Can I fly with a nickname on Ryanair?

October 23, 2006 12:55 PM

Flying Ryanair on a ticket that doesn't match my name exactly (but is really, really close). Am I boned?

My little sister booked me a ticket from Rome to Paris, and did it under my nickname, instead of my full first name, as it appears on my passport (let's say, for the sake of argument, Greg instead of Gregory).

I've heard dire warnings about discount European airlines, and how they are sticklers for the rules, so... should I be concerned, and try to get it changed or re-book? Or will I be ok talking my way through it with the Italian gate agent?

Bonus question: Berlin, Italy, and Paris is December, any recommendations?

posted by cosmonaught to Travel & Transportation (15 answers total)

Call them, ask. Were I you, I’d go through with it without a second thought, but then I am also prepared to pay the silly amounts necessary for a short-notice booking on the next flight, because some part of me likes that thrill :-)

The tourist stuff as listed in the guide books (pub crawls, walking tours, Reichstag, Topographie des Terrors, Holocause museum, Jewish museum) is plenty diverting in Berlin, and is as authentic as is possible without speaking German.
posted by Aidan Kehoe at 1:04 PM on October 23, 2006

The word is “Holocaust,” and I meant the memorial. Excuse my inattention.
posted by Aidan Kehoe at 1:07 PM on October 23, 2006

I have a similar issue: I kept my maiden name and added my husband's last name, both are on my passport but not always on my license, tickets, etc.

I have only been stopped briefly once, at Heathrow, for the name-doesn't-match-exactly issue. Five seconds with a British Airways manager (who looked at the clerk who questioned me like "DUH, of COURSE this is the same name") was all it took me to get let on.

I would guess it depends on how similar your name/nickname are, but I had no problem.

(Is there any documentation you can bring that is more formal, but indicates your nickname?)
posted by GaelFC at 1:10 PM on October 23, 2006

Ryanair can be right sticklers about this sort of thing, make sure you have at least two government issued photo ID (driving license, passport) and you should get away with it, if they can compare. But, definitely call and ask.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:14 PM on October 23, 2006

I would definitely call and ask, but really, it depends on how close your nickname is to your actual name. If it's just a Greg/Gregory style shortening, you'd probably be ok. If it's a bit more of a mangling (like how Jack is apparently a nickname for John? How the hell does that work?), you could have more trouble.
posted by antifuse at 1:48 PM on October 23, 2006

where in Italy?
posted by matteo at 1:50 PM on October 23, 2006

I just flew British Airways with a friend - L.A. to London, London to Entebbe, Uganda. Her ticket had her last name misspelled (a T where a D should be). She had no problems at all.
posted by clh at 1:59 PM on October 23, 2006

Response by poster: where in Italy?

My little sister is spending a semester abroad (from the US) in Paderno del Grappa, which I guess is just a bit north of Venice, and I'm meeting her in Venice on Dec. 8, and then things are open until Dec. 15, when we fly out of Rome (if they let me on the plane).

Otherwise we're open, though she hasn't made it anywhere south or west of Venice, so I'm sure a lot of time will be spent seeing the sites in Rome and Florence...

All I've really done in Italy before is seen the sites in Rome, Florence, and Venice, so I'd really like to branch out a bit, though I don't know how plausible that is with 7 days and such formidable cities already on the itinerary.

Recommended day trips, must-sees beyond the usual (David, Vatican, Coliseum, etc...), restaurants, alternate itineraries, would be greatly appreciated.
posted by cosmonaught at 2:20 PM on October 23, 2006

Ryanair can be right sticklers about this sort of thing, make sure you have at least two government issued photo ID (driving license, passport) and you should get away with it, if they can compare. But, definitely call and ask.

TBH I've had the opposite experience with Ryanair. A friend was travelling with us from Cardiff to Dublin and had brought no ID whatsoever (it was a rugby trip, there was lots of alcohol involved) and the Ryanair people let him fly anyway. All he had was his ticket - no drivers license, passport, anything. This was only about two years ago.

So yeah, phone ahead and check, but I think you'll be okay.
posted by afx237vi at 2:23 PM on October 23, 2006

Can't help with Ryanair in particular, but I had this issue when someone else bought a ticket for me on (I think) United. It was a non-issue. An extra 30-seconds at check-in. Everything was fine from there.
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 2:32 PM on October 23, 2006

Again not Ryanair, but I did this with Continental, Air France and EasyJet this year, without issue.

If EasyJet lets it pass, I think your odds are good.
posted by Tacos Are Pretty Great at 3:42 PM on October 23, 2006

Like Jessica Rowe.
posted by oxford blue at 5:04 PM on October 23, 2006

I can't imagine it would be a problem. I'm a `Thomas' but I often use `Tom' on tickets and other official things and nobody has ever mentioned it.
posted by tomble at 5:42 PM on October 23, 2006

Best answer: Hi.

My name is Gregory.

But I have flown on Ryanair as Greg before.

They didnt even blink. I know this doesnt answer your question. But it answers your example!
posted by gergtreble at 9:15 PM on October 23, 2006

Response by poster: Greg(ory)-- Call it coincidence, but it turns out my example just happens to match reality, so you've answered my question, too (with a solid assist from everyone else's help, thanks).

I knew I was being overly concerned, but I really didn't want to get stuck with a last min 500 Euro flight because of a missing "ory."

I guess I'll roll my bonus question out into another post, when I can...

Thanks everyone!
posted by cosmonaught at 9:39 PM on October 23, 2006