Comments on: Airlines charge a fortune for name changes

By: James

James — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 06:15:44 +0000

I like how some of these commenters seem to assume that the airlines or online travel agents weren’t the ones that made error in the name. I have had two instances in the last year where this happened.

I booked through an online travel site (electronically, not over the phone), I spelled my name and my travel partners name correctly. Just yesterday, I checked the airlines site to verify the flights haven’t changed. My invoice has the correct name, Mr. James XXX XXX Surprise, Surprise, the airline has my first name spelled “jamesmr”. They put the mr at the end of my freaking first name instead of as the surname I call the online travel agency and calmly explain the issue to them (took 3 people before I found someone who spoke english). “Oh, the ticket has your correct first name, but there are no middle names on the two tickets so they don’t match your passports”. They want $180 per ticket plus any difference in fare cost between now and when I originally booked to fix this. I didn’t enter the data in wrong. The middle names were in the confirmation I received and everything. This 3rd representative called the airline and they stated that middle names on the tickets aren’t required, everything will be fine. Ok, if it isn’t a big deal, why don’t you just administratively add them or put a note in the system to add the middle names when I check in? oh,we would have to reissue the tickets, $180 fee per ticket, plus the difference in airfare.. if I have to I’ll pay the charges, just fix the damned tickets so I don’t have issues when I arrive at the airport!!!!!!

Another incident. Went on a trip in June through Korean air. I booked directly through their site. Everything entered properly. Get to ticket counter, and they have the name as Ms. James xxx xxx instead of Mr. James xxx xxx. Look at email confirmation with traveler names that we brought, no it is clearly Mr. on the confirmation email you sent. No fees, no questions. They just fixed it at the counter in about 10 seconds, reissued the tickets and I was off to my flight.

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By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:18:48 +0000

Just wanted to report a positive experience with EasyJet on this topic. Somehow my flight was booked as Mike whilst my Passport says Michael. I rang EasyJet and they changed it free of charge and without any hassle. They were both professional and fast. The only ‘real’ cost was 70p for 7 mins on their Customer service help line but that is not such a drama compared to others tales.

I hope someone can take encouragement from my experience.

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By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:59:26 +0000

Built up the courage to phone Ryanair today. They were absolutely brilliant, corrected my wife’s name, no problem and no charge. “Hats off” to Ryanair, heard alot of negative comments but not in this case.

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By: Lorraine

Lorraine — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:46:11 +0000

Hi,can someone please tell me if Easy Jet charge a fee to change maiden name to married name,as i have booked a family holiday and put my daughters maiden name in by mistake,her married name is on her passport, i have looked on Easy Jet website and they say you can change maiden name to married name or vice versa free of charge but the information was dated 2008.

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By: Violet

Violet — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:41:24 +0000

hello

Just update. I called jet2 (was mad to get through coz of vulcano eruption though) and they were very nice and corrected mistake free of charge

All i can say is just to be honest with them and polite coz the worst is to be smart ass and shout out loud how dare they steal from u hehe. It always work with everything, even when you get cought on road mistakes
cheers bye

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