KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — If you’re planning to fly with Malaysia Airlines or AirAsia soon, double-check how your name appears on your ticket — it now has to match your ID exactly, down to the last letter.
Both airlines have rolled out new booking name policies in an effort to reduce check-in hassles and align with international standards. The change, while seemingly small, is already making a big difference for travelers — especially those with names that don’t fit neatly into standard Western name formats.
So what’s different now? Passengers must enter their full names just as they appear on their official documents, like a passport or national ID card. That means no shortcuts, nicknames, or missing components. For instance, someone named Ahmad Faliq bin Hamedi must now enter “Ahmad Faliq” under the First and Middle Name field and “Bin Hamedi” as the Last Name/Surname.
Malaysia Airlines has posted step-by-step guides on its website, and AirAsia has updated its forms to better handle naming styles from diverse cultures — including Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, Thai, and Vietnamese. They’ve also issued reminders: special characters like hyphens and symbols are a no-go, and abbreviations like “A/P” or “A/L” should be left out unless your passport specifically includes them.
But not everyone is feeling confident about the changes. Businesswoman Faridah Joned worries she might need to update her existing Malaysia Airlines booking because she didn’t include “binti.” Meanwhile, an AirAsia passenger known as Tan suggested the airlines could’ve done a better job in notifying travelers, saying an email alert would’ve helped.
While name changes to another person remain prohibited after booking, small corrections — like spelling errors — are still allowed.
The airlines are encouraging everyone to visit their official websites or reach out to customer service to avoid last-minute surprises at the airport.
Bottom line? Take a minute to double-check your booking. In today’s travel climate, that one missing word in your name could mean more than just a delay — it could mean no flight at all.
