When booking an airline ticket in 2026, using a title like "Mr" or "Ms" is completely optional but generally recommended to ensure your data is as complete as possible. Airlines use these titles primarily for their internal databases and passenger manifests. The most critical rule for 2026 travel is that the name on your ticket must match your government ID exactly. If your passport says "John Smith," your ticket should say "John Smith." If you include "Mr," it will often appear on your boarding pass as SMITH/JOHN MR. This "squished" formatting is standard in the aviation industry's Global Distribution Systems and will not cause issues at security or immigration. Security agencies like the TSA focus on your first, middle, and last names plus your date of birth; titles are considered "ancillary data." If you have a title like "Dr" or "Prof," you can use it, but "Mr" is the safe, default choice for any male passenger.