Boarding ticket and passport surname don't match

My sister has booked me a flight weeks ago and just now sent me the e-ticket via email. My flight is on weds. She booked it in my married name but I never changed my passport to my married name since I've lived here (which I've told her a million times). She never said anything this whole time and now it's too late to do anything. Should I assume they won't let me board? 

I have my marriage certificate which shows a paper trail but I'm nervous. She called the airline and they said it should be fine but I'm not so sure.

Anyone have experience of this?

Don't worry. I have traveled this way MANY times. Bring your marriage certificate (make sure its a certified copy) showing your marriage along with your passport. Occasionally, you may run into ticket agents and or TSA agents that are clueless and just explain to them, you have your passport and a government issued document showing your legal name change. I have been married for almost 6 years and I am still traveling with my old passport and my marriage certificate. I had 8 years left on my passport when I got married and I wasn't spending the extra 100+ USD to change it when my old one is perfectly legal.

The airline may be able to change the name on the boarding pass when you check in. It's worth trying.

You will likely be okay but remember that it's not just the TSA agents who care about your name - it's the airline. I would never willingly book a ticket in a name other than what is in my passport. And you don't need to get a new passport to comply; you just book the ticket in the name in your passport.

I think this is more complicated as essentially you're flying in a name you've never held, not that that WAS your name and you've legally changed it but it's in your old legal name. The second situation is much more common than the first and makes more sense than the first, where essentially the ticket is just booked in the wrong name.

If you can't change your ticket now, you should be able to if you call them, especially if she booked it directly and not through orbitz or something, then you should turn up at the airport early, and try and change your name on your ticket at the airline desk (not the check in desk) likely they will change it for you (they totally CAN) but it may take ages.

Have you called the airline yet?

I think about a year ago (or 18 months ish) the airlines changed to not allowing a different name from your travel document. 

You need to call them. 

Not sure if things have changed or what your time frame is but after we got married I did this by mistake.  I didn't realize till a few days before my trip that I never changed my name in my passport.  At the time I was lucky and lived near enough to the passport office to go in person and get an amendment in the back of my passport with my married name correction.  I did have to pay to get it expedited within 24 hours but at the time I don't think there was a charge for the change as I wasn't getting a brand new one. 

I did get lots of funny looks for the next 9 years when I wold turn up for check in or anytime they needed to check your name on the ticket. 

I would call the airline to see as soon as you can

Not sure if things have changed or what your time frame is but after we got married I did this by mistake.  I didn't realize till a few days before my trip that I never changed my name in my passport.  At the time I was lucky and lived near enough to the passport office to go in person and get an amendment in the back of my passport with my married name correction.

It has changed. You can no longer have your name change documented in your passport as an amendment. Instead you have to get a whole new passport, though there is no fee for a non-expedited name change passport if your current passport is less than 1 year old.

From the travel.state.gov website:

In the past, my passport was amended with new or corrected information.  Is that still possible?
No.  Since September 26, 2005, Passport Services no longer amends currently valid passports.  Instead, customers are issued replacement passports.  Please see the chart above to determine which procedure is appropriate for your situation.

You didn't mention it, but I assume this is an international flight? If it's just a domestic flight, you can use your drivers license as your id, assuming that's in the correct name. If your drivers license is not in your married name, you can change it quicker than your passport (at least in my home state), all on the same day at the DMV.


Edit: Just saw you're in the UK. So this advice wouldn't apply to you.

Oh boy this is terrible news. My sister did not book the ticket directly through the airline but rather through something similar to orbitz. I've asked her to call them up and change it but she says it's no big deal and that I can use my drivers licence which I don't even freakin have and can't use!!! But what do I know, I'm just the stupid younger sister  .

What's the worst that can happen in this situation? I won't be allowed to board the flight and my sister will lose out on $800? Man I wish I booked it myself. Last time she booked the flight for me I was stuck in Germany for a while because of her credit card issue and had to cry for 20 minutes for them to pity me and let me board the connecting flight.

I'm getting to the airport incredibly early on the day. I'll call up the airline and see what can be done right now.

Thanks for the help guys. Sorry if I sound like a brat. I usually pay for my own flight but occasionally when someone else pays, something goes wrong.

I think about a year ago (or 18 months ish) the airlines changed to not allowing a different name from your travel document. 

You need to call them. 

I traveled in October with my passport in one name, my ticket in my maiden name, and my marriage certificate. I also called the airline and they said it was no problem. If you are carrying a LEGAL document issued by the government, showing your name change there should not be an issue.

BTW, which airline are you traveling with??
If you are that nervous, get to the airport VERY early. Bring your passport, marriage cert, driving license. I'm pretty sure you will be alright. As long as you have legal items showing your names/name change.

 

Thanks Kbeech. That makes me feel a lot better. My sister has just told me that the airline (United) said it's perfectly fine to just carry my passport and marriage certificate. I'll still get there early though in anticipation of some problems nevertheless.

Good luck, GibbyGab! I hope it works out! Let us know how you make out.

Good luck, GibbyGab! I hope it works out! Let us know how you make out.

thanks! Will do.