Advice re name changes on air tickets, and also a warning!

dzug1

never_waz wrote: »

. Their stance is almost like buying a t-shirt for a friend, but getting the incorrect size. When you go back to the store, they refuse to allow you to get a different size, and then also refuse to refund you for the top, stating that you will have to buy another one. Would that be seen as fair?

Given that it's very specifically the law, fairness is irrelevant in the t-shirt case. You are not entitled to anything back or an exchange if you change your mind.

I'm not really sure that 'fairness' comes into it anyway.

Bananasplit

Just a quick question as this seems to be the place to do it
My mother booked us with American Airlines this week and my first name is is hyphenated. I watched her type this in. However on our confirmation email my name has no hyphen and is all one word. Will this make a difference considering on my passport it has a hyphen?

mystic_trev

Bananasplit wrote: »

Just a quick question as this seems to be the place to do it
My mother booked us with American Airlines this week and my first name is is hyphenated. I watched her type this in. However on our confirmation email my name has no hyphen and is all one word. Will this make a difference considering on my passport it has a hyphen?

No problem - don't worry!

mystic_trev

Anyone booking tickets should be aware they have to get it right FIRST time or take the consequences. If you book tickets for another person and don't book it as per their Passport, it's your mistake. I only ever book tickets for another person if they email me a copy of their Passport page,that way you avoid any mistakes. I'm sorry, if you get it wrong it's your own fault.

Crabman

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

It's of no consequence - you make a mistake, you have to expect to pay for it.

This is the problem - travel agents, operators and airlines are treating customers' change in circumstances or honest mistakes as a penalty for making a mistake. If it really costs them £35 to administer a change of name then frankly it won't be long before they go into administration (many have already gone).

What should prospective travellers do if they don't agree with such terms?

Use an airline/agent without such conditions? How many of those are there?

malkie76

travel agents, operators and airlines are treating customers' change in circumstances or honest mistakes as a penalty for making a mistake

Can you provide a mechanism to separate genuine mistakes from deliberate attemps by third parties to make money ?

Voyager2002

malkie76 wrote: »

Can you provide a mechanism to separate genuine mistakes from deliberate attemps by third parties to make money ?

Common sense?

dzug1

malkie76 wrote: »

Can you provide a mechanism to separate genuine mistakes from deliberate attemps by third parties to make money ?

And if you can provide that mechanism, how can you be sure it's not going to cost say £45 a time? After all someone has to investigate and think (horrors) rather than just apply the rules.

And I suspect the security authorities have to share the blame - if only marginally

malkie76

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Common sense?

Can you elaborate on a fool-proof "common sense" scheme ?

If I buy 10 flights on 10 different airlines with the pure intention of reselling them to the highest bidder, how do I look any different to someone buying a single flight on one airline and asking for a name change ?

The rules are simple, and the rules are clear. If you don't like the T&C then don't agree to them.

Crabman

malkie76 wrote: »

Can you elaborate on a fool-proof "common sense" scheme ?

If I buy 10 flights on 10 different airlines with the pure intention of reselling them to the highest bidder, how do I look any different to someone buying a single flight on one airline and asking for a name change ?

The rules are simple, and the rules are clear. If you don't like the T&C then don't agree to them.

Here's an example. I know someone who booked a flight. It was booked with "Mc cann" as the surname. Clearly it was a typo for "McCann" and as the individual booking it online was in their 80s it was perhaps excusable.

Yet the agent charged the full admin fee to simply delete the space.

Common sense would be a great solution in these cases but unfortunately it isn't very common at all, especially amongst the "obey the terms and conditions" crew who usually aren't aware that such terms and conditions can conflict with legislation