Post # 1
Member
1349 posts
Bumble bee
I know this question has come up a lot, but I just want to talk it through and see if my plan makes sense. Would love some feedback.
We are getting married in August but we are not going on our honeymoon until late November due to the location (will be late spring in the south pacific). I know many people will say wait wait wait about changing my name…but I do not want to wait to change my name until we return – that is a 4 month wait when the honeymoon is all said and done (probably more like 5 with all the paperwork to be submitted, etc).
I would like to start the name change process as soon as we are married. My question is this: We have already booked our flights for the honeymoon and they are in my maiden name. My passport is also in my maiden name. I am hoping that I can change everything except for my passport and name on the airfare/tickets because all that matters is that the airfare and passport match – correct?
We do not need a visa where we are traveling and the only entry/exit criteria is a valid US passport. I also have Global Entry in my maiden name, which should expedite the process of customs and all of that. I would plan to change Global Entry and my passport once the honeymoon is over.
Does this make sense? Can I change everything else and leave the airfare and passport in my maiden name and be in the clear? Or would it make more sense to attempt to change the name on the airfare and get a new passport?
TIA!
Post # 2
Member
235 posts
Helper bee
I guess it depends on what country you are from. If you are an American, if you have 4 months, I would say it’s very possible to get you passport changed beforehand. The airline shouldn’t have a problem changing your name on the airfare. Not sure about passport, Global Entry wait times in other countries.
Post # 3
Member
1349 posts
Bumble bee
kygirl242 : It will be a 3 month gap between the wedding and honeymoon…which I still think is enough time to get everything done.
Do all airlines easily change names on the airfare? Not sure if I would have to pay a change fee, which would be a huge pain 🙁
Post # 4
Member
235 posts
Helper bee
kandykane1 : I believe airline change fees only apply if you are changing the actual date/time of your flight. But don’t quote me on that.
Post # 5
Member
1411 posts
Bumble bee
I would check with your airline first- there are some that will not reissue a ticket for a name change, so you’d have to cancel ($$$) and then rebuy your tickets- most likely at a heftier price.
I also have Global Entry and I believe you’ll need to have another in person interview if you change your name.
You can use your maiden name legally and married. And socially, so I’m not sure why you’d want to make it harder on yourself for no reason
Post # 5
Member
355 posts
Helper bee
I’ve done this same thing, just not for my honeymoon. I took my ex husbands name, but didn’t have time to have my passport changed before going to a Destination Wedding. As long as the ticket & passport match, you’re ok.
Post # 7
Member
1411 posts
Bumble bee
kygirl242 : most won’t even do it, charge or not. Especially on an international flight.
Save yourself the headache and use your maiden name legally.
Post # 8
Member
1931 posts
Buzzing bee
if the airline tickets are booked in the name you have now, then i would say wait. But i think there can be ways to change the name on the ticket before you leave as well, i would double check that before changing anything.
i also want to say if you change your name on the passport, definitely make sure you change your name on your drivers license as well, since airports tend to ask for both.
if you can get it all done in 3 months i commend you, it took me forever to finally get everything changed over to my new last name.
Post # 9
Member
1349 posts
Bumble bee
kharpe6 : This is helpful, thank you! That is what I am really hoping to do.
knickergold : Thanks for the info! I will have ot think about some of these things.
Post # 10
Member
1349 posts
Bumble bee
Thanks everyone for the great info so far. I know this is a tricky issue. I was hoping to solve it by changing my name but not the name on the passport/airfare. Not sure if that will truly work or not.
Post # 11
Member
235 posts
Helper bee
knickergold : She wants to change her name to her husband’s. That’s her choice.
Post # 12
Member
5152 posts
Bee Keeper
kandykane1 : I guess my thing is just…. why? Why risk having ANY trouble returning to the United States at this point? Sure, if passport and airline are in your maiden name, it will most likely be ok but… again… why risk it? Why are you SO insistent on needing to immediately change your name?
Post # 13
Member
667 posts
Busy bee
Since you already booked everything, I would just wait until after the honeymoon. 3 months will fly by and you can socially use your married name in the meantime. I waited to book my honeymoon until I had my name all set. I am pretty sure you can’t change names on the ticket and with international travel I would want my name on my ticket to be my legal name just in case something happens…insurance, Id theft, etc.
Post # 14
Member
2635 posts
Sugar bee
Take this with a grain of salt… I got my passport much quicker than I expected to. I also didn’t have any deadlines looming, so maybe it just seemed quick. With that said, no way would I have tried to change anything if I had a 3 month deadline. I’m just too much of a worrier. I definitely would have obsessed that it wouldn’t have been enough time to get everything done. It’s certainly doable, just not the kind of added stress I would have wanted.
Post # 15
Member
1349 posts
Bumble bee
weatherbug : I really don’t feel like it is an IMMEDIATE change. I’m not like OMG I MUST CHANGE IT ASAP. But it will be 3 months later we go on the honeymoon…just want to change my name like everyone else who changes their name does and not wait eons to do it. I’m also excited to have the name change. And waiting as long as 5 months to have it legally changed just seems like a long time to me. Also at this point based on how things have been lately, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad getting stuck not able to come back in the US (I’m kidding lol!).
JsDragonfly : I am a worrier too, so I definitely am on that side of the fence. Originally, our honeymoon was going to be in January, so I was just going to get the name change and figured I had more than enough time. Now that it has been shifted to November, my plans are more up-in-the air and I’m questioning exactly what to do.
kwbride2015 : Thanks for the advice – much appreciated. You make some good points.