Southall Travel - Ticket name change

sfa_ok

Hi,

I need advice please! I booked a ticket to Thailand with Southall on the internet - transaction didn't go through though as I'd given my old address by mistake, and I got a print-out stating that my card had not been charged.
I then phoned up to buy the ticket, gave my full name as on my passport and waited for confirmation. However, this was declined due to lack of funds - when I checked by bank I realised the first payment had in fact been taken out of my account. When I phoned to enquire as to why I was told it was put in a holding account because the address I provided was wrong, and to get the money refunded would take 7 - 10 days unless I confirmed my new address, and the original booking could go through instead. I did this as I just wanted to book the flights.
The name I provided on this original booking was Chris, and the name on my passport is Christopher - I am now being told that I must pay £75 to amend the booking, and that the payment must be made by midnight tonight or the change can't be made and I won't be allowed on my flight.
I've told them I don't have £75, I'm very unhappy paying it anyway but they are not budging. Even if I am resigned to paying it, which I don't believe I should as I was told the original transaction hadn't left my card when it had - surely the amendment can be made after midnight???

Has anyone any advice?? Could I still board with Chris on the ticket and Christopher on the passport? Thanks, in advance, and apologies for the length of this; my first post in a while so a bit ring-rusty.

Incapuppy

You forgot where you live?

The name on your ticket must match that on your passport.

PolishBigSpender

And people complain about Ryanair, yet Ryanair will happily change Chris to Christopher free of charge.

To the original poster - I'm afraid that it's your responsibility to give the right name that's on the passport.

Spring909

Depends on the airline, it's them who will accept or not accept the ticket. Who are you flying with, and have you contacted them?

sfa_ok

Flying with Jet - they have said it may cause problems but it's up to the travel agent how much they charge. The Southall website doesn't make it clear that the name HAS to match, I don't think they can assume that people know it has to match - if you're a new traveller how would you know?

We've got them down by a fiver so far, still talking...

Moonchild

There are many reasons why the midnight comment could be correct. They have until the end of the day to void a ticket without charge from the airline, at which point they can rebook and re-issue. So the charge is probably theirs, but potentially justified (you can't just 'change' a name on a ticket that's been issued, it's far more complicated).

Otherwise you face either travelling as a Chris, or the possibility of cancelling your ticket and starting from scratch with much larger cancellation charges.

Remember that you have to travel through India (twice) and Thailand, and having an incorrect ticket could cause a problem at any one of these places.

Likewise when the transaction was cancelled, your original flights were not - so whatever you entered first time round is what is one the tickets.

Now I'm not a big fan of Southall Travel, but I would strongly suggest that not paying could cost you a lot more money and hassle down the end of the line for what is ultimately your fault.

PolishBigSpender

sfa_ok wrote: »

Flying with Jet - they have said it may cause problems but it's up to the travel agent how much they charge. The Southall website doesn't make it clear that the name HAS to match, I don't think they can assume that people know it has to match - if you're a new traveller how would you know?

Isn't it pretty much common sense that you should book using your real name? I'm known by a shorter version of my real name, yet my real name is used on anything official - simply to avoid trouble.

stephb34

Im sorry for your predicament but if you cant afford £75 to change the name then how can you afford to go to thailand, id just pay it put it down to experience and travel happily not worrying whether at some part of the journey your going to be denied boarding because your real name is christopher. If its not common sense to put your full first name and surname then you should have got an expert to book it for you if you didnt understand the website.

DaveTheRave123

My mate Ricky did the same, booked a flight as Ricky then tried to change to Richard, we now call him "Ricky the Retard" for making such a stupid mistake. Sorry mate but giving a short version of your name is your own fault and if you cant even remember your own address and your full name then i suggest that you get someone with a little more common sense to book future filghts, maybe a relative for example...?

littlereddevil

How could you give the wrong address by mistake ?

sfa_ok

my bad, i gave the right address - my billing address was my old address. thanks anyway though!