It sounds too simple to deserve a whole post. But the name on a plane ticket is one of the easiest things to get wrong, and one of the more annoying things to fix.
The rule
The name on your ticket needs to match the government ID you'll show at the airport. For a flight within the US, that's usually a driver's license or a passport. For international travel, it's your passport, letter for letter.
That means no nicknames. Mike isn't Michael as far as an airline is concerned. It also means spelling counts, and one swapped letter can be enough to cause trouble.
Where mistakes come from
Mostly ordinary things. Typing too fast. Using the name you go by instead of the legal one. A recent name change after marriage where the ID hasn't caught up yet. A hyphenated last name entered as two words.
Middle names are a bit of a gray area. For many domestic flights a missing middle name isn't a problem, but airlines differ, so if yours is on your ID and you're not sure, ask.
If you spot a mistake
Tell whoever booked the ticket right away, well before you get near the airport. Many airlines will fix a small typo, like a missing or swapped letter, but not always for free, and how easy it is depends on the airline and the fare.
A completely different name is another matter. Airline tickets generally can't be handed over to someone else, so that usually means canceling and rebooking, and the fare rules decide what you get back.
Before you pay
Take thirty seconds. Put your ID next to whatever you're typing, or next to the screen if someone is reading the booking back to you, and compare it name by name. Do it for every traveler, including kids.
If you book with us by phone, we'll read the names back to you. Please do check them, even if you're in a hurry. There's a longer list of things worth a second look in our flight booking checklist.