Flight bookings and middle names

.Johanna.

I booked a holiday on Opodo's website where there is only a box for first name and last name for flight booking. The airline's website however has an extra box for middle name and is requesting extra payment to add middle as it is categorised as "name change". I would need to do this before the check-in. I have phoned Opodo, who argued that I have put a "wrong name" in my initial booking and should have added middle names in the box that's asking for first name. I told them this was not made clear on their website at all and it is misleading to ask for first name only if I'm also supposed add middle names as well. Has anyone got experience of how deal with this?

Westin

Unless you are flying with WOW Airlines I personally would not worry. Just your first name and last name should suffice.

.Johanna.

This is why I am worried, it is WOW and I know I will have to pay extra for name changes for that reason. Surely there must be something to protect consumers though, as if it had asked middle names in the first place, of course I would have added them.

eDicky

.Johanna. wrote: »

The airline's website however has an extra box for middle name and is requesting extra payment to add middle as it is categorised as "name change".

Which airline, and why the need to add your middle name? Are you checking in with passport details? In general there's no need for middle name on a booking.

Nick_C

My partner has two first names and four surnames. He often books tickets using just his first and last name. The documentation was scrutinised by Air Canada at check in on one occasion, and had to be approved by a supervisor, but he has never had a problem using the tickets or boarding the plane.

The only minor issue he had was he was always getting a cross on the slip issued by the APC machines when entering the US.

He has flown regularly in recent years with AA, AC, BA, and FR and not had a problem.

.Johanna.

eDicky wrote: »

Which airline, and why the need to add your middle name? Are you checking in with passport details? In general there's no need for middle name on a booking.

WOW airline is requesting a middle name on their website, so I will need to add it to check-in. Passports use term 'given names' and don't separate them as first or middle names. I have never had to add middle names when booking flights before, but there have been so many stories about WOW, that now I'm worried.

eDicky

.Johanna. wrote: »

WOW airline is requesting a middle name on their website, so I will need to add it to check-in.

Sounds like WOW is extraordinary, don't think I ever flew with them. What happens if you have no middle name to give?

I can understand having to enter your full passport name for API when checking in, but how does that affect the booking name requirement?

Westin

For some reason WOW are making a meal out of middle names at the moment.

A couple of recent reports in Canadian and Icelandic media about passengers being denied boarding because their middle names were on passports but not recorded on their WOW ticket.

This story is local language but the video is interesting
https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2018/04/08/misstu_af_flugi_vegna_millinafns/

And this one
https://globalnews.ca/news/4158186/middle-names-missing-wow-air-tickets/

I do wonder if it is convenient and a solution to them when WOW find their flights oversold and they are looking to offload passengers and possibly avoid paying IDB compensation.

For the OP I do think in this instance that the middle name needs to be added. Perhaps inform Opodo of WOWs requirement. If they fail to update then keep a record of your correspondence then if you have a problem then you have a good trail of correspondence to prove that you tried to correct the issue before flying. Also call WOW direct and explain the situation and that Opodo will not make the change.
Do not mention !!!8216;name change!!!8217; just updating your records to provide your middle name which the airline requires.

Not sure why OP booked via Opodo though. Far better to have booked with this LCC directly. I fear issues getting hold of Opodo and frustrations in getting this sorted out will show them up to be the fairly useless online ticket flogger that they are. Still, nice and cheap no doubt.

.Johanna.

Westin wrote: »

For some reason WOW are making a meal out of middle names at the moment.

A couple of recent reports in Canadian and Icelandic media about passengers being denied boarding because their middle names were on passports but not recorded on their WOW ticket.

This story is local language but the video is interesting
https://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2018/04/08/misstu_af_flugi_vegna_millinafns/

And this one
https://globalnews.ca/news/4158186/middle-names-missing-wow-air-tickets/

I do wonder if it is convenient and a solution to them when WOW find their flights oversold and they are looking to offload passengers and possibly avoid paying IDB compensation.

For the OP I do think in this instance that the middle name needs to be added. Perhaps inform Opodo of WOWs requirement. If they fail to update then keep a record of your correspondence then if you have a problem then you have a good trail of correspondence to prove that you tried to correct the issue before flying. Also call WOW direct and explain the situation and that Opodo will not make the change.
Do not mention !!!8216;name change!!!8217; just updating your records to provide your middle name which the airline requires.

Not sure why OP booked via Opodo though. Far better to have booked with this LCC directly. I fear issues getting hold of Opodo and frustrations in getting this sorted out will show them up to be the fairly useless online ticket flogger that they are. Still, nice and cheap no doubt.

I booked with Opodo as wanted ATOL protection and needed accommodation as well. In the past I've booked separately, but this is an airline that I haven't used before.

Westin

Fair enough. A good idea to book flight plus accommodationto gain ATOL protection.

Opodo was a fairly reasonable company years back but was bought out by eDreams a few years ago. This Spanish based outfit seems to have more customer complaints than other similar businesses. One thing constantly reported on is a complete lack of after sales service. Any issues and customers seem to have issues contact them and frustrations getting anything resolved.

.Johanna.

Just a little update: I have phoned WOW and they added all middle names for a very small fee. This is the first and last time I'm booking with Opodo - terrible customer service.