Booking error - advice needed
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Booking error - advice needed
Some months ago I booked (economy class) tickets for a relative to go from UK to USA (Newark) travelling on Delta. Just realised that I have misspelt her name on the booking (i.e. booked surname says *****rey whilst her passport says *****ry) 
She leaves tomorrow. Is it worth trying to change the booking, knowing that it will not be easy and it will cost me, or should she just blag it at the airport and hope that nobody notices ?
Thanks
B-E
She leaves tomorrow. Is it worth trying to change the booking, knowing that it will not be easy and it will cost me, or should she just blag it at the airport and hope that nobody notices ?
Thanks
B-E
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In my experiance (20 plus years selling airline tickets) if the only issue is an additional "e" - then you probably do not have too much to worry about. I doubt anyone will notice.
Strictly speaking of course, you should call to advise, and the response will vary depending on with whom you booked.
Travel agent - given the lack of time, this might be a bad option. Depending on the airlines relationship with the agent (ie if they do a lot of business with DL), you may get a helpful response, but the agent will have to contact their airline contact, so there are a couple of links to the chain.
If you have booked directly with the airline, you will probably get through to a call centre, if its "offshore", you will be told to cough up for either a "admin fee", or purchase a new ticket.
If it is picked up at the airport, claim ignorance, be VERY nice to the airline staff, and they should be able to amend for you, they may charge you for doing so, (hence be VERY nice to them).
My family once got split due to overbooking on a flight to Spain, Myself and Mrs GSLF (being "in" travel) were "volunteered" to go on LH via FRA while the rest of the family were taken on IB. I travelled all the way on my sisters ticket - wrong name, wrong sex - nobody noticed!
Hope all goes ok - let us know how you got on.
Strictly speaking of course, you should call to advise, and the response will vary depending on with whom you booked.
Travel agent - given the lack of time, this might be a bad option. Depending on the airlines relationship with the agent (ie if they do a lot of business with DL), you may get a helpful response, but the agent will have to contact their airline contact, so there are a couple of links to the chain.
If you have booked directly with the airline, you will probably get through to a call centre, if its "offshore", you will be told to cough up for either a "admin fee", or purchase a new ticket.
If it is picked up at the airport, claim ignorance, be VERY nice to the airline staff, and they should be able to amend for you, they may charge you for doing so, (hence be VERY nice to them).
My family once got split due to overbooking on a flight to Spain, Myself and Mrs GSLF (being "in" travel) were "volunteered" to go on LH via FRA while the rest of the family were taken on IB. I travelled all the way on my sisters ticket - wrong name, wrong sex - nobody noticed!
Hope all goes ok - let us know how you got on.
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Nobody will notice. I was once issued a ticket with the wrong name. The travel agent told me it was ok. She was right. The ticket was checked four times during the trip and nobody noted the difference between passport and ticket.
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Well that is her away. I didn't tell her about my mistake - she is in her 70's and she would have "blabbed".
Just held my breath when they checked her in. No questions asked and boarding passes issued all the way through to Florida.
I am relieved that we got away with it but it does beg the question about why all the security these days
Thanks for eveybodies replies.
B-E
Just held my breath when they checked her in. No questions asked and boarding passes issued all the way through to Florida.
I am relieved that we got away with it but it does beg the question about why all the security these days
Thanks for eveybodies replies.
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I heard a similar story where someone had used her own name to book a ticket for a kid return to Oz or NZ. BA would only give a £90 refund for a £2000 ticket!!
In the end, the only way to change it was to upgrade which BA did FOC and then refunded the £90 !! Crazy.
In the end, the only way to change it was to upgrade which BA did FOC and then refunded the £90 !! Crazy.
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Flying to and from the States in Feb 2008 I had a small error on my ticket, a 1 letter mistake. It was noticed at check in outbound, pointed out and ignored. Return I had to use the automatic check in kiosks, which asked for me to scan my passport, and flagged it as being the wrong name. I ended up stuck waiting for a member of ground staff to come along, verify everything by hand and override the machine. Small errors can usually be overlooked, but in some cases you have to jump through hoops for it.
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Well that is her away. I didn't tell her about my mistake - she is in her 70's and she would have "blabbed".
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Munnyspinner
Do you mean a total change of name, or just a slight mistake?
I understand you mean a completely different name - in which case I cant understand why you are surprised that BA (or any other airline) would make a charge - they would treat it as a different traveller.
The whole reason that name changes were "banned" (Travel agents used to be able to change names without any problems up until approx 2002) is because "some" agents used to book the very cheap advance tickets for peak travel dates, wait till flight sold out, and then sold them on with huge mark ups - just change the name.
I think any airline would take a lot of convincing that a ticket booked in the name of Ms Jane Smith should have actually been booked for a Mstr Seven Cooper (or whatever).
Do you mean a total change of name, or just a slight mistake?
I understand you mean a completely different name - in which case I cant understand why you are surprised that BA (or any other airline) would make a charge - they would treat it as a different traveller.
