FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. --
Airline passengers must keep new Transportation Security Administration rules in mind when filling their names in as they book a flight.
The government said the name on your plane ticket must now match the full name on your identification -- including your full middle name if it is listed on the ID.
The rule went into effect on May 15, but Local 10’s Julie Summers found many travelers and employees at South Florida airports do not know about the requirement.
At Miami International Airport, passenger Sandra Ledan checked in with her driver’s license, which shows her middle name. Even though Ledan's ticket did not bear her middle name, she sailed right through.
A curbside check-in crew told Summers that, "No, none of us," know about the rule. Even ticket agents inside MIA had no idea the new regulation went into effect May 15.
"Never heard of it," one said.
Nancy Gonzalez, a security employee, learned about the new requirement from her son, who works for the TSA.
"I know because he told me," she said.
At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Summers found a similar lack of knowledge. Traveler Douglas Dunn purchased a ticket to California, showing his driver’s license with a middle name included. But the ticket agent at the counter, who didn’t know about the new rule, printed the ticket with only his first and last names.
"It's on my ID and doesn’t match. What can you say?" Dunn said.
Tim Lewis of TSA explained the new rule is being "phased in."
"The air carrier employees may not know about it because their computer systems have not swapped over," Lewis said.
In the meantime, travelers, like Jeff Wolszon, said he is relieved no one stopped him, even though his passport clearly shows a middle name and his ticket does not.
"No, I didn’t know about the new rule. Nobody made me aware of it," Wolszon said.
"Nobody at the counter seemed to know about it either?" Summers asked.
"Nope, they sure didn't," Wolszon said.
This is the latest phase of new TSA rules. Beginning on August 15, travelers will be asked to provide their date of birth and gender when they purchase a plane ticket.
For more information, visit the TSA Secure Flight Web page.
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