Flight booked in maiden name

sgty09

Looking for some advice if anyone could help. I booked flights to New York last August through Lastminute.com. We are flying with KLM Dutch Airlines in Feb. When I booked the flights I booked them in my maiden name as my passport was still in date until June this year. It was only after I booked the tickets that I realised that your passport had to be in date 6months after returning from the USA. I tried changing my name with Lastminute.com that same day but they said I would have to cancel the flight and rebook paying the full fare again as I wanted to change my passport to my married name. A friend told me that I could apply for my passport in my married name and also have my maiden name put on it. This is what I did so on the passport picture page it has my married name and on the opposite page it says birth certificate name. I called Lastminute.com this week and explained this to them and they said the same thing I would have to cancel the whole booking and pay€900 to rebook. I have asked around and a lot of people have said it should be ok and that the airline will allow me to pay €100 on the day to change the name. I rang the airline and they said they couldn't advise me as I had booked through and agency. So sorry for the long winded post, has anyone any info on this??

schemingbohemia

You should move this to the main travel thread.

sgty09

schemingbohemia wrote: »

You should move this to the main travel thread.

How do I do that?? Sorry first time user!

kerry4sam

sgty09 wrote: »

How do I do that?? Sorry first time user!

Hi there sgty09,

I've done it there for you. Next time you just report the post and ask for assistance. You don't just commence a new thread on same topic in the same forum.

Thanks,
kerry4sam

billie1b

I'm nearly sure it only has to be 6 months valid if your planning on staying over a certain amount of weeks. If your only going for a few days it would be fine.

sgty09

billie1b wrote: »

I'm nearly sure it only has to be 6 months valid if your planning on staying over a certain amount of weeks. If your only going for a few days it would be fine.

Thanks for this. Already have the new passport now though, was told the passport absolutely had to be in date for 6 months after return!😠

vicwatson

Lastminute sound like they are being unreasonable. I would push them ask to speak to a manager.

schemingbohemia

I wouldn't bother with lastminute and would go directly to KLM. Has your ESTA been filled in in your maiden name or your married name?

BabysCoffee

sgty09 wrote: »

Looking for some advice if anyone could help. I booked flights to New York last August through Lastminute.com. We are flying with KLM Dutch Airlines in Feb. When I booked the flights I booked them in my maiden name as my passport was still in date until June this year. It was only after I booked the tickets that I realised that your passport had to be in date 6months after returning from the USA. I tried changing my name with Lastminute.com that same day but they said I would have to cancel the flight and rebook paying the full fare again as I wanted to change my passport to my married name. A friend told me that I could apply for my passport in my married name and also have my maiden name put on it. This is what I did so on the passport picture page it has my married name and on the opposite page it says birth certificate name. I called Lastminute.com this week and explained this to them and they said the same thing I would have to cancel the whole booking and pay€900 to rebook. I have asked around and a lot of people have said it should be ok and that the airline will allow me to pay €100 on the day to change the name. I rang the airline and they said they couldn't advise me as I had booked through and agency. So sorry for the long winded post, has anyone any info on this??

Your passport does not need to be in date for 6months after your return date. See link http://dublin.usembassy.gov/consular/validity-of-irish/eu-passports.html

billie1b

sgty09 wrote: »

Thanks for this. Already have the new passport now though, was told the passport absolutely had to be in date for 6 months after return!😠

Glad to hear you got a new one but whoever told you it had to be valid for 6 months is lying to you, maybe different for other countries passports but not an Irish one

sgty09

billie1b wrote: »

Glad to hear you got a new one but whoever told you it had to be valid for 6 months is lying to you, maybe different for other countries passports but not an Irish one

It said it on the bottom of the tickets after I booked them to make sure your passport is in date 6 months after your return flight. I am just off the phone from KLM they said if I had booked with them directly that they would've let me make a name change no problem but that they couldn't help me as I booked through the agency. The girl i spoke to said I can either go with the agency and pay the cancellation or take a chance and go to the check desk on the morning of the flight and hope that they will help me and change it there!!! My visa is in married name.

irishgeo

sgty09 wrote: »

It said it on the bottom of the tickets after I booked them to make sure your passport is in date 6 months after your return flight. I am just off the phone from KLM they said if I had booked with them directly that they would've let me make a name change no problem but that they couldn't help me as I booked through the agency. The girl i spoke to said I can either go with the agency and pay the cancellation or take a chance and go to the check desk on the morning of the flight and hope that they will help me and change it there!!! My visa is in married name.

its pretty clear from here , you will be fine.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1095/kw/passports

For travelers from other Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries: If you have received approval to come to the U.S., but then change your name as a result of marriage, divorce, or other legal proceeding, you must re-apply for a new ESTA authorization prior to travel. While we usually suggest applying 72 hours before you travel, we understand that this is one of those circumstances that can make it impossible to do so, and our system will accommodate your situation. The associated fee* of $14 will be charged for each new application submitted.

If you have a passport under one name, but your name has changed since it was issued, you can apply for ESTA using your old passport number and new name. You may also travel with a ticket issued in your new name and the passport in your old name, but we strongly recommend you bring a copy of your marriage license, divorce decree or other legal document showing the connection between your new name and the one on your passport.

toadfly

My sister done this and all she had to do was bring her marriage cert with her and no problems on the day.

I thought you were legally allowed to use both names so as long as you can prove that's also your name there shouldn't be a problem?

BabysCoffee

You will be ok if

1. ESTA & Passport Name match
2. Tickets can be in maiden name and passport in married name if you bring your marriage cert

Your passport does not need to have 6 months validity http://dublin.usembassy.gov/consular/validity-of-irish/eu-passports.html

sgty09

Thanks so much to everyone for the replies, you have been a great help and put my mind at ease a lot! I will bring all forms of identification plus marriage and birth certs on the day and hopefully will be ok!