Honeymoon flight name change issue

aragx6

So we're not going on our HM until April of next year (wedding is in Sept) but we're booking on AA points so I wanted to get the flights booked as soon as possible.

What should I do though -- my name will be different by then, but I'm not certain yet what exactly it will be. I want to add my maiden as a second middle, but I've come to understand some people have issues with that and end up having to get a court order -- which I'll do, but it could take a while.

Will AA let me change it later? Is it going to cost me an arm and a leg? Any other ideas?

ElleB87

I would wait to change your name legally until after your honeymoon (you can still go by aragx6 H'slastname socially). I'd ask AA about changing your name but I don't know if they would. If they do allow you to change it, it will likely cost you but I have no idea how much.

aurianna

There are probably better answers out there, but I'll go with the undesirable, obvious one: any chance you can just wait to change your name until you come back? I waited four months, but I know people are excited to start signing things with their married name ASAP

MyUserName1

Which state are you in?  In some states, what you want to do is no problem whatsoever.

I'd research how difficult the name change will be for you to do.  If it'll be difficult, I'd just put the flight in my maiden name and wait to change until you travel.  OR, if you have a passport, just don't change your passport until after the trip.  As long as you have an official ID (DL, Passport, etc) with the same name as your ticket is under, you'll be fine.

aragx6

Would waiting 8 months to change my name make it harder to do?

MyUserName1

Which state do you live in?  Kansas city is in two states, right?

raes19

Our travel agent told us to keep everything in my maiden name, as once you purchase airline tickets, you cannot have the name changed on them.

MrsKathyC

If you have a passport in your maiden name, change everything else but that.

When my husband made our flight arrangements for our honeymoon he forgot and used my maiden name. Thankfully I hadn't changed my passport yet so I used that for I.D. purposes on that one flight.

aragx6

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_honeymoon-flight-name-change-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:cac26ea6-0fb6-4dfc-bcb1-140a94ed4be4Post:1df909b3-5733-4dfa-a19f-9aea01ad5ab4">Re: Honeymoon flight name change issue</a>:
[QUOTE]Which state are you in?  In some states, what you want to do is no problem whatsoever. I'd research how difficult the name change will be for you to do.  If it'll be difficult, I'd just put the flight in my maiden name and wait to change until you travel.  OR, if you have a passport, just don't change your passport until after the trip.  As long as you have an official ID (DL, Passport, etc) with the same name as your ticket is under, you'll be fine.
Posted by MyUserName1[/QUOTE]

I'm in Missouri and I've heard different things about the difficulty of switching -- seems a bit like it depends who helps you at the SS office ...

I don't have a passport now, but I guess I could get it now before changing my name and then not update the passport until after the wedding. Would that work? In that scenario my driver's license name would be different than my passport, but that's OK right?

Natrasha

I changed my name before my honeymoon. I was able to bring my marriage license/certificate (a certified copy) with me and I had no problem getting through security even though my boarding pass did not match my drivers license.

ETA: My honeymoon was at Disney World, so I did not need a passport.

MyUserName1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_honeymoon-flight-name-change-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:cac26ea6-0fb6-4dfc-bcb1-140a94ed4be4Post:4998c865-f3d3-4c89-9d5f-6115140b96aa">Re: Honeymoon flight name change issue</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Honeymoon flight name change issue : I'm in Missouri and I've heard different things about the difficulty of switching -- seems a bit like it depends who helps you at the SS office ... I don't have a passport now, but I guess I could get it now before changing my name and then not update the passport until after the wedding. Would that work? In that scenario my driver's license name would be different than my passport, but that's OK right?
Posted by aragx6[/QUOTE]

I'd just go into the SS office and if they gave you schitt, then just go again a different day.  I did exactly what you're wanting to do, and even had to take a letter our of my original middle name to get it all to fit and the lady didn't give me any issue whatsoever.

Looks like the DMV in Missouri doesn't care if you changed your name to Sunshine McPoopyPants as long as you have your new SS card, so that part is easy.

aragx6

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_honeymoon-flight-name-change-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:cac26ea6-0fb6-4dfc-bcb1-140a94ed4be4Post:a59647cc-3b51-41bb-9169-c55b62957297">Re: Honeymoon flight name change issue</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Honeymoon flight name change issue : I'd just go into the SS office and if they gave you schitt, then just go again a different day.  I did exactly what you're wanting to do, and even had to take a letter our of my original middle name to get it all to fit and the lady didn't give me any issue whatsoever. Looks like the DMV in Missouri doesn't care if you changed your name to Sunshine McPoopyPants as long as you have your new SS card, so that part is easy.
Posted by MyUserName1[/QUOTE]

I think that's a really good idea -- and yeah I think if it says one thing on your SS card the MO DMV will put it on your DL without too much drama.

