Airline Ticket Name Change

[huskies90]

I bought airline tix for our trip in August back in January for $150pp RT. My wife and I are filing for divorce so she does not want to go with us. My 14 yr old daughter asked a friend to join us and her parents said it was OK assuming she can use my wife's ticket. The flight now is going for $400 RT. It is AirTran. What are my options besides canceling and re-booking under the kid's name? Is there a cheaper/easier way to get the name changed on the ticket?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Relatively certain that's your only option. I've been on several airline websites in the last few days so I may not have my airlines straight, but I think they don't allow name changes. On the brighter side, they only charge $75 (not the legacy carriers' $150) for cancellations. You WILL want to make sure the credit is yours to do with as you wish, vs. belonging to the ticketed passenger before you do anything.

 

[beachbunny]

You probably can't even do that. Once you purchase a ticket in someone's name they own the ticket. So technically, your ex still owns the ticket and can do whatever she wants with it.

 

[huskies90]

Okay. I know the airlines have funky rules around cancellations and nonrefundable tickets. But in this case I'm not asking to cancel the ticket I want to use it. If I had a ticket to a ball game that was nonrefundable and I could not use it I can give it to somebody else to use that's all I'm asking to do here.

 

[msmayor]

Okay. I know the airlines have funky rules around cancellations and nonrefundable tickets. But in this case I'm not asking to cancel the ticket I want to use it. If I had a ticket to a ball game that was nonrefundable and I could not use it I can give it to somebody else to use that's all I'm asking to do here.

Except that a ticket to a ball game and a plane ticket are two different animals. The ball game ticket doesn't have anyone's name on it...the plane ticket does.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We understand - but as msmayor points out, an airline is a different animal. You need to at least see AirTran's website for information, but better to call.

General point of information: airlines are open 24 hours a day. The reservationists know, or usually can find, ANY information we seek!

 

[PlutoPony]

Go to the AirTran forum on FlyerTalk and ask there. If there's a way to do what you want, someone over there will know and be able to give you direction. The posters on that site are very frequent flyers and have extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of individiual airlines.

 

[bettymae1121]

I'm not sure about AirTran specifically, but most airlines either do not permit a name change at all (not so much as a spelling correction!) or if they do, it will cost you whatever their change fee is plus if the airfare has gone up between now and when you bought it, you pay the difference too. But all airlines are different, and you should call AirTran to find out for sure.

 

[dsnymoners]

There is a way around this. Since your 14 year old daugthers friend wont have a ID. She can go saying she is your wifes name!!!

 

[kimbo0569]

Okay. I know the airlines have funky rules around cancellations and nonrefundable tickets. But in this case I'm not asking to cancel the ticket I want to use it. If I had a ticket to a ball game that was nonrefundable and I could not use it I can give it to somebody else to use that's all I'm asking to do here.

The ticket to the ball game doesn't have a name on it. Based on past experience, I don't think actual name changes are allowed. You can cancel and rebook with a change fee plus any difference in airfare but that would be up to the person whose name is on the ticket. Alot of airlines now only allow cancellations/changes and the person who is ticketed has a year from date of travel to use the credit, if any, for cancellation.

 

[cel_disney]

There is a way around this. Since your 14 year old daugthers friend wont have a ID. She can go saying she is your wifes name!!!

This! (Well, you should confirm with your carrier I guess?)

I bought a ticket for my yet to be born daughter on Delta a few months ago. The ticket is currently under the name 'Baby Lastname'. I had MANY conversations with Delta agents on this situation before purchasing - every single agent said that since the baby would be under 18, no ID would be needed so it didnt matter if her name was Agnus, Emily, or Baby - she could fly with the ticket. I wanted her to be able to get frequent flyer miles for the trip, so I had to take it to the next level and have had a number of notes and codes entered into the ticket that identify she is unborn, her due date etc, and I have to call with the proper name later...

 

[msmayor]

There is a way around this. Since your 14 year old daugthers friend wont have a ID. She can go saying she is your wifes name!!!

This is a horrible idea.

ID or not, its never a good idea to 'pretend' you are someone else when flying in today's world of air travel.

 

[bettymae1121]

This is a horrible idea.

ID or not, its never a good idea to 'pretend' you are someone else when flying in today's world of air travel.

Agreed. My dad did this with me once, I flew on my mother's ticket. But this was back in 1990, I wouldn't do it today. Odds are it would work but if it didn't it could cause some problems.

 

[angwill]

I have been in a situation where my DH could not make it with us on a trip where we had a ticket for him. There was no way to change the name on it. They would not even allow us to keep the seat to have extra space. Then when we cancelled the credit had to be in his name so I could not even use it to repurchase the seat in another name.

 

[jenseib]

There is a way around this. Since your 14 year old daugthers friend wont have a ID. She can go saying she is your wifes name!!!

But most airlines require birthdates when you book, so they will ask for the id.

 

[crashbb]

Did none of the suggestions when you asked this a couple of weeks ago work?

 

[huskies90]

Did none of the suggestions when you asked this a couple of weeks ago work?

hahaha...ur funny

 

[crashbb]

hahaha...ur funny

It wasn't a joke. You posted a thread in the transportation forum. It is a waste of time if people are providing you with repeat ideas - since I'm assuming you tried them and they didn't work.

Not sure why you'd think it was a humorous statement.

 

[huskies90]

It wasn't a joke. You posted a thread in the transportation forum. It is a waste of time if people are providing you with repeat ideas - since I'm assuming you tried them and they didn't work.

Not sure why you'd think it was a humorous statement.

OMG stop!! ur killing me!!!

 

[crashbb]

Glad I amuse you so much.

For everyone else trying to be helpful, I really wouldn't bother. He already got all of these suggestions, so he is just wasting your time:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2507415