Name changed on Flight Tickets which I paid for

theweapon87

Afternoon, I hope this is the right category to post this.

Earlier this year I paid for 2 flight tickets with EasyJet for me and my friend (at the time). I was having issues with the site, so my friend ended up doing the booking on their end, and I paid for it with my card (Debit card, not credit card, I don't have one of those). This means my friend is the manager of the booking as I now understand it.

Since then, they have changed the name of my ticket without my knowledge to someone different they want to take instead. Meaning I have paid for 2 flight tickets, but I am no longer going.

I am being told that as I am not the manager of the booking, I simply have no recourse and have to lose the many hundreds of pounds paid while someone else gets a free ticket on my behalf.

I have never booked flights before, so please forgive my ignorance on how the system essentially works. This is a tough loss for me if indeed my fears are correct.

Is there anything I can do about this at all? I know I can't cancel the flight, but I paid for them out of my own bank account, I want my money back and for them to have to pay for their own tickets. Is there a consumer right that protects this I ma not aware of?

This is causing me some level of stress especially not knowing/understanding my rights. Some clarity (no matter which way) would really help me.

Thank you in advance

eskbanker

It's a friend issue not a consumer rights or airline one.

On any travel booking, the person actually making it is nominated as the lead passenger, and has responsibility for coordinating between the travel companies and the rest of the passengers on the booking, so as far as the airline is concerned, the lead passenger has the right to change the booking.

You need to pursue your friend (or ex-friend) for the money, via the courts if necessary.

heatherw_01

Your friend must have changed the name as they booked the tickets and are the only person who could have done that.
Not sure why your friend would do that, but they must have done it as they are the lead passenger.

There isn't anything you can do as you didn't book them.

You need to go via your "friend".

theweapon87

eskbanker said:

It's a friend issue not a consumer rights or airline one.

On any travel booking, the person actually making it is nominated as the lead passenger, and has responsibility for coordinating between the travel companies and the rest of the passengers on the booking, so as far as the airline is concerned, the lead passenger has the right to change the booking.

You need to pursue your friend (or ex-friend) for the money, via the courts if necessary.

heatherw_01 said:

Your friend must have changed the name as they booked the tickets and are the only person who could have done that.
Not sure why your friend would do that, but they must have done it as they are the lead passenger.

There isn't anything you can do as you didn't book them.

You need to go via your "friend".

That's what I feared but thank you both for confirming... I have some more research to do it seems!

eskbanker

theweapon87 said:
I have some more research to do it seems!

First port of call will be to raise the issue with your (ex-)friend - you certainly have a strong case that they should reimburse you for the cost of your ticket that they've unilaterally reallocated, but whether or not they owe you for the other ticket is perhaps less clear.  Why did you pay for their ticket, i.e. was it a gift or was there meant to be repayment?

Assuming they're uncooperative, then you'd need to go through more formal channels, namely court - you'd first need to send a Letter Before Action advising that this is what you intend to do, and then issue a claim via MCOL:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/money-claim-online-user-guide/money-claim-online-mcol-user-guide

LinLui

 you certainly have a strong case that they should reimburse you for the cost of your ticket that they've unilaterally reallocated,

A strong case of what? Is there any evidence at all that the ex-friend owes them money? Paying for the flights and actually being owed money for flights booked are not remotely the same thing. 

eskbanker

LinLui said:

 you certainly have a strong case that they should reimburse you for the cost of your ticket that they've unilaterally reallocated,

A strong case of what? Is there any evidence at all that the ex-friend owes them money? Paying for the flights and actually being owed money for flights booked are not remotely the same thing. 

Not sure I'm understanding your take on this - OP paid friend for a flight ticket and they've then effectively given it to someone else without OP's consent, so have deprived OP of something that OP paid for.  Are you just questioning the amount of evidence OP has to back up what they've posted here, or suggesting that OP has made it up?

LinLui

eskbanker said:

LinLui said:

 you certainly have a strong case that they should reimburse you for the cost of your ticket that they've unilaterally reallocated,

A strong case of what? Is there any evidence at all that the ex-friend owes them money? Paying for the flights and actually being owed money for flights booked are not remotely the same thing. 

Not sure I'm understanding your take on this - OP paid friend for a flight ticket and they've then effectively given it to someone else without OP's consent, so have deprived OP of something that OP paid for.  Are you just questioning the amount of evidence OP has to back up what they've posted here, or suggesting that OP has made it up?

I'm asking what evidence they have. What something looks like and what it is isn't always the same. OP's version and friends version are no doubt very different, but "control" of the booking lies with the friend. "My friend was coming with me but told me that they couldn't come, and I couldn't get a refund so third person paid for the amendment - friend needs to talk to their travel insurance. It's not my problem they decided not to come and I can't get their money refunded." If that is the friends version, how would the OP prove it wasn't true?

mybestattempt

LinLui said:

eskbanker said:

LinLui said:

 you certainly have a strong case that they should reimburse you for the cost of your ticket that they've unilaterally reallocated,

A strong case of what? Is there any evidence at all that the ex-friend owes them money? Paying for the flights and actually being owed money for flights booked are not remotely the same thing. 

Not sure I'm understanding your take on this - OP paid friend for a flight ticket and they've then effectively given it to someone else without OP's consent, so have deprived OP of something that OP paid for.  Are you just questioning the amount of evidence OP has to back up what they've posted here, or suggesting that OP has made it up?

I'm asking what evidence they have. What something looks like and what it is isn't always the same. OP's version and friends version are no doubt very different, but "control" of the booking lies with the friend. "My friend was coming with me but told me that they couldn't come, and I couldn't get a refund so third person paid for the amendment - friend needs to talk to their travel insurance. It's not my problem they decided not to come and I can't get their money refunded." If that is the friends version, how would the OP prove it wasn't true?

Should it get to court, if it's just the word of one person against another person it would be down to the balance of probability and thus which person gave the most credible oral evidence.

However, there may well be documentary evidence which proves or supports one version over the other.

A judge would make findings of fact from all the evidence.

As I understand it the OP wants reimbursement of the costs of two flights, the former friend's and that now reallocated.

Hoenir

theweapon87 said:

I am being told that as I am not the manager of the booking, I simply have no recourse and have to lose the many hundreds of pounds paid while someone else gets a free ticket on my behalf.

Then you take your ex friend to court for recovery of the money. Your dispute has nothing to do with the airline. 

maman

Surely the evidence of paying for tickets will show on OP's bank statement. I suppose then it would be down to the 'friend' to demonstrate that he'd paid him back.