Flying Soon? Dust Off That Middle Name -- baltimoresun.com

Flying Soon? Dust Off That Middle Name -- baltimoresun.com: "Does your passport or driver's license include a full middle name that you normally don't use? If so, you'll have to include that name the next time you fly within the United States -- and by December if you fly overseas. That new requirement seems to be sneaking up on a lot of unsuspecting travelers, and, apparently, unsuspecting airlines as well.

The requirement comes from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the same friendly folks who brought you taking off your shoes in a security line and limiting your carry-on liquids. The idea is supposed to make it easier for travelers, airlines, and TSA to avoid ID confusion and hassles at airports. Because the master lists of questionable travelers are apparently in full-name format, TSA wants to make sure that travel documents conform to its list. The new requirement was supposed to go into effect on May 15 for domestic travel, but when I spoke to people in the industry (before May 15), some expected it to pushed back a month or so.

As I understand it, the basic principle of the new rule is that you must travel under your name as it appears on the ID you use to get on a flight, which generally means either a passport or a driver's license domestically; a passport or a passport-derived 'enhanced' driver's license iD you use to get on a flight, which generally means either a passport or a driver's license domestically; a passport or a passport-derived "enhanced" driver's license internationally. The import:

-- When you make a flight reservation, each airline is supposed to get your full name and pass it along to TSA."

-- Moreover, said a TSA spokesperson, your ticket and/or boarding pass should also be in your full name.

The new requirement poses no problem for you if your passport and driver's license are issued in the form that you normally use in travel. For many, that means first name, middle initial, and last name, or just first and last if you have no middle. As long as you ticket with the name on your ID, TSA won't give you any problem.

But if your official documents include your middle name but you don't use it for travel arrangements, you could be in for some grief:

-- If you have significant differences between ID and usual travel names -- maybe some married or separated women or anyone who has legally changed his/her name -- you may face some hassles.

-- If your frequent flyer registrations don't include your full name, presumably you'll have to re-register each so that your program name matches the name on your tickets and boarding passes. The airlines I spoke with said "no problem," because they worry more about Frequent Flyer numbers than names. But I wonder.

-- Even more troubling is the possibility that you'll have to change one or more of your charge cards. These days, you often have to show the card you used to purchase your e-ticket to an agent when you check in for a flight, and you could encounter a problem if the names don't agree.

As of last week, the situation seemed to be fluid. One airline spokesperson told me that although his airline would collect the full-name info, it wasn't sure it had to use full names on tickets and boarding passes. That, of course, is the opposite of what TSA told me, but apparently the question is subject to some doubt. Airlines also assured me that, if full-name ticketing is required, they will notify frequent flyers about making any changes that might be required. And TSA has announced it will be lenient in case of small differences, at least at first.

It's far too early to see whether boarding agents will require conformance of the names on charge cards and tickets/passes. Apparently, nobody had even thought about this problem.

Clearly, given the uncertainties, you should view this report as a "heads up" rather than the last word. If and when I find a true last word, I'll report it. Meanwhile, be prepared for some confusion. And be grateful if you had the foresight to have your ID issued the way you normally use your name.