Name Change on Airline Ticket

[Disney before Sally]

I booked in February for a trip August 2011 and purchased the airline tickets through Disney in one bundle. I need to change a name on one of the airline tickets.

Airtran would take $75 dollars to cancel the ticket and refund me the difference - rebook the flight with the right name and charge me the difference bwteen the new ticket and the refund, if I had not booked through Disney. Airtran wont do anything at all; I was told to call Disney.

Disney told me I could pay them $75 dollar to extend the use by date through February 2012 for the same person - plus any additional cost of the actual flight when they use it. I would need to buy another ticket through Disney with the right name.


Is this really how it is?

I am thinking my best move is to book the flight direct through Airtran and eat the cost of original Disney airline ticket.

 

[DebbieB]

I booked in February for a trip August 2011 and purchased the airline tickets through Disney in one bundle. I need to change a name on one of the airline tickets.

Airtran would take $75 dollars to cancel the ticket and refund me the difference - rebook the flight with the right name and charge me the difference bwteen the new ticket and the refund, if I had not booked through Disney. Airtran wont do anything at all; I was told to call Disney.

Disney told me I could pay them $75 dollar to extend the use by date through February 2012 for the same person - plus any additional cost of the actual flight when they use it. I would need to buy another ticket through Disney with the right name.


Is this really how it is?

I am thinking my best move is to book the flight direct through Airtran and eat the cost of original Disney airline ticket.

Most airlines do not allow you to transfer a ticket or credit to another person.

I found this on airtran's website:

http://www.airtran.com/faq/q/what_a...-+General+Information&rt=index_faqs&nav_id=85

What are the terms and conditions when purchasing tickets?

A $75 fee per person applies to any change made after purchase, plus any applicable increase in airfare. Business class tickets (A and J fare classes only; not including promotional fares) are fully refundable and no fee applies to changes.

Cancellations must be made at least one hour prior to departure or customer forfeits the reservation and any monies paid against the reservation. This reservation is non-transferable - no name changes allowed.
Transportation on AirTran Airways is subject to the terms of our contract of carriage. View our Contract of Carriage online (Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view this PDF file), or ask to see the contract of carriage at the airport at any AirTran Airways customer service counter.

 

[Jestocost]

Is this really how it is?

I am thinking my best move is to book the flight direct through Airtran and eat the cost of original Disney airline ticket.

Yes, that's how it is. You will need to cancel, pay whatever penalty is due ($75 is a bargain, FWIW) and rebook at the current fare.

 

[Disney before Sally]

Right, either company I have to pay $75 bucks. And, either place provides a credit for the remainder minus $75.

Disney will only rebook a flight in the same person's name, before a year from purchase and plus any additional fare. I doubt this person will use it. So I lose the credit with Disney. There is no resolution to change a name with Disney. They just take my money for the ticket. I can't even keep the ticket I purchased and use it as issued by the same person. Once I change the name on the Disney reservation, that airline ticket is lost. I'll never book airline direct through Disney ever again.

If I had booked originally through Airtran, that credit could have been used to book the same flight in a new name.

I went with Disney's booking of the airline tickets because it was about $20 bucks cheaper than the the same day prices on-line with AirTran per person. To top it off, I have two kids I did not want to sit alone on the plane - so I paid to $15 bucks each way to pick seats together. Out another $30 bucks. Now the airline prices are 50% more than early February.

 

[indimom3]

I was in a similar situation last year, and could not find any way around it either. Part of it has to do with federal aviation security laws, I was told.
Either way, it looks like you're out $75. Sorry, that stinks.

 

[Disney before Sally]

I am out more than $75 bucks.

I lost the whole airfare to Disney, $180 (It was $205 at the time with AirTran.) I lost the $30 I paid to pick the seat assignments. I paid $285 for the ticket from Airtran today, because the prices have gone up from February.

$180+$30+$285 = $495 for one person's round trip ticket with Disney. This is what I have paid because Disney won't change the name on the ticket. I purchased two tickets.


If I had gone with AirTran: $205-$75 (to cancel it) = $130.00 credit. Today's current fare of $285-$130 credit = $155.00 Out of pocket was $205 +$155 = $360


$495 (Disney way to buy two tickets in two names) - $360 (all AirTran way to buy one ticket in name A and switch to name B) = $135.

Whatever - it is so messed up - I doubt even Disney could give me the same load of words twice.

 

[Disney before Sally]

Maybe this post will help others understand that it isn't worth planning out 6 months in advance through third parties. I learned my lesson - buy direct from the vendor!

I am very lucky that my husband can go with us now.

 

[indimom3]

I don't think it's just Disney (or even Airtran) policy. In my situation, I was dealing with a United flight to Denver, not Disney related. I don't think there's a TA out there who can legally change a name on a purchased ticket.

 

[Disney before Sally]

I don't think it's just Disney (or even Airtran) policy. In my situation, I was dealing with a United flight to Denver, not Disney related. I don't think there's a TA out there who can legally change a name on a purchased ticket.

Bottom line - it is just changing the name on the ticket plus a change fee+ additional fare. They just call it a $75 dollar fee to cancel, issue of left over credit, and purchase of a new ticket.

Disney however - won't cancel the ticket, they will charge $75 dollars to postpone the same person to use it within a year of purchase. I did not get any useful credit towards a ticket with a new name on it. I lost the money used to buy the ticket, period.

