      • trapper on 23/05/2024 - 11:33
        -1

        No that is not how it should be done. There should be a space.

    • MrFunSocks on 24/05/2024 - 12:39
      +4

      I've done dev work for travel companies before and can 100% confirm that when sending the passenger details to the GDS (not the airline, basically no sites go direct to airlines) you have to send the details as LASTNAME/FIRSTNAMEMIDDLENAMETITLE, eg SMITH/JOHNPAULMR for Mr John Paul Smith.

      Here is the documentation for one such GDS, spelling it out explicitly in section 2.6.1.1:

      https://servicehub.amadeus.com/c/portal/view-solution/389313…

      Mr. Edward Charles Jones as 1JONES/EDWARDCHARLESMR

  • capslock on 23/05/2024 - 11:03
    +6

    Missing middle name on a plane ticket is not a big deal. Don't worry about changing the ticket.

    • jv on 23/05/2024 - 11:04
      +1

      Missing middle name on a plane ticket is not a big deal.

      depends on the airline… with most, it is fine.

  • SimAus007 on 23/05/2024 - 11:54
    +2

    As long as it has your first name and last name, you'll be fine, I've done this plenty of times without my middle name and it has not been an issue.

  • Davo1111 on 23/05/2024 - 14:38

    i did this once and didnt have a problem.

  • Meho2026 on 23/05/2024 - 15:15
    +1

    Technically you do need your middle name on your ticket but only a few airlines insist on that.
    Singapore Airlines is not one of those airlines but because you have informed the travel agent of the issue then you have created a problem.
    Your flight isnt ticketed and wont be now unless you pay the fee.
    The only option you have now is to pay the $150 because the T&C will most likely state that any other action you take will result in not being able to fly and not being able to receive a refund.
    No one wants to pay $150 unnecessarily but you're actually getting off lightly because these online agents normally screw people for a lot more than that.
    Its a lesson learned to consider booking directly with the airline in the future. If you are ever in this situation again the airlines are more lenient if you ask for a name "correction" rather than a name "change"

    • S2 on 24/05/2024 - 10:09
      +1

      Perhaps inotkaayo could advise TA that they have been able to reach out to Singapore Airlines who have confirmed that the middle name isn't required? Therefore, TA can close the case.

  • rashn on 23/05/2024 - 15:30

    I never add my middle name but it is on my passport as part of my given names. Etihad, Qatar, Qantas, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Emirates, British Airways and Ryan Air have all been fine with it off the top of my head but I'm sure I have flown with more.

  • Kelvin on 23/05/2024 - 15:30
    +3

    Hmmm 3months ago..

    I booked flights directly with Singapore airlines on their website and also forgot use the middle names for both my wife and I.. (actually to web site demands first name and last name as per passport).

    Did a bit of googling and decided.. enough people said it wasn't an issue.

    Decided to risk it.. rather than making a huge fuss..

    Got back from singapore trip two weeks ago..

    No issues at all…

  • fairyreadgirl on 23/05/2024 - 20:02

    Flight centre has mis-spelled my middle name, they are going to fix but curious if it would be picked up at airport

  • inotkaayo on 24/05/2024 - 07:32

    new update.. edited content

    • Meho2026 on 24/05/2024 - 11:10
      +1

      So has your e ticket been issued?

  • numloxx on 24/05/2024 - 08:22
    -1

    Airlines tickets have different classes, so even in economy there are several classes from the dirt cheap to fully flexible.
    You need to check these before booking and understand the consequences.
    Qantas for example have 14 levels of economy.
    They are cheap for a reason.

    https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/qantas-class-typ…

    Singapore is here
    https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/au/flying-withus/fare-typ…

  • jojo13 on 24/05/2024 - 08:38
    +1

    Exact same thing happened to me. I was so distressed when I saw that, I got in touch with my TA and they said, that is normal practice for tickets and my full name would be on the ticket when I get it. Phew…..Load off!!!

    • inotkaayo on 24/05/2024 - 09:01

      glad to hear..good your TA is transparent with you about the whole thing.

  • rlf on 24/05/2024 - 10:08
    +4

    You don't need your middle name on the ticket ffs

    • Randolph Duke on 24/05/2024 - 13:34

      Depends on the airline.

      • movieman on 24/05/2024 - 13:51
        +2

        Which airlines require it?

        Having flown quite a few airlines, not once have I had any issues by not including a middle name.

