A traveller has shared a frustrating experience that made booking a plane ticket with Japan Airlines particularly challenging due to an unusual name configuration.
The Booking Dilemma
The holidaymaker, posting under the username LoveFoolosophy12 on Reddit, explained that their wife possesses two middle names, which created unexpected complications when attempting to secure flights for their planned trip to Japan from Los Angeles. The couple had specifically wanted to travel with Japan Airlines, known for its quality economy class service, but encountered a significant technical hurdle during the online booking process.
System Limitations and Passport Concerns
The core issue emerged from Japan Airlines' website interface, which reportedly would not accept two middle names separated by a space. This presented a serious dilemma given the airline's multiple disclaimers insisting that passenger names must match passport details exactly. The traveller expressed particular concern after reading "horror stories" about passengers facing fees exceeding $500 for last-minute name changes at airports.
After spending over an hour with customer service representatives, the couple discovered a potential workaround: combining the two middle names into a single continuous string without spaces. While this allowed the booking to proceed technically, it left them questioning whether this deviation from their exact passport name might cause problems during check-in or boarding.
Community Response and Shared Experiences
The Reddit post prompted numerous responses from fellow travellers who had encountered similar situations. Many commenters offered reassurance, suggesting that airline systems commonly process names without spaces or special characters.
One user with twelve years of travel agency experience explained: "The airline system doesn't allow spaces or apostrophes. It also capitalises every letter. So, as long as the letters are in the right order, that's all that matters."
Another commenter shared their personal approach: "I have two middle names myself. I just put them listed as one middle name. Basically writing both middle names with their correct capital letters but just not having a space between." They noted that tickets often abbreviate names due to space limitations anyway.
Several users confirmed that family members with similar name structures routinely book flights by combining middle names without spaces, generally without encountering issues during travel.
Potential Complications and Considerations
While most responses were reassuring, some commenters shared cautionary tales. One traveller recounted nearly facing difficulties leaving a country because their passport displayed part of their name with an unexpected space that wasn't reflected on their ticket. They resolved the situation through supervisor intervention but highlighted potential inconsistencies in how different systems interpret name formatting.
The original poster revealed they were considering refunding their tickets within the 24-hour cancellation window and switching to an alternative carrier like Delta to avoid potential complications, despite preferring Japan Airlines' service quality.
This incident highlights broader challenges travellers face with rigid booking systems that may not accommodate diverse name structures, particularly when strict passport matching requirements create anxiety about technical workarounds. The discussion underscores how common name variations can create unexpected hurdles in modern travel planning.
