Has anyone had an experience getting......Update

[springandmac]

Airtran to change the name on a ticket?

DD was allowed to invite her BFF to go with us to celebrate DD's sweet 16. Due to all the expense of throwing DD a Sweet 16 party, funds are limited so I told DD's BFF's mother that I would take care of everything but her DD's airfare and her park tickets.

Well....DD came to my room last night and said that her BFF's mom and her BFF were fighting and they each called the police on each other and that her mother has threatened to send her to a girls home.

(Keep in mind that I've already bought the plane tickets and asked her mom to pay me back in a week or two (that was a month ago)).........

So I drop her mom a quick email this morning at work saying that my DD was concerned that her DD wasn't going to be able to go with us and that I understood if she couldn't but I wanted to know if there was a change in circumstances now rather than when it's time to go and my DD ends up upset that her BFF can't go.

Well her mom just sent me an email back saying that even though she said her DD could go that money's tight, she took a dramatic pay cut at work, they barely have money to eat and now she can't go. Don't hate us.

No mention of paying me back for the airfare. Which, unfortunately, I had a feeling when I was booking the flights that I was going to get stuck holding the bag. But her DD has gone with us before and I paid for everything and her mom reimbursed me so I was hoping that this trip was going to go as smoothly.

So now I have to go home and tell DD, who has mentioned that if her BFF can't go she has another friend she'd like to invite. But I hate to see this ticket go to waste......

Sorry this is so long, I just needed to vent. Especially before I tell DH and have to listen to his "I told you so, now your out money!"

 

[Lewisc]

Very few carriers let you substitute passengers, excepting group sales.

The TSA doesn't require ID from passengers under age 18. Passengers who get their BPs online, and who don't check bags, are rarely asked to show ID by an airline. The first airline employee you'll meet is the GA who's scanning the BP.

I'd be afraid of getting caught. Embarrassed. Being forced to pay walk up airfare or worse (overbooked flight). Based on previous threads many DIS members don't share my opinion.

 

[AmyM]

You would need to cancel the original ticket at a $75 fee and then rebook under the new person's name. Any balance after the cancellation fee can be applied to the new purchase. I just had the exact same experience (DF couldn't go after ticket was purchased). If you bought a non-refunable/non-transferable ticket like I did, this is the only legal option available.

 

[francie57]

I don't think you will be able to change names since the airlines will consider that a cancellation and a new ticket. Even if you don't have to show IDs for the "kids", you would be taking a risk and everyone could be taken off the flight.

 

[Lewisc]

Looks like the OPs flight is within 2 months. I'm not sure if Airtan will be making a schedule change but Airtran seems to be pretty liberal in refunding airfare when a schedule change is modest. OP would still have to purchase replacement airfare at current fares.

I think there are one or two airlines that has a fee for a name (substitute passenger).

People calling the airline should make it clear you want to substitute passengers. You don't want to confuse changing the passenger with a name change (correction) due to marriage or divorce.

 

[springandmac]

Looks like the OPs flight is within 2 months. I'm not sure if Airtan will be making a schedule change but Airtran seems to be pretty liberal in refunding airfare when a schedule change is modest.

They did move the flight up an hour but I emailed back and agreed to the change. However, my flight is listed as "subject to government approval" so maybe it won't get approved and I could cancel her ticket.

I have to admit the idea of trying to pass one 15 year old girl for another did cross my mind. But I don't believe in lying so that wouldn't work out for me. Plus, DD is 15 but looks 18 or older. It's been an issue these last few trips getting through TSA since her only ID is her school id.

 

[Brian Noble]

Plus, you'd need a convincing fibber, because the TSA agent will look straight at each kid and ask them their names.

I would just eat the ticket (or whatever cancel fees you are stuck with) as a lesson learned.

 

[springandmac]

I just got off the phone with Airtran and after explaining the whole situation the lady I spoke with put me on hold and spoke to her supervisor and said that she could cancel DD's BFF and give me a credit for future travel!

I'm always going somewhere so this works out just fine!