        • rlf on 25/05/2024 - 14:31

          Yeah sick of these replies saying some require it - name them.

          • movieman on 25/05/2024 - 20:55
            +1

            @rlf: Exactly.

            Here's my short list of the top of my head that I've flow with no middle name on the ticket, and no issues:

            Tiger
            Jetstar
            Qantas
            Qatar
            Etihad
            Emirates
            Air Asia
            Latam
            Gol
            Copa Airlines
            American Airlines
            Westjet
            Japan Airlines
            British Airways
            Lufthansa
            Singapore Airlines
            Ethiopian Airlines
            Lift
            Ryanair
            Wizzair
            Uzbekistan Airways
            Thai Airways
            El Al
            Air France
            Cathay Pacific
            China Airlines
            Easyjet
            Finnair
            Pegasus Airlines
            Scoot Airlines
            Srilankan Airlines
            Swiss
            TAP Portugal
            United
            Virgin Australia
            Virgin Atlantic

  • Herbse on 24/05/2024 - 13:38
    +2

    I went through all this last year. Stressed for months. Turns out you don't need the middle name on international flights. Ignore all the warnings online and what they tell you when you call.

    As long as the first and last name are as on your passport, you will not have a problem. And even if they are wrong, there's ways around it unless the country/security are real tight about it.

  • Randolph Duke on 24/05/2024 - 14:27

    Ignore all the warnings online and what they tell you when you call.

    And even if they are wrong, there's ways around it unless the country/security are real tight about it.

    Bit contradictory. Why bother putting yourself in a potential situation to begin with is my point of view. If already got the ticket then yeah, I might be inclined to chance it, but easier to just be accurate from the start.

    • MrFunSocks on 24/05/2024 - 14:44

      If already got the ticket then yeah, I might be inclined to chance it

      Getting the ticket isn't the problem. Your passport name not matching the name on the ticket is the problem.

    • Herbse on 24/05/2024 - 16:20

      Because after months of researching online I wasn't able to find a single case where someone had been denied a flight because of no middle name. There's hundreds of comments of people who constantly travel for work with no middle name all around the world and it's never come up.

      A lot of the information online about this and most other things is repeated garbage. And the phone support only want to cover their asses by saying "change it" because it's easy for them to say it than the ticket holder actually doing it.

      • Baysew on 24/05/2024 - 16:28
        +1

        I wasn't able to find a single case where someone had been denied a flight because of no middle name.

        They disappeared without a trace (or middle name) and were never heard from again.

  • Poor Ass on 24/05/2024 - 14:59
    -1

    🍿

  • Excelsior on 24/05/2024 - 15:02
    +1

    Have done many trips and there were a few times where I didn't add my middle name, and never had an issue. I would have thought the only time it would be a real issue is when your first/last name is misspelled/not matching your passport.

    • Poor Ass on 24/05/2024 - 18:59

      International trips?

      • Excelsior on 24/05/2024 - 19:16

        Yup, both domestic and international.

        • Poor Ass on 24/05/2024 - 21:17

          Depends on the airline

  • lltravel on 24/05/2024 - 15:24
    +2

    pretty sure you dont need to enter in your middle name intial

    as long as your first and last name are on the ticket

    Never had any issues at all

  • groook on 24/05/2024 - 16:39

    I had the same issue with Jetstar purchased directly, they changed it for free no issues

  • Pikaloo on 25/05/2024 - 09:19
    +1

    Honestly Singapore Airlines support is really useless. I was told by them to cancel and rebook because of a name issue. They said they couldn't do anything because my itinerary contained another flight through scoot. The next day I contacted customer service again and they said it should be fine and they gave me a case number to reference in the future. They give mixed messages.

    And at the end of the day it wasn't even an issue, wasn't asked about it.

  • Kranbone on 25/05/2024 - 10:40

    Just curious as why the Middle name is so important for carriers. I guess it's some type of law?

    • Pikaloo on 25/05/2024 - 12:21

      Most don't. But Singapore says because their check-in systems are automated if the names don't match you don't get through. But when you're there it isn't an issue.

  • pencilhead on 26/05/2024 - 03:41
    -1

    If it's a "Cultural thing" you don't need to pay. They can change it without cost.

  • icejester on 31/05/2024 - 01:23
    +1

    Only very few airlines/OCD gate attendants make you put in your middle name
    Most go along with IATA guideline Last name and First name is all you need

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