Virgin Atlantic passenger name corrections

Bob63

My latest Virgin Atlantic newsletter included this useful titbit:

For security reasons it is absolutely essential that the name on your booking, ticket and passport are exactly the same. If not, you will be unable to board the flight. This also applies to marriage or maiden names; we can no longer allow passengers to travel by accepting marriage certificates or decree absolutes in conjunction with a passport.
Your booking and ticket must reflect your first and last names only. Middle names are not required. If a mistake has been made, you can amend the name on your booking and ticket to reflect the correct spelling in your passport, up to 2 hours before the flight is due to depart. However you cannot transfer the ticket to another person.
To amend the name on your ticket please contact your travel agent, tour operator or our contact centre. There will be a charge of £30 to amend each name.

Thought it might be of use to someone here.

I still find this slightly bizarre and archaic. Airlines insist I book in the name "Michael", yet those same airlines have me in their frequent flyer programmes as Mike. Surely it isn't beyond the wit of a smart computer system or human passport checker to realise that Mike and Michael are the same.

the_rottweiler

my bro booked flights with ryanair and left one letter out of his sons name (due to bad typing i hope)
He realised within moments of completing the transaction and was charged £80 for adding one letter to the name.
this was a good 6 months before the flight

bazza1603

Mike and Michael are the same.

If your customs in a foreign country you might not know this. If they have problems with this and reject your entry into the country the airline have to fly you home and get a £3k bill.

PBA

cheesy.mike wrote: »

Surely it isn't beyond the wit of a smart computer system or human passport checker to realise that Mike and Michael are the same.

They're not the same. One is your name. The other is a nickname you use. For the purposes of your passport (and therefore any other official use) you use your full proper name.

Bob63

PBA wrote: »

They're not the same. One is your name. The other is a nickname you use. For the purposes of your passport (and therefore any other official use) you use your full proper name.

I understand the reasons, I just think it is ridiculous. I'm Mike on my bank account, my utility bills and all my credit cards. Michael is the name I was given at birth but I never use it.

jmw20

cheesy.mike wrote: »

I understand the reasons, I just think it is ridiculous. I'm Mike on my bank account, my utility bills and all my credit cards. Michael is the name I was given at birth but I never use it.

If thats the case maybe you should look into changing your passport to Mike. Might be simpler.

DavidinSha

I had the same experience flying with Virgin last year and what made worst was the travel agency had two letters spelled wrong (and they were trying to blame my handwritings well, you can't miss the obvious mistake of "David" being spelled as "Daivd" can you?) - and they attempted to ask me paying for it! Of course I complain to the ABTA and wrote 4 letters to the agency MD to have it changed without any charge.