Help..confused about names in air ticket booking online

[Sgnick]

Hi,

My name is typical chinese, eg: TAN AH KOW

 

When I purchase tickets from airlines online, I am asked to fill in exactly as per passport (and cannot have space like AH KOW), and different airlines have different options:

 

1)

FIRST NAME: LAST NAME:

2)

FIRST NAME: LAST NAME (SURNAME):

3)

FIRST NAME: LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):

 

So my question is, do I fill in

VARIANT 1

1)

FIRST NAME:TAN LAST NAME: AHKOW

2)

FIRST NAME:TAN LAST NAME (SURNAME):AHKOW

3)

FIRST NAME:TAN LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):AHKOW

 

OR

VARIANT 2

1)

FIRST NAME:AHKOW LAST NAME: TAN

2)

FIRST NAME:AHKOW LAST NAME (SURNAME):TAN

3)

FIRST NAME:AHKOW LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):TAN

 

OR

VARIANT 3

1)

FIRST NAME:TAN LAST NAME: KOW

2)

FIRST NAME:TAN LAST NAME (SURNAME):KOW

3)

FIRST NAME:TAN LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):KOW

 

OR

VARIANT 4

1)

FIRST NAME:KOW LAST NAME: TAN

2)

FIRST NAME:KOW LAST NAME (SURNAME):TAN

3)

FIRST NAME:KOW LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):TAN

[Ultramega]

this looks correct:

 

VARIANT 2

1) FIRST NAME:AHKOW LAST NAME: TAN

2) FIRST NAME:AHKOW LAST NAME (SURNAME):TAN

3) FIRST NAME:AHKOW LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):TAN

Edited October 21, 2007 by Ultramega

[Sgnick]

If varaint 2 is correct, will it appear in the tickets as AHKOW/TAN? Then it won't match my passport TAN AH KOW Confused liao

[Ultramega]

you already specified your last name is TAN and first name is AHKOW. if they print the other way round it is not your fault, right?

[Sosaria]

Just do as per normal. "Tan" is the surname or family name, and "AhKow" (since cannot have space), goes under first name. Important is that it matches the passport name.

 

The missing space is acceptable, because it's a limitation of the online ticketing system, and immigration officers are used to seeing it. Even for westerners with family name stuck behind, normally when it comes to passport or air tickets, their names will be reversed (i.e. family name placed first), if I'm not mistaken.

[Sgnick]

OK, thanks sosaria and Ultramega, I'll fill in as variant2. I started this thread because I am booking an american airline and they only have "first name: last name:", and american airlines are stricter on names, they have all sorts of excuses not to let u on the plane.

[Karebu]

if i'm tan ah kow john?

 

can I put first name john last name tan, i.e ah kow does not appear on the ticket, will it be fine?

 

also, can I put first name ah kow john, last name tan?

 

 

 

ps: i think all variants are fine but.. you know it's fascinating.

Edited October 21, 2007 by Karebu

[Wolverman]

Hi,

My name is typical chinese, eg: TAN AH KOW

 

When I purchase tickets from airlines online, I am asked to fill in exactly as per passport (and cannot have space like AH KOW), and different airlines have different options:

 

1)

FIRST NAME: LAST NAME:

2)

FIRST NAME: LAST NAME (SURNAME):

3)

FIRST NAME: LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):

 

So my question is, do I fill in

VARIANT 1

1)

FIRST NAME:TAN LAST NAME: AHKOW

2)

FIRST NAME:TAN LAST NAME (SURNAME):AHKOW

3)

FIRST NAME:TAN LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):AHKOW

 

OR

VARIANT 2

1)

FIRST NAME:AHKOW LAST NAME: TAN

2)

FIRST NAME:AHKOW LAST NAME (SURNAME):TAN

3)

FIRST NAME:AHKOW LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):TAN

 

OR

VARIANT 3

1)

FIRST NAME:TAN LAST NAME: KOW

2)

FIRST NAME:TAN LAST NAME (SURNAME):KOW

3)

FIRST NAME:TAN LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):KOW

 

OR

VARIANT 4

1)

FIRST NAME:KOW LAST NAME: TAN

2)

FIRST NAME:KOW LAST NAME (SURNAME):TAN

3)

FIRST NAME:KOW LASTNAME (FAMILY NAME):TAN

 

What's your highest qualification?

[Ldawn88]

ah...yes... when the norms of the west reaches the east, there you go... you are faced with a classic problem of 'Last' and 'First' Names.

 

Just type accordingly.

 

Even though you might have an awkward printout of your name, it is not your problem. The custom and the airlines understand...

[Ultramega]

i would put first name ah kow john, last name tan.

[Sosaria]

This is a classic dilemma caused by asians taking up western names.

 

Normally, it's either like westerners, or like asians (and hungarians, by the way).

 

But with a name like "John Tan Ah Kow", it becomes

[Ultramega]

actually there is also middle name. for a name like "John Tan Ah Kow", in Ang Mo countries, it is sometimes written as John Ah Kow Tan, where

 

John = first name

Ah Kow = middle name

Tan = last name (or family name)

[Sgnick]

Primary 4. What's yours?

[Wolverman]

prehmee 6

[Spas]

Last name = Surname = Family name

 

First name = Given name = Your name minus surname/family name/last name

 

 

Tan Ahkow

 

Ahkow = First name = Given name = Your name

 

Tan = Surname = Last name = Family name

[Watwheels]

When I purchase tickets from airlines online, I am asked to fill in the SEX portion.

 

Do I put:

 

Variant 1: Everyday?

 

Variant 2: Once a week?

 

Variant 3: Once a year?

 

Variant 4: Never?

[Fatpenguin]