My big mistake with our Japan flight booking

[HelloandThankU]

Hi. I booked flights to Japan with Japan Airlines through Booking.com for the first time. The booking was for my husband, our two teenage children, and me. At the time of booking, there was a space for first and last names but no option to include a middle name. My husband said it wasn’t necessary, so we left it out. The total cost of the tickets was £6,100. Unfortunately, these are non-refundable tickets.

After downloading the JAL mobile app, my flight details appeared, but my husband’s did not show up in his app. This concerned me, so we called Japan Airlines. We were told that the names on the tickets must exactly match the passports, including middle names, and that we could be denied boarding if they do not match.

I don’t have a middle name, but my husband and children do. I wasn’t aware that Japan Airlines was so strict about this. We contacted JAL, but they said they cannot amend the names because the tickets were purchased through a third party. We then contacted Booking.com, and they are currently in communication with JAL, but we have not received any update yet.
After researching online, I found that many people reported being unable to get name corrections with JAL when booking through a third party, although some said they still went to the airport and hoped for the best. I don’t want to take that risk in case my family are denied boarding on the return flight. We cannot afford to buy another set of tickets. I know this was a serious mistake, and I feel awful about it — I was really hoping to take my children to see my parents back home.

I’ve been on the phone a lot with JAL and Booking.com, and my child with autism heard me. I feel like I upset him, and I worry that I made him sad. Has anyone successfully added a middle name with Japan Airlines when the ticket was purchased through a third-party site?

It asks for First Names. The ones before your Last Name.

Seems clear enough to me.

Oh op, what a worry. I hope you manage to add the middle names and it works out for you

Oh god not you again being unnecessarily rude when things are not as you see them.

WhisperGold · Today 12:48
Could it be cheaper to get new passports? Apologies, haven't read whole thread.

Basically you would be changing your legal name. It would mean you'd need to change it on things like driving licences, bank accounts, mortgage, pensions, any wills, and your employers' records. It would need to be declared when applying for DBS checks etc.

Another update:

I chatted with Booking.com. They said, “I can assure you that changes will be made, as I have already prioritized your case. The changes will be done as per your request.”

I double-checked by asking whether they would most likely add the middle names, and they said, “Yes.” For now, I think I should trust them instead of bothering them again.

I took screenshots of the chat, but for privacy reasons I won’t post them here.

Brilliant, give it a few days and check with JAL again

Good luck OP

Fingers crossed! How stressful for you. Don’t blame yourself, this was an easy mistake to make.

Good luck have everything crossed for you

I thought that since the shoe bomber Richard Reid all flight bookings had to me made in the exact same name as on your passport?

Don't know about other countries but my British passport simply lists Surname and Given Names - ie plural - with no specific mention of middle names. I always use all my given names when booking flights

In any case, if you are using your passport as identification, isn't it common sense that the name you use should be the same as on your passport?

Having said that I'm surprised JAL simply doesn't charge a fee (£100?) to change a name. Why wouldn't they?

So glad this looks like it is working out for you. I booked a far east trip with Booking.com so your story has made me check all my flight details. My middle name is there but it is a cautionary tale for many of us.

Thanks to the posters who can't imagine people booking with someone like Booking.com - i did it as i have never flown that far alone before and needed assurance that i had the right connections etc - i would never have done it independently.

Naming conventions vary so widely across the world, there's a lot of opportunity to get this wrong

My husband has what i thought were two surnames, i.e. all members of his family have the same two last names and i used to book tickets like that. It was only years later that i found out that the first last name is actually listed as a given name rather than family name in his passport.

I feel for you @HelloandThankU

I just can’t understand why booking.com wouldn’t amend the booking? They’ve got plenty of time. It’s a relatively small change. Even if they charge an admin fee.

Hoping for a resolution @HelloandThankU

Thank you everyone. I'm sorry I haven't replied to each of you individually. But I have read all the comments.

I needed to change something with Booking.com once (not names on airline tickets, it was moving dates on a hotel booking). I was pessimistic about them helping much but actually they were happy to oblige. If they say they will sort it I believe they will.

Keep us updated, I'm quite invested @HelloandThankU - this situation could have happened to any of us with expensive flight tickets

It's sounding positive so hopefully you will get confirmation soon.
This is such a cautionary tale. I would have done the same as you. I have also learned from this thread to try and book direct.

Yes I think so, theres no reason to think they wont

And hopefully this would garner good publicity for them, its a big site.

@Julen7 That’s really reassuring — thank you for your reply.

Good luck and keep us posted! I think you’ll get some good news soon 🤞

It says enter first name(s) so it is correct but easy to miss.

Good on Booking CS its not a great look if the company cant make changes.

Booking have months to organise the amendment and should have agreed a process when entering into the contract with the airline.

Happy holidays

Really odd for JAL to insist on inclusion of middle names. Their systems in Japan are not built for middle names especially opening a bank account which I have the future pleasure of doing so in a few years when I move there.

Presumably its not about middle names per se, its just about your passport needing to match your ticket. So all names.

Great result and good idea to screenshot. Sounds as if Booking have realised they're on dodgy ground and have treated a customer poorly. I'd follow up though if nothing seems to have changed within a week or so. Good luck.

@SydneyPear If that’s the case, I’ll have to bring you ladies a little something from Japan😃 I shouldn’t expect anything too exciting, but I’m feeling a bit more hopeful now—it’s been like a funeral in the house.