A very very expensive lesson

yddraig

I recently booked a flight for a friend via omegaflightstore.com, flying in April 2017 via China Southern Airlines on a return flight between China and France.

My friend, I've always known by a particular forename, (their middle name, "M"), as they don't like their actual forename "P". So, when booking the flight, I used "M" as that's what I've always called them.

I paid online £670 and the confirmation email arrived but as I went to click the link and enter their Advanced Passenger Information I realized that I had used the wrong forename. I contacted Omega the following morning and advised them of my mistake and was instructed to send their customer services an email with a scan of the passport which I did that evening.

The following day I received an email in reply stating that China Southern wouldn't change the name and as the ticket was non-refundable and non-changeable my only option was to cancel the ticket and have a refund of the service tax, which after deducting Omega's "admin fee" of £50 gives me refund of "approx" £6.

I contacted China Southern's London office direct who said they wouldn't change the ticket.
After a little research it appears that other airlines, will, particularly if notified quickly.

So, a cautionary tale - a stupid mistake costs me £670, China Southern should have an empty seat, and my friend doesn't get their return trip to Paris.

Be warned - make sure you check the details entered very very carefully before clicking, "pay now"

:mad:

budgetflyer

To me, a silly mistake that you notified them right away about, should not cost the full 670. Corporate theft is the only way to describe that.
. I did something similar about 6 years ago , the airline, Flyglobespan charged £40 to put it right. That seemed fair enough.

Westin

Welcome to MSE.

Sorry to hear of your situation.

Some airlines will make minor amends to a name, for example if characters have been transposed in a surname, but that flexibility differs from airline to airline.

Hopefully your post will reinforce to others of the care that is necessary when booking airline tickets and to ensure that the name on the booking matches EXACTLY to the details shown on the travellers passport.

NiftyDigits

yddraig wrote: »

I recently booked a flight for a friend via omegaflightstore.com, flying in April 2017 via China Southern Airlines on a return flight between China and France.

My friend, I've always known by a particular forename, (their middle name, "M"), as they don't like their actual forename "P". So, when booking the flight, I used "M" as that's what I've always called them.

I paid online £670 and the confirmation email arrived but as I went to click the link and enter their Advanced Passenger Information I realized that I had used the wrong forename. I contacted Omega the following morning and advised them of my mistake and was instructed to send their customer services an email with a scan of the passport which I did that evening.

The following day I received an email in reply stating that China Southern wouldn't change the name and as the ticket was non-refundable and non-changeable my only option was to cancel the ticket and have a refund of the service tax, which after deducting Omega's "admin fee" of £50 gives me refund of "approx" £6.

I contacted China Southern's London office direct who said they wouldn't change the ticket.
After a little research it appears that other airlines, will, particularly if notified quickly.

So, a cautionary tale - a stupid mistake costs me £670, China Southern should have an empty seat, and my friend doesn't get their return trip to Paris.

Be warned - make sure you check the details entered very very carefully before clicking, "pay now"

:mad:

I wouldn't worry about it. Fill in the APD correctly, including the middle name.
There may be a chance they'll be stopped, but equally likely they'll fix it at the airport or just not make an issue out of it.. Just take as much ID as humanly possible.

eDicky

I agree with Nifty, there's nothing to lose except cost of travel to the airport, and if it's obvious to the staff that the correct person is using the booking they are likely to overlook the discrepancy (unless the Chinese officious nature gets the better of them).

yddraig

Staff at China Southern have warned me that the ticket details have to be totally accurate and their attitude was quite simply - you shouldn't have bought a non-refundable, non-alterable ticket.

If it was a one-way trip I'd risk it but China Southern have said that my friend would be stopped if it isn't exactly right.

PeacefulWaters

Feels like an unfair contract to me.

Possibly worth a money claim online.

leylandsunaddict

First and last name on ticket have to match first and last name on passport. Some airlines will allow minor errors to be changed within 24 hrs of booking, others allow cancellation with 24 hrs , but there's plenty that don't. China Southern are probably viewing it as change of passenger and that is something that is rarely allowed with any ticket (charter and lcc excepted).

Should also have said you need to read the fare rules of the ticket.

Sagz_2

Cheaper to change their name by deed poll and get a new passport!

NiftyDigits

yddraig wrote: »

Staff at China Southern have warned me that the ticket details have to be totally accurate and their attitude was quite simply - you shouldn't have bought a non-refundable, non-alterable ticket.

If it was a one-way trip I'd risk it but China Southern have said that my friend would be stopped if it isn't exactly right.

That's what they might say, but I can also tell you that a Russian friend of mine travelled with them halfway through China, before they even noticed that he didn't have a visa...and even then it wasn't them who noticed.
It was only at a technical stop where they had to get off the plane and on again where Chinese officials noticed no permit to travel. They had already travelled through two Chinese airports at that point.

Again, I wouldn't worry about it unduly. If the name as you have entered it actually exists in the passport, it should be ok.

principlecounts

As you may have read, I've had a similar blunder, but just the missing middle name, but not too much of an issue. If I were you, just turn up to the airport, this can be fixed with a keystoke. Just bring some additional ID's to prove who you say you are on the passport. In my opinion, this sort of thing should work both ways at least under a time limit after the transaction. Maybe mention you'll take it up with the CAA and their tune might change.

https://www.caa.co.uk/Our-work/Make-a-report-or-complaint/