It remains one of the more confusing aspects of airline ticketing. Airlines require that the name on your reservation has to match the name on your government I.D., like your driver’s license or passport.

But what about your middle name? Does it need to show on your ticket? For domestic tickets, the conventional wisdom is no.

But if you’re flying internationally, do the smart thing and make sure your full name matches the full name on your passport.

And make sure you provide your full legal name — for example, James not Jim.

Last but not least, spelling counts.

And if you make a mistake, call the airline and get it fixed immediately. If they refuse, and you’re within 24 hours of when you booked the ticket, cancel it for a full refund and start over again.