Comments on: A typo on my airline ticket http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anonymous http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-69113 Anonymous Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:29:00 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6591#comment-69113 We have saved time and money for years to go to Prague on April 30, 2011. I bought the tickets through Hotwire. Somehow my partner's last name, first letter was omitted. The ticket owner (SwissAir) couldn't change it, only Hotwire, who explained that all sales were final. I could rebook on business class. I am afraid we will lose the trip. What can I do? We have saved time and money for years to go to Prague on April 30, 2011. I bought the tickets through Hotwire. Somehow my partner’s last name, first letter was omitted. The ticket owner (SwissAir) couldn’t change it, only Hotwire, who explained that all sales were final. I could rebook on business class.

I am afraid we will lose the trip. What can I do?

]]> By: Duke Nukem http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-25767 Duke Nukem Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:16:04 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6591#comment-25767 What about when the airline flubs your birthday? Will it be an issue with TSA? What about when the airline flubs your birthday? Will it be an issue with TSA?

]]> By: jess http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-22974 jess Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:21:48 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6591#comment-22974 i've been working with a well known online travel agency. i know that most travelers feel frustrated about these lind of issues but believe me, it's harder for us travel agents. we are the middleman here..it's not easy dealing with customers' concern when the airline themselves wouldnt let us provide a wider set of options. so as much as we love to help out and reach out more, we are bounded by these rules! if we dont follow this rules, we are going to pay big time (as in THOUSAND of $!!!!). so i think what i'm trying to say is, let's all be carefull and responsible to avoid issues like this. let's work together as a consumer and as producers. Thanks! i’ve been working with a well known online travel agency. i know that most travelers feel frustrated about these lind of issues but believe me, it’s harder for us travel agents. we are the middleman here..it’s not easy dealing with customers’ concern when the airline themselves wouldnt let us provide a wider set of options. so as much as we love to help out and reach out more, we are bounded by these rules! if we dont follow this rules, we are going to pay big time (as in THOUSAND of $!!!!). so i think what i’m trying to say is, let’s all be carefull and responsible to avoid issues like this. let’s work together as a consumer and as producers. Thanks!

]]> By: Roland http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-20674 Roland Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:52:51 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6591#comment-20674 The better way to avoid this problem is to go directly to the airline on the net. If a name is misspelled, you will hav ercourse. And you'll save the booking fee. The better way to avoid this problem is to go directly to the airline on the net. If a name is misspelled, you will hav ercourse. And you’ll save the booking fee.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-20403 Sarah Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:33:04 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6591#comment-20403 Well, people do get turned away sometimes. It depends on the agent. See this post at the Yarn Harlot. http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2009/05/15/in_which_i_try_not_to_complain.html And with the new travel rules going into effect, this will only get worse. Well, people do get turned away sometimes. It depends on the agent. See this post at the Yarn Harlot. http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2009/05/15/in_which_i_try_not_to_complain.html And with the new travel rules going into effect, this will only get worse.

]]> By: charles http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-20124 charles Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:26:56 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6591#comment-20124 Bill is so absolutely right. This kind of reissuing difficulty is inexcusable. On the flip side though, it happens all the time (and I know, I work for a major airline). Still, it is what it is, and passengers have to protect themselves, so best to be sure the booking agent spells your name back for you. If there is an error (no matter what your feeling on the matter is), you'll pay for it (time, hassles, and money!), so best to protect yourself. It's the passenger who will pay the price for an error! Bill is so absolutely right. This kind of reissuing difficulty is inexcusable. On the flip side though, it happens all the time (and I know, I work for a major airline). Still, it is what it is, and passengers have to protect themselves, so best to be sure the booking agent spells your name back for you. If there is an error (no matter what your feeling on the matter is), you’ll pay for it (time, hassles, and money!), so best to protect yourself. It’s the passenger who will pay the price for an error!

]]> By: Bill http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-20059 Bill Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:56:10 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6591#comment-20059 Any airline or travel agency that takes more than a few minutes to fix a legitimate error like this should have their credentials revoked due to incompetence. It is absolutely unacceptable that this industry gives people the runaround over something like this. There is a BIG difference between correcting a typo and changing a name completely. Besides, if they are going to persist in hiring telephone representatives who do not speak the language well, misunderstandings are sure to happen. The amount of time and energy wasted over this issue is outrageous. Chris is right, don't phone an online agency, but at the same time, one shouldn't get hours or days of runaround for typos. Any airline or travel agency that takes more than a few minutes to fix a legitimate error like this should have their credentials revoked due to incompetence. It is absolutely unacceptable that this industry gives people the runaround over something like this.

There is a BIG difference between correcting a typo and changing a name completely. Besides, if they are going to persist in hiring telephone representatives who do not speak the language well, misunderstandings are sure to happen.

The amount of time and energy wasted over this issue is outrageous.

Chris is right, don’t phone an online agency, but at the same time, one shouldn’t get hours or days of runaround for typos.

]]> By: H. Ronald Berg http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-20017 H. Ronald Berg Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:17:41 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6591#comment-20017 I was turned away by TSA at SFO because my ticket read HRonald Berg instread of exactly as my passport. I went back to Quantas and it took them more than 1&1/2 hours to fix it. I was turned away by TSA at SFO because my ticket read HRonald Berg instread of exactly as my passport. I went back to Quantas and it took them more than 1&1/2 hours to fix it.

]]> By: Carver http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-20001 Carver Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:32:27 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6591#comment-20001 Joe I don't think that wil work. Admittedly I haven't tried it, but I can easily see the credit card company siding with the airline. As the article states, you aren't turned away necessary for a type. Joe

I don’t think that wil work. Admittedly I haven’t tried it, but I can easily see the credit card company siding with the airline. As the article states, you aren’t turned away necessary for a type.

]]> By: Joe Farrell http://www.elliott.org/the-troubleshooter/a-typo-on-my-airline-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-19998 Joe Farrell Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:04:08 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/?p=6591#comment-19998 If this happens in the future to any people reading this: First - you can dispute the charge - they did not provide you a ticket you can use - therefore - they failed to provide the service you paid for. Then - buy ticket #2 with the correct name. Before you do either of the above - ASK Expedia [or the airline or whomever] to pull the call from the call center - its recorded for a while. Then, listen to the call with them - prove they screwed up - and they'll eat the fees and charges to fix it - they've got the relationships with the airline marketing department to put the fix in, just like you found out. If this happens in the future to any people reading this:

First – you can dispute the charge – they did not provide you a ticket you can use – therefore – they failed to provide the service you paid for.

Then – buy ticket #2 with the correct name.

Before you do either of the above – ASK Expedia [or the airline or whomever] to pull the call from the call center – its recorded for a while. Then, listen to the call with them – prove they screwed up – and they’ll eat the fees and charges to fix it – they’ve got the relationships with the airline marketing department to put the fix in, just like you found out.

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