The whole reason that name changes were "banned" (Travel agents used to be able to change names without any problems up until approx 2002) is because "some" agents used to book the very cheap advance tickets for peak travel dates, wait till flight sold out, and then sold them on with huge mark ups - just change the name.
I think any airline would take a lot of convincing that a ticket booked in the name of Ms Jane Smith should have actually been booked for a Mstr Seven Cooper (or whatever).
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She arrived in Florida with no problems or questions so fingers crossed for the return journey 
Part of my concerns were due to a recent incident on Easy(?)Jet where a colleague had booked tickets using an abbreviated form of her Christian name (Lyn). On checking in her drivers licence showed her full Christian name (Evelyn). EasyJet refused to let her check in and she had to buy another ticket for the next flight
Part of my concerns were due to a recent incident on Easy(?)Jet where a colleague had booked tickets using an abbreviated form of her Christian name (Lyn). On checking in her drivers licence showed her full Christian name (Evelyn). EasyJet refused to let her check in and she had to buy another ticket for the next flight
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The "no frills" (note I dont call them low cost) carriers are a different kettle of fish - they can make money from every little error, be it mis spelling on names, slightly over baggage weight, turn up a little late - you name it, they will charge you for it.
"Full service" airlines offer a more flexible customer experiance when things go "pear shaped"
Glad all was ok - and she wont have any issues on the return journey - its getting into the US they worry about, they dont care who goes out!
"Full service" airlines offer a more flexible customer experiance when things go "pear shaped"
Glad all was ok - and she wont have any issues on the return journey - its getting into the US they worry about, they dont care who goes out!
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GroundedSLF
That is not always true. I was extremely late one time for an LBA-AMS flight once, check in was closed but there was still someone around so I explained I had car problems and I was booked on flight about to depart. She gave me an emergency boarding card saying it was no guarantee of getting on, that was up to captain of a/c. Ran like a hare to the gate with my luggage, slightly large for cabin but still light and asked if I could board. Some radio traffic ensued and eventually answer came back "Oh, OK then", luggage was taken from me and I made it to AMS that night. Didn't cost a penny extra. That was Jet2.
So it is not all horror stories. That was 4 yrs ago but may be different in this climate, dunno.
So it is not all horror stories. That was 4 yrs ago but may be different in this climate, dunno.
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Wish I'd seen this thread yesterday.
I misspelled my Husbands surname (missed a letter) last year whilst listing us for flights to JFK. I had a sticky keyboard. The airline called me to advise me but said it would be ok, which I knew from years of experience of checking USA flights. Sure enough no problems at all. Just have a good day on arrival.
I misspelled my Husbands surname (missed a letter) last year whilst listing us for flights to JFK. I had a sticky keyboard. The airline called me to advise me but said it would be ok, which I knew from years of experience of checking USA flights. Sure enough no problems at all. Just have a good day on arrival.
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In fairness, it was a change from Mr X bloggs to Miss Y Bloggs which is arguably a big name change. Notwithstanding that there are numerous checks to ensure people don't make these sorts of howlers it does occasionally and innocently happen. It just seemed to me a bit steep for an obvious error.
Airlines seem to be unable to accept that mistakes can happen - Hell, most airlines make plenty. Who isn't still waiting for baggage from BA?
Airlines seem to be unable to accept that mistakes can happen - Hell, most airlines make plenty. Who isn't still waiting for baggage from BA?
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Originally Posted by Munnyspinner
Airlines seem to be unable to accept that mistakes can happen - Hell, most airlines make plenty. Who isn't still waiting for baggage from BA?
But, in answer to your question, I am not waiting for baggage from BA. In fact, BA has never ever lost any of my bags, unlike some other full-service European airlines I could mention.
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But, in answer to your question, I am not waiting for baggage from BA. In fact, BA has never ever lost any of my bags, unlike some other full-service European airlines I could mention.
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Never lost mine either, only time I "lost" baggage was with BMI at LHR this was due to a quick change to EDI, baggage turned up next day by taxi, they had even told me prior that my bags would not arrive in EDI.
I think Munnyspinner was referring to the T5 fiasco when it opened. I believe that indeed some pax who travelled in that period have never been reunited with their bags.
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Thanks Avman.
It may have looked like a swingeing attack on BA generally but indeed the T5 fiasco was in my mind - one of life's mistakes. And yes, any airline can claim to have lost a bag or more. If you don't believe me, I understand that you can still bid for lost baggage at auction in Staines or somewhere in West of London. Lost in the system - and if you genuinely belive that BAA are about to sort baggage handling at LHR then you will no doubt also belive Elvis is living in Southend.
And no, I don't think I can post without having a go at BA - why not?
It may have looked like a swingeing attack on BA generally but indeed the T5 fiasco was in my mind - one of life's mistakes. And yes, any airline can claim to have lost a bag or more. If you don't believe me, I understand that you can still bid for lost baggage at auction in Staines or somewhere in West of London. Lost in the system - and if you genuinely belive that BAA are about to sort baggage handling at LHR then you will no doubt also belive Elvis is living in Southend.
And no, I don't think I can post without having a go at BA - why not?