Should I Rebook or Take the Risk? Air Ticket Name Issue with Juneyao and Asiana

Kyy1

I booked air tickets via Trip.com for a trip from the UK to Seoul with a layover in Shanghai, flying with Juneyao Airlines and Asiana Airlines. Unfortunately, I mistakenly left out the middle names on the booking. When I contacted Juneyao, they told me that since two airlines are involved, they can’t make any changes. They also said a middle name is required and recommended that I rebook the tickets.

Trip.com has spoken with Juneyao multiple times and confirmed that the tickets are non-refundable. The only solution they offer is to rebook. I’ve also been warned that travelling without the middle names could be risky.

I’ve read several comments from others who’ve flown without their middle names and encountered no issues. However, I’m concerned that since my issue is flagged in Juneyao’s system, I could face problems at check-in or even be denied boarding.

The tickets are quite expensive, especially for summer travel, so I’m hesitant to rebook. I’m tempted to leave the tickets as is, but the risk of complications at the airport is making me second-guess my decision.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Do you think it’s safe to go ahead with the current tickets, or should I rebook to avoid potential issues, especially considering the attention China may pay to middle names? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Ballard

I don’t think that I ever add my middle name to bookings and I’ve never had an issue with it. I would include it with the passport details but not the actual booking.

Last year I flew BA/Iberia using Avios and booked over the phone and they picked up my details from my BAEC account. I’ve just checked the emails from BA for that trip and my middle name isn’t mentioned. Emails from internal Argentinian flights don’t mention my middle name either. 

i have been to China and South Korea, but I’ve never flown with either airline that you mention. I can’t be certain whether or not I included my middle name for those countries but I more than likely didn’t. Are you in China long enough to need a visa? I can see that that could potentially be an issue. 

Obviously, don’t take advice from a random guy on the interweb, as I may be wrong, but investigate further whether it’s an actual requirement. 

NoodleDoodleMan

I may be talking mince here - but is it not the case that problems can arise where names on the passport don't match those on the tickets - usually where a middle name is given on the former but omitted on the latter ?

JGB1955

I have NEVER added my middle name to an airline booking.  Since you have already 'alerted' Juneyao to the perceived problem why not ask them where it states, in their terms and conditions, that middle names must be provided?

Westin

"Unfortunately, I mistakenly left out the middle names on the booking"

The problem I think is not just that you "left out the middle name" but you did not complete the passenger name for the booking as instructed.  Trip.com don't ask for your middle name. They ask that you provide your Given Names, as per your passport.  They even give an example of what you must provide.



  

I'm really not sure why you would not do as instructed and type in your given names as per your travel documents. There are warning flags everywhere.

Having two airlines on the itinerary will no doubt add complexity to the issue. 

As is having booked with an overseas based on online travel agent who quite frankly probably won't care about this error or have any desire to spend any time contacting the respective airlines to sort out your problem. I am frankly surprised they have done what they have so far.

As for what to do - rebooking is an option for piece of mind but costly.   I would probably take the gamble, travel and be accepting that I might need to politely plead my case at check-in/gate and pay any penalty at that time if required. 

bagand96

I've found when booking via agents you are often asked for your middle name. And then this gets put into the booking in an odd format. The most common is when they just add it to the forename, for example:

Mr Jonathan David Smith will become SMITH JONATHANDAVID/MR on the airline booking. That doesn't match the passport but it never causes an issue.

When you book directly with airlines they rarely ask for middle name at booking and the ticket/reservation doesn't display it. (Just checked a couple of upcoming bookings - no middle name) They may ask for it at check in with passport details though a spsrt of API requirements. 

I'd just go with it myself. But obviously not my money or peace of mind at stake. 

Ballard

The post from Westin has made me think. I’d have entered my middle name in forms when booking flights if there was an option to do so, but there was no indication of my middle name on emails from the airline on my recent trips. 

I do have three flights to book soon, probably today, so I’ll report back what happens. 

Ballard

I did book the flights yesterday and Latam didn’t request my full name so I didn’t provide it and don’t foresee any problems. That’s not to say that other airlines or jurisdictions would have different requirements. The tickets that I booked were Peruvian domestic. 

eDicky

My understanding is that first and last names are sufficient to make a flight booking, but the full name exactly as in passport is provided as part of API during or prior to check-in.