I got married to my dh in November and have used my married name rather half-heartedly since then. The main reason for this is because dd1 has my maiden name as her surname, and so I didn't want to sever all ties with my maiden name completely- that probably sounds rather odd to most people, but hey ho!
I changed my bank account details etc but not my passport. Reason being, according the passport office you don't HAVE to change to your married name, it is only recommended. Now as I still have a couple of years on my passport and a name change is pricey, I decided to leave it in my maiden name for now until I was due for a renewal. I have travelled abroad with it since marrying without problems too.
As part of my PGCE uni course, I have to spend a month in Italy and flights are funded by the TDA and booked by the university. When I filled out the form for flight details, I highlighted the fact that my passport is in my maiden name. The course leader said this wasn't a problem, the lady booking the flights seemed to have an issue with it, but I didn't hear from her again.
This morning, I picked up an email from the lady booking the flight, stating that she has spoken to the legal team and they say I have to travel in my married name, so that is the name in which she has already booked my tickets.
AIBU to be rather irritated about this? Firstly, I have a foreign trip booked next month in my maiden name, so I can't change my passport until then. Secondly, it is going to cost money I didn't want to spend. Thirdly, the trip is in February and two other ladies on my course are marrying before then (one got married 3 weeks ago) and they have been permitted to fly in their maiden names. Fourthly, as it is not a legal requirement (according to the passport office), why should somebody else make this decision for me?!