Tag Archives: ID

More on mismatched names

Yesterday I described a recent travel experience in which my boarding pass had the name people call me by and not my legal first name. Between two gate agents and two security check points only once did this draw a comment.

A trusted friend reminded me that this was an experience of privilege. And she is right. I believe that her “wild guess” that “this would not have happened so favorably to others” is correct. I was privileged in my treatment and in how I viewed that treatment.

Am I asking that I should have been hassled? No. But I do think everyone should be treated the same and if that means I should have faced more complications because others do, and others would, then so be it.

See you along the Trail.

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Filed under Friends, Travel

Mismatched names

The printer whirred and spit out my boarding pass. My heart sank as I read the name. Mark. The name everyone knows me by, but not my first name. Not the name on my ID.

Trouble lies ahead, I thought. Visions of becoming far better friends with a TSA agent than I ever desired danced through my head. I paused and looked at the pass.

Finally realizing that no other options existed, I pulled my driver’s license from my wallet and handed it, along with the boarding pass, to the gate attendant. Who took a look, checked off the pass and took my bag. The folks at security screening said nothing either.

Four times on this trip – twice going and twice coming, the process repeated. Only once did someone notice the mismatch of the names. Only once did I have to show additional identification – and a credit card sufficed.

While I appreciated the lack of hassle, it made me wonder. I will take care to make sure it does not happen again (others purchased the ticket for me). But I still wonder.

See you along the Trail.

3 October 2011
CO 1575

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Filed under Antiracism, Travel