Travel nightmare (maiden name, married name issue)

[dimchesrq 1]

My wife and I almost got into a travel nightmare last night at the airport due to making the TERRIBLE mistake of issuing the air ticket in her married name, but her foreign passport being in her maiden name. She was carrying her GC (married name), Marriage license and all, and I thought that would be good enough for her to leave the U.S. and visit her family abroad, but WAS I WRONG. The dimwits at Alitalia refused to allow her to travel. I spoke to the manager and he said the only way was to call the travel agency and change the booking. Luckily we were about two hours before departure time.

So I call the booking company and customer service is non-existent (faredepot.com = pile of dung). Nobody was answering. Under duress, I thought of calling KLM service which was the airline offering the ticket (operated by Alitalia) THANKFULLY, a responsive and interested to help staff member was able to understand the severity of my situation and thorougly helped in getting the reservation changed. She was able to board the flight. (GO KLM)

Now, my big question is, should my wife even change her foreign passport to her married name at all? Because now the return trip is under MAIDEN name, and by her changing it that would invariably force me to call and change reservations again which can potentially be problematic or even costly. Let's say she doesn't change the name on the foreign passport, will she have a problem traveling back and entering united states because her GC is in her married name and passport maiden name? Will CBP stir up a pile of stink about this or even the Alitalia check in counter in her country?

Edited September 16, 2015 by dimchesrq

[Hypnos 6,576]

Travel tickets should always be booked in the passport name, as you found out.

[Meama 0]

I have the same issue. I entered the US in Feb 2014 and got married in March 2014. My mother has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer and my need to return to the UK is imminent. I understand that I have to book my travel tickets in my maiden name but need to know if there will be an issue when returning as my GC is is my maiden name.

[dimchesrq 1]

I have the same issue. I entered the US in Feb 2014 and got married in March 2014. My mother has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer and my need to return to the UK is imminent. I understand that I have to book my travel tickets in my maiden name but need to know if there will be an issue when returning as my GC is is my maiden name.

What's the issue then? Your passport, ticket, and GC are all the same name right?