Seat name change

ince_mon

Hi
I've no doubt this has been brought up a few times before.
Briefly,was due to go to Benidorm with the family 2 weeks ago,i had an accident,couldn't go. So,a family friend stepped in and went in my place. We booked with On The Beach. She was charged £215.(compared to my original cost of £280) Is this realistic for a name change? When we contacted OTB about it,they said their"Fee" was £60,we were told Ryanair(outward journey)were charging £105,thus Easyjet(Inward journey)charged £50. Is this a rip off for a name change? It is not as though an extra seat had to be found,our friend used my place. And no,i wasn't insured,as i was going to get insurance nearer the time of the holiday.

duchy

If you cancelled the holiday at 2 week's notice sounds about right-some companies it would be 100% of the charges at that kind of notice.

Expensive way to learn why you should get insurance when you book though ! Holiday insurance costs exactly the same if you take it nine months before the holiday or nine minutes before so there is no moneysaving value in waiting and foregoing the cancellation side of a policy.

dzug1

It's perfectly normal. Whether it's a 'rip off' or not is debatable. The word is so overused as to have little or no meaning.


You will I think have paid Ryanair and Easyjet both a fee and possibly the difference in fare


Standby for the lectures on insurance - I'll say nothing

jpsartre

Asking whether it's a rip-off is pointless, it's the prices they charge and which you effectively agreed to when the ticket was bought. Many airlines will not allow tickets to be transferred at all.

duchy

Not much point in banging on about it -the OP knows they should have taken it out .

I've never understood the logic of leaving it to the last moment -If it is because money is tight then leaving it impacts on spending money for the holiday anyway so better to find the £20 or less earlier .

I speak from a slightly different viewpoint as an ex travel agent who spent two years working for a travel insurance company arranging to get people back from abroad after disaster befell them so I know how random and how expensive that side of a holiday horror can be but I also know from my days of working in agencies how often people can't predict a cancellation - either like the OP an accident- or even the illness or accident of a family member or travelling companion.

It isn't been smug to say - "Should have taken insurance" It's the hope that although it's too late to help the OP who obviously had no idea how expensive a name change would be -it may help someone else in the future who reads and remembers the OP's predicament and doesn't think "It can't happen to me".

No "scam" (is there ever when it's in the thread title?) just the hope it can help someone else from making the same error in judgement in the future and not have to learn the hard way like the poor OP had to.
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Caz3121

ince_mon wrote: »

She was charged £215.(compared to my original cost of £280) Is this realistic for a name change? When we contacted OTB about it,they said their"Fee" was £60,we were told Ryanair(outward journey)were charging £105,thus Easyjet(Inward journey)charged £50. Is this a rip off for a name change? It is not as though an extra seat had to be found,our friend used my place.

How much was it to just buy new tickets on the flights? often with the name change fee + difference in fare it can be cheaper the just abandon the booked tickets (which would be non-refundable apart from some taxes) and buy a new one
EasyJet and Ryanair both allow name changes for fee + fare difference and you had the added cost of a third party cost too because you chose to book through onthebeach (brave!)
Had you been booked on a full service airline such as BA there would be no name changes allowed and the only option would have been for the friend to buy a new ticket

ince_mon

My accident was 7 wks before the holiday,fractured pelvis,then knee infection(couldn't and still can't bend the knee). I was hoping to go on the holiday,but flying would have been awful. Still,you live and learn. But OTB's attitude stunk to the highest order.Won't be using them again.

tomtontom

ince_mon wrote: »

My accident was 7 wks before the holiday,fractured pelvis,then knee infection(couldn't and still can't bend the knee). I was hoping to go on the holiday,but flying would have been awful. Still,you live and learn. But OTB's attitude stunk to the highest order.Won't be using them again.

Can you elaborate on what "stunk" about OTB's attitude?

ince_mon

tomtontom wrote: »

Can you elaborate on what "stunk" about OTB's attitude?

Yes i will.
When my wife was trying to book our friend onto the flight(name change)they,OTB were stalling in sending information to us. We gave them all the info they needed,passport numbers etc etc,but a reply took ages(days). When they did send us info,we had to book in under a different email address,and a few other things which i just can't think of at the moment.

tomtontom

ince_mon wrote: »

Yes i will.
When my wife was trying to book our friend onto the flight(name change)they,OTB were stalling in sending information to us. We gave them all the info they needed,passport numbers etc etc,but a reply took ages(days). When they did send us info,we had to book in under a different email address,and a few other things which i just can't think of at the moment.

You could have picked up the phone and sorted it straightaway? Email correspondence does take time, no one is sat there awaiting your response.

When you book low cost flights via a third party they will book them for you under a different email address. You will experience this whichever agent you use if you do not book directly.

OTB do have a poor reputation, but your complaint seems unfounded.

ince_mon

Picked up the phone you say. Probably be charged a small fortune,then be handed around to here there and everywhere. Let me just say,i won't be using them again.