Starflyer has a 15 character limit on surnames and first names, but my surname is 16 digits. If I write my Katakana name it fits, but that doesn’t match my passport. I believe I registered my Katakana name at city hall a long time ago, but it doesn’t show up anywhere on my residence or MyNumber cards.
I was wondering if anyone else has experienced the same situation, and if so, how did you resolve it? Their only customer support is over the phone in Japanese, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to express the situation well enough to them. Their FAQs don’t mention it.
I don’t know what I’d need to do to prove the reservation is indeed me, given that my Katakana name isn’t present on any of my photo ID. Is it possible to have your residence card altered to include Katakana? Any advice?
3 comments
Not sure about Starflyer, but I had the issue with both ANA and JAL.
Here are their FAQs, they both mention contacting them over the phone to get assistance.
– https://faq-en.jal.co.jp/app/answers/detail/a_id/27324/~/my-name-is-long-and-i-cant-enter-it-on-the-website-as-it-is-written-on-my
– https://www.ana.co.jp/en/th/be1/
For me it was due to having too many second names, so they instructed me to fill the form until the cut off.
After that, I had no issue except once where I had to explain the issue again at the airport when trying to check in and get my ticket. Nowadays I just use automatic check in.
I don’t have any advice about the airline, and I’m wishing you all the luck to get it figured out! But just want to add that you definitely cannot get the residence card changed to include your katakana. Does your health insurance card have it at least, that maybe they could accept that plus a photo ID with your legal name on it?
Are you flying domestic or international on starflyer? if it’s domestic, it absolutely does not matter as nobody will be asking for your ID especially if you do online check-in. Just scan QR code through all the gates. You can be John Doe or anything.