Virgin Atlantic name change on ticket ..please help ...

Ginger_Tango

We've hired a minivan as we have to get from Washington to Orlando, and on top of that there's a massive one-way drop off fee so not feasible to hire another car aswell.

The main issue is that we want our 2 teenage daughters to have the holiday of their lives, (because you never know when they might decide they're too cool to go away with their boring old parents so it could be our last family holiday together!). And they may never get the opportunity to do this trip again. So as delighted as we are to become great aunt and uncle, we need to put the happiness of our own kids first and having to reschedule everything would mean we would be so much more limited.

We're using timeshare weeks for the accommodation in Orlando but have got hotels and air bnb's already booked for the road trip so we are limited to what we already have planned - which does involve a lot of travelling and various activities.

I've been doing some research about holiday insurance and pregnancy and I'm not holding out much hope. I read one story about a lady who got pregnant after she'd booked a trip to Ethiopia - where the is malaria - and the travel insurers wouldn't even entertain that as a claim. :shocked::shocked:

Murphy_The_Cat

Ginger, I really wish you well on this one - I don't envy your position
Perhaps, possibly, maybe it could end something like this :- You and Mr Tango, along with the Teen Tangos get the months holiday and enjoy the extra space in the mini van and timeshare/hotels.
Whilst Nephew Tango and Preggy Tango stay at home and prepare for the arrival of Tango The Tiny.

Your immediate family would still have the holiday of a lifetime. The extended family would miss out.
It would also be reasonable for them to pay for the flights that they weren't taking.

I don't know how the flight / holiday tickets would be affected by 2 of the party not travelling, but I'm sure that someone on here will have the answer.

I feel that your nephews employer may be a bigger 'problem' than your nephews pregnancy.

Ginger_Tango

I'm even considering looking into having the 2 new potential travellers change their names by deed poll to the names on the bookings!! I've read about people doing before just to avoid airline charges!! :undecided

malkie76

It's a passenger change, rather than a name change. (I can explain why the difference is important if you need?).

I'm not sure why this is your problem - surely the costs sit with your nephew and wife, rather than yourself? Is everything already paid for, or are there things to pay on collection as you travel, and now you'll have all the costs, rather than splitting them.

Wonderful news on the pregnancy (I think) - I always assumed no insurance company would pay out for a normal pregnancy.

Ginger_Tango

Unfortunately it is our problem because we paid for this trip for our nephew & his wife as a belated wedding present. My husband has been the father figure in his nephews life since he was 3 years old. There's no way they could afford to pay us back for the cost of the flights, even more so now that they have a baby on the way.

Yes please, I would be grateful if you could explain the difference between a name change and a passenger change. Would the airline even know (I can't remember having to put in dates of birth during the booking process, but I could be wrong....)

malkie76

Name change is "Fred Wilson" to "Fred Willson", ie a simple error, but the same passenger is travelling. Most airlines will accommodate this, often without a fee.

A passenger change is "Fred Wilson" to "Dave Smith", when a different passenger is travelling. This usually isn't permitted by airlines at all, to prevent speculators buying cheap tickets and selling them on for a profit closer to the flight date. There's no way an airline can differentiate between a speculator and a genuine family member change.

I see how you've paid for this, hence it's your issue. Are you likely to be further out of pocket if they don't go ? If not, then just travel without them.

It's an important point, as I don't believe their insurance company will pay out for your bills. I don't think your insurance company will pay out for their inability to travel. But definitely push it with your insurer to find out.

To be honest - you'll have an amazing trip - especially with the business class tickets on virgin as a treat.

Ginger_Tango

Thank you malkie. I think I may not have explained myself properly about the name change by deed poll ... I've heard of people changing their names by deed poll, to match the name on the booking. In fact I think it may have been a Martin Lewis tip somewhere along the line.

Eg ... Flight is booked in the name of Fred Smith.
Fred Smith can no longer fly so Jo Bloggs changes his name by deed poll to Fred Smith (only a small fee applies to do this I believe). Jo Bloggs is now officially called Fred Smith and can apply for a new passport in that name, using his deed poll certificate as proof of name change. Jo Bloggs can then travel on the ticket of Fred Smith because that is now his legal name!

A bit complicated and it would all have to be done in reverse on their return from the trip to change their name back again, but it may be something I will consider so that the tickets are not wasted and 2 other family members can join us!!!

mvteng

Have you investigated Zika Virus, pregnancy & travel advise?








Zika virus seems to have spread to florida & may be a route to investigate

Ginger_Tango

Aaah now that's an interesting take on things mvteng. Thank you I'll look into that.

andrewmp

mvteng wrote: »

Have you investigated Zika Virus, pregnancy & travel advise?








Zika virus seems to have spread to florida & may be a route to investigate

Q What are the options for people booked to fly to destinations afflicted with the disease?

The Zika virus presents an unprecedented situation for the travel industry: a rapidly spreading disease that is mildly inconvenient for the average holidaymaker, but extremely serious for pregnant women. So airlines and holiday firms have been devising policies as they go along, focusing on people booked to travel imminently.

Where changes are allowed by travel firms, they apply equally to the pregnant woman’s travelling companions.

British Airways says that pregnant customers due to fly to Brazil, Mexico, Barbados or the Dominican Republic in February can delay their journey or amend to an alternative destination free of charge.

Virgin Atlantic is more generous, offering refunds to pregnant passengers booked to all the affected destinations - including places to which the airline doesn’t fly, but which has connections from Virgin flights. These include Colombia, Panama and Puerto Rico.

Q Can you claim from travel insurance?

The Association of British Insurers says if a doctor tells someone not to travel to a particular destination, then “most travel insurance policies will cover cancellation costs that cannot be reclaimed elsewhere.” Of course, this is provided that the trip and insurance were bought before the advice changed.