But it still makes me a bit nervous and I'm thinking that not changing my passport until after the trip might be the way to go. Unless there's some issue to that I haven't thought of ...

[Deleted User]

I would go ahead and use the name that you have now, and then change it once you've legally changed yours.

MattsPenguin

I kept my passport with my old name on it.  If you want to use your points, then you have to use your name on your AA points program account.  In order to change your name to your new name, look at the rules.  For Delta, I had to provide a letter requesting the name change along with a copy of my marriage license.  It was kind of a biiiiitch.  I actually flew back in February using Delta points and used my old passport (with my maiden name on it) and not my new driver's license (with my married name on it).

They can't change the name on a ticket once the ticket has been purchased.

aragx6

I'm glad someone else has essentially done this. Thanks Matts!

I don't even want to think of all the name changes I have to make to everything after the wedding ... BLECH!

MattsPenguin

There are a lot of places to change it.  That's why I forgot about my Delta miles.  It really sucked, because I have a Delta credit card, so I should get a free checked bag.  But since my flying name (married name) didn't match my name on my miles account (maiden name), it wouldn't let me use my frequent flyer number.  Several times before I finally changed my account name, I would have to go up to the counter and show my credit card in order to get the free checked bag.  Luckily they never gave me any grief about it.

Like we all said before, just keep something in your maiden name for ID (license or passport) and then fly with that. 

brandichamberlain

I got our HM tickets with my married name.  We are going 5 months after the wedding so I will have enough time to change my passport/name before we go.  I'm just changing last name, though.

jmayinc

The experience I've had with some airlines, is even if you do change the name on the ticket, it costs and arm and a leg. Just save yourself the headache and either use and old passport, or just wait until after the HM. It's not like you can't go by your new name socially, but for legal travel purposes, just use your maiden.

aragx6

I went ahead and booked it (with my maiden name). Thanks all!

aurianna

I'm in Missouri... I was married in January of 2011 and didn't bother changing SS until May of 2011. No trouble whatsoever.
Went to DMV a few weeks after... I'm trying to remember if they even asked for my new SS card or just the ML.

Still haven't changed Passport today. Actually really need to; going to the UK in September.

Whereas SS and DL can be changed pretty much in a single day, PP is going to take the longest, so if you do decide to change everything and book with married name on plane tickets, start the PP process immediately. If I recall back in 2004 I got mine in Missouri within two months but I think they reserve the right to take longer unless you pay to expedite.

Also, add Southwest to airlines that won't let you change your points name without a copy of your ML. I still don't have access to my Rewards program with them. Need to get around to that.

EDIT:
Ninja!

HappinessByTheKilowatt

I just did this too. I booked in my maiden, changed my name before the trip, and had no problem traveling using my newer ID and marriage license. Enjoy!

Snippylynn

I booked my international flights in my maiden name, but I HAD to change my name before I could go back.  I carried my old passport and my old DL and I got through okay.

mica178

I still have my passport in my maiden name (I've been feeling lazy and cheap, and it's a pain being passport-less when getting a new job or applying for a new state residency).  I book all international travel under my maiden name without problem.

My legal name changed as soon as the marriage license was signed, but that's a California thing.  After that, I had a month to update Social Security and my driver's license and a bunch of other stuff like my medical license.  During that limbo time, I could have used either name.

As long as you have a valid form of photo id that matches your travel stuff, no one is going to say boo about the name on your plane tickets and even less about hotel and car reservations.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_honeymoon-flight-name-change-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:cac26ea6-0fb6-4dfc-bcb1-140a94ed4be4Post:0a7c7351-951e-44d4-9d4f-244d1cf5c0d1">Re: Honeymoon flight name change issue</a>:
[QUOTE]Would waiting 8 months to change my name make it harder to do?
Posted by aragx6[/QUOTE]

No. Look at the marriage license for your county. There should be an area where you write what your name will be after marriage.

Once they send you the marriage certificate, which has your new name on it, you take that and get your SS card changed, your license changed, and talk to banks and credit cards and utilities about your name change.

You can start as soon as you get the marriage certificate (which will take a few weeks), or later.