If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
A question or two from a newbie here
Hans-Georg Michna wrote:
On Thu, 24 Nov 2005 13:03:06 -0700, Caveat wrote: I was already three layers up their Customer Relations hierarchy when I got the final "no." When I asked who else I could appeal to, I was told "no one." Sounds pretty final to me. Still hard to believe. Anyway, in your situation I would fly. I can also not imagine that they actually send you back. If they do, at least you have an incredible story to tell. (:-) Yep -- I can see the headlines now: "Scofflaw Senior Citizen Tourist Deported; Wife Stranded at Airport in South Africa." Oh well... |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
A question or two from a newbie here
In article , Michael Kilpatrick
writes I have visited South Africa 4 times since 1999, most recently in July 2004 and Aug 2005. I'm an Australian and I have never been asked for my flight ticket or been asked any questions. The Immigration stuff has been over in less than a minute every time. Maybe they treat Americans differently, but the info you were given by SAA certainly doesn't match my experiences with entering Sth Africa. Same here. I wouldn't worry. In this day and age, though, I would certainly have a plane ticket issued in my 'real' name. You only need a petty immigration officer somewhere to spoil it all for you (and don't discount problems returning to the US if you find a real nitpicker behind the desk). -- JohnM Author of Brazil: Life, Blood, Soul & Rainbow Diary: A Journey in the New South Africa http://www.scroll.demon.co.uk/spaver.htm |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
A question or two from a newbie here
Caveat:
I'm in a similar situation: I go by my first initial/middle name, but my passport has my first and middle name, while some of my credit cards have first name/middle initial. I just explain it to the passport control person, who smiles and stamps my passport. I've gone through SA customs dozens of times, and never had a single problem as it is abundantly clear that I am the legitimate carrier of the ticket and the passport holder. I wouldn't worry about it at all. The people at SAA and Orbitz have their heads in the books, thats all. If you really want to be reassured, call the immigration folks at Joberg and ask what documentation you need to verify that you are, indeed, the same person on the tickets. They'll probably say a birth certificate or something, and I bet you anything that no one ever asks for it at the border. They will NOT refuse you entry. --riverman |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
A question or two from a newbie here
"riverman" wrote:
Caveat: I'm in a similar situation: I go by my first initial/middle name, but my passport has my first and middle name, while some of my credit cards have first name/middle initial. I just explain it to the passport control person, who smiles and stamps my passport. I've gone through SA customs dozens of times, and never had a single problem as it is abundantly clear that I am the legitimate carrier of the ticket and the passport holder. I wouldn't worry about it at all. The people at SAA and Orbitz have their heads in the books, thats all. If you really want to be reassured, call the immigration folks at Joberg and ask what documentation you need to verify that you are, indeed, the same person on the tickets. They'll probably say a birth certificate or something, and I bet you anything that no one ever asks for it at the border. They will NOT refuse you entry. Thanks, riverman, you have been an excellent source of relevant information on both the immigration and debit card concerns. We are proceeding with the trip plans and are now dealing with the potential problem in getting onto our Delta connecting flight here in Phoenix, and through the International Flight Security checks with a mis-matched name between ticket and passport. We are having notations made in the reservation record at Delta, and I'm getting a notarized letter explaining the various truncated versions of my first and middle name used over the past 68 years (before all this security tightening was an issue). At this stage, it would be impossible to go back and get changes made in all these accounts to conform to my formal name -- which I have never really ever used during my lifetime except in passports and driver's licenses. It has just never come up before. It sure is a PITA, but it's looking like all this might work to get us to SA and back on schedule. But as someone else here pointed out, all it would take is one rules-slave hard-ass at a ticket counter, immigration counter, or security checkpoint to stop this trip cold. Doesn't help our positive attitude about traversing the minefield. But still hanging in there... Caveat |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
A question or two from a newbie here
On 26 Nov 2005 18:57:04 -0800, riverman wrote:
They'll probably say a birth certificate or something Perhaps it's a good idea to take such a document along in this case. Hans-Georg -- No mail, please. |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
A question or two from a newbie here
No worries, Caveat. But again, don't get too concerned about it. I'm
willing to bet that upwards of 15% of the population uses their middle name, or even some nickname that might not even resemble their proper name, so the border people and the airlines are quite familiar with technically mismatched tickets and IDs. Their objective is to find people flying on tickets that were purchased for someone else, not to bust people who go by their middle names. I've even had tickets that erroneously listed me as a MRS, not a MR and had no problem, just a laugh. And this was on an international flight. I fly dozens of flights a year, all international, all through the morass of post-911 security, and all with a concoction of name variations. My partner has IDs with three different last names, from two previous marriages, and we have never had a single problem at any border or security crossing. I think you should put this completely out of your mind, and if your passsport has your first and middle name, you have even less reason to be concerned. Even if you have an experience such as I have NEVER had, and were detained, since you are obviously not a terrorist, they will quickly breeze you through. Its easy to see why the airlines won't bother reissuing the tickets: even they don't see this as a worry at all. --riverman |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
A question or two from a newbie here
Seeing as we have all contributed information, opinions etc. over the
past few days, I think Caveat at least owes us the courtesy of telling us the name that he's too embarased to use :-) C'mon Caveat, you're amongst friends... we promise not to laugh ... much. Marc |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
A question or two from a newbie here
Marc Lurie wrote:
Seeing as we have all contributed information, opinions etc. over the past few days, I think Caveat at least owes us the courtesy of telling us the name that he's too embarased to use :-) C'mon Caveat, you're amongst friends... we promise not to laugh ... much. Um, would you believe my real name is "Caveat" bfg? |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
A question or two from a newbie here
LOL. I somehow suspected that. g
I just reread your original post, and if I'm not mistaken, your concern is that your ticket actually only has middle initial, last name...is this correct? If so, then you should be even LESS worried than before. As I said, I go by my middle name, and my tickets are ALWAYS made out to "Mr M Buck" (except that one time it said "Mrs M Buck"), and I have never once had even an inkling of a problem. Never. In fact, as one poster mentioned, I don't think they even look at your ticket at passport control in Joberg! Its a pretty busy place, and they process folks very quickly. Just hand them whatever they ask for, give them a pleasant smile, and don't even start chatting. If you don't bring it up, they probably won't either. The worst thing you could do is voluntarily start into some sort of explanation which may force some hapless border agent to HAVE to start asking questions and calling bosses and making a ruckus. Once they have affixed that cool little green stamp in your passport, its a done deal. Nonethess, I just reviewed this with SWMBO, my partner, who is South African, and she just rolled her eyes and said "if he wants to waste some time and calm his nerves, tell him to go to a police station and have them sign a letter stating 'Mr. Caveat Emp Tor is also commonly known as Mr. M Tor, and we verify that this is indeed, the same person'. But", she added "absolutely no one at passport control will ever ask for that letter or even look at it." --riverman |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
A question or two from a newbie here
Um, would you believe my real name is "Caveat" bfg?
And your middle name is "emptor", right? Sure sure ... |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
German Rail Overnight Train Question (MUC-PRG) | Brian Wasson | Europe | 1 | May 17th, 2004 09:24 PM |
Companion fares - United - Question? | Keith Bisaillon | Air travel | 8 | April 27th, 2004 04:57 PM |
quick question (from a newbie) | Peeps O'Donnell | Air travel | 7 | March 29th, 2004 05:37 AM |
Thanks and a new question | Clare Sleeter | Cruises | 3 | October 23rd, 2003 04:28 PM |
Food on Ships - Question? | Nicholson's | Cruises | 0 | September 14th, 2003 06:12 AM |