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’s not normal to need to include middle names. I don’t and have flown loads.

why is using booking.com strange, if can make it easier and sometimes cheaper

That's nice if you have an unlimited budget 🙄

It says 'First name(s)' so I guess that means all names before surname/family name. The word 'first' is misleading. 'Given name(s)' or something similar would be better.

i would probably do a change of name deed to remove my middle name and order a new passport, if you have time.

It does say "First name s" though. A middle name is a second first name.

It's a Dutch website. They probably have the same system as here in Germany. You can give a child two or more first names but there's no such thing as a middle name.

I can’t get over you spending this much on flights alone. I’ve looked at flights for next week, LHR to Tokyo (you’d then have to sort your own internal travel, sure) and they are £800 per person even for a last minute flight. Once we get into March they’re £400 each.

ive never put my middle name on bookings and it’s not been questioned

From reading all the replies it looks like it will be fine OP. Just enter middle names when you check in.
Have a lovely trip.

I work for an airline who partners with JAL. The industry standard is to include only first name and last name on tickets and capture the rest in Advance Passenger Information. When you book through a third party JAL will not change it, only booking can so if you want the names amended you'll need to persevere with booking. I have no idea why you used booking but please avoid third parties in future and book directly with the airline. There is literally no advantage to using them and as you've found there are many inconveniences.

My daughter had something like this. She booked via one airline who didn't request a middle name but unbeknownst to her, it turned out the flight was actually operated by another airline who do. She tried to change it before departure but like you, went round in circles. Same with booking a vegetarian meal. No one would take responsibility for making the changes. It caused a lot of stress ahead of time, and I think she had to go and queue to check in rather than doing it online, - but once she arrived at the airport, it wasn't an issue. It surely must happen all the time?

What does it say when you click on the (?) next to the First Name(s) box?

Sorry, the (!)

What would be the reason OP gives for applying for a new passport exactly (and its her husband not her). You would have to say whether its lost or stolen and this is neither. And if you say stolen it wants to know police numbers and things

Lots of "it depends" though...for example a business class non stop return LHR-HND end of Feb can set you back £7000 ..

Anyhow like others I've never known middle names to be an issue.

So if you have several names, some people do, are you supposed to list them all

Damaged and in need of replacement to go through selfservice gates

But as people have pointed out the new PP number would also create a problem.

It's very misleading. I put my middle name when booking flights but airlines have been known to mess it up
For instance, say my first name is Lucy and my middle name is Jane, surname Smith, airlines have been known to issue a ticket to LucyJane Smith even though I entered it with a space in between
I had terrible trouble at an airport once even after I queried it with the airline beforehand
Good luck OP

Not helpful but when DS was born we only gave him one name as I realised that DH had a much easier life with form filling with only one name

I am sorry for the stress this has caused you OP, I am keeping everything crossed you get it sorted. I have never input middle names on flight bookings, never had an issue.
I know it’s of no use to you now but for anyone else reading the thread, always buy flight only directly from the provider.

Also either I have misunderstood or others have, when people are saying 'it will be fine', the point is her husbands ticket is not showing on JAL, as in its no there, so how would it be fine, how would she check in if the husbands booking is not showing up?

Wether PPt number is going to cause problems might be airline dependent.

Many operators don't capture the number at the booking stage, it only gets logged when you do API or check-in....

And for those saying they never put middle names, I do, I put my 2 first names (first name and middle name) and my partner has a first name and 2 middle names. I always put it exactly as it is on the passport so now this is making me wonder whether Im doing this wrong

That’s exactly what I do. I’d read ‘first names’ as all your names apart from your surname.

It’s the other way around. Most people use Skyscanner etc to compare flight times and prices, but it’s well known online to book direct as third parties are well known for causing complications, especially if flights are changed, delayed or cancelled.