Expert: K F. - 3/27/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi, This is Sandeep from India. My last name as per my indian passport is Waghmare and given name is Sandeep Baburao.(Babarao is my middle name). While booking the ticket for international travel from US to India, I did entered the middle name and name on the ticket is Sandeep Waghamare. Will this create any issue?

ANSWER: You should make the change so that your ticket should match the passport.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I checked with the Airline and name can not be changed now and I was going through following links where they say small difference(like no middle name/initial instead of middle name) in middle name on ticket/boarding pass and govt Id should not matter.

http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/
http://www.tsa.gov/blog/2009/05/whats-in-name.html

Answer
I have recently checked with major airlines and they WANT the names to match.  I did check United Airlines and I did find that they require the same names.  Even though you have given me the links and I do see what you are saying, but I know for a fact that when you are clearing immigration, it may have some complications.  
I think the bottom line is try to match the name with the passport/air ticket.  British Airways does require it, American Airlines, too.
I suggest forwarding this message to another expert as well.  It seems to me that it is more of a security issue and keep in mind that TSA only governs USA.  So the other country you may be going to may not accept the discrepancy.

Sorry it is giving you problems, i am not b.s.ing your links nor your questions.