 

[ccudmore]

You bought the "Lowest fare" ticket which has these restrictions. If you wanted a "fully refundable" ticket, the airlines sell those too - just at a higher price. I don't know of any airline that will let you have it both ways.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

You aren't looking for a name change (e.g., John Simth to John Smith), you are looking to transfer that ticket to another person. Since you purchased a NON-transferrable ticket, the fault here does not lie with Disney or the airlines.

It's always advisable that any consumer reads all the fine print of his/her purchases before completing any transaction. Doing so can prevent issues like this.

 

[soxfan11901]

You aren't looking for a name change (e.g., John Simth to John Smith), you are looking to transfer that ticket to another person. Since you purchased a NON-transferrable ticket, the fault here does not lie with Disney or the airlines.

It's always advisable that any consumer reads all the fine print of his/her purchases before completing any transaction. Doing so can prevent issues like this.

Exactly

 

[Lewisc]

You aren't looking for a name change (e.g., John Simth to John Smith), you are looking to transfer that ticket to another person. Since you purchased a NON-transferrable ticket, the fault here does not lie with Disney or the airlines.

It's always advisable that any consumer reads all the fine print of his/her purchases before completing any transaction. Doing so can prevent issues like this.

The OP is looking to change the name on the ticket from John Smith to Jame Doe. The OP is looking to change the name, not correct the name from John Simth to John Smith.

A few airlines allow you to change the name. I believe Frontier Air is one such airline. The FAA rule is the passenger boarding the plane must be the same as the passenger's name on the ticket. There is no rule prohibiting an airline from changing the name on the ticket. Most airlines don't let you change the name for a variety of reasons. Most airlines allow for a name change on a group booking.

The OPs complaint is Airtran's policy, had the booked direct, would have been slightly more favorable then what was offered through their TA (Disney).

edited to add--Call an airline and tell them you want to change the name on your ticket and they will say no. Tell them you want to correct the name on a ticket from Simth to Smith and they will accommodate you. Changing the name on a ticket means you want to change the passenger who will be using the ticket.

 

[DebbieB]

The OP is not looking to directly change the name of the ticket. What she wants to do is cancel the first ticket and use the credit (-$75) to purchase a new ticket in the new person's name. Apparently AirTran said she could do that but Disney is saying no, the credit can only be used for a ticket for the original person.

 

[Lewisc]

The OP is not looking to directly change the name of the ticket. What she wants to do is cancel the first ticket and use the credit (-$75) to purchase a new ticket in the new person's name. Apparently AirTran said she could do that but Disney is saying no, the credit can only be used for a ticket for the original person.

The OP wants to change the name on the ticket:

I need to change a name on one of the airline tickets.

The OP understands Airtran won't do it but was hoping her TA (Disney) would be willing to make the same accommodation Airtran makes with passengers who book direct.

I think Disney is booking consolidator tickets. Different rules. Different policies.

 

[DebbieB]

In post #6, she said AirTran would allow her to use the credit from the original ticket (-$75) and purchase a new ticket at current price and use the credit.

If I had gone with AirTran: $205-$75 (to cancel it) = $130.00 credit. Today's current fare of $285-$130 credit = $155.00 Out of pocket was $205 +$155 = $360

The question is what is AirTran's policy? Do they allow credits to be used by another person? Southwest used to do this but earlier this year changed their rules that credits could only be used by the original person. As far as I know, the legacy airlines do not allow this either.

 

[Lewisc]

In post #6, she said AirTran would allow her to use the credit from the original ticket (-$75) and purchase a new ticket at current price and use the credit.



The question is what is AirTran's policy? Do they allow credits to be used by another person? Southwest used to do this but earlier this year changed their rules that credits could only be used by the original person. As far as I know, the legacy airlines do not allow this either.

Airtran's website isn't clear. I don't know if Airtran will normally let the credits be used by anyone (E-Bay purchaser) or will make an exception when a group wants to change a passenger (same flights).

It doesn't matter. Disney is unwilling or unable (consolidator tickets) to follow that policy.

Airtran will be following Southwest's policy before long.

 

[Disney before Sally]

Thanks DebbieB. The folks that posted silly talk about the OP expecting a fully refundable ticket or defining the difference between cheapest and most expensive were a trifle upsetting. I wrote out the details several ways. It seems at least some can understand what happened.

I have a room reserved for four people and I still have air line tickets for five. Perhaps all five of us will still go. Maybe I will not have lost the whole fare to Disney. But really - it was so cheap to begin with anyway. I am not crying over it. Now if each ticket cost me a thousand bucks, I'd be livid. Hopefully this thread will encourage others not to book so far in advance through any third party vendors (Disney, priceline, whatever) I recommend going straight to the source.

This name on the ticket we are changing, has to travel to Disney and book in a reservation in a Disney Resort by February of next year. They might as well just forget the credit they are offering. If AirTran changes their policy to Southwest previous poster's claims that the same person holds that credit - at least she could fly to Hawaii with that credit.

 

[soxfan11901]

at least she could fly to Hawaii with that credit.

She may find that difficult since neither AirTran or Southwest service Hawaii. And the aircraft they fly would drop into the ocean part way there since they don't have the necessary range.

 

[Disney before Sally]

She may find that difficult since neither AirTran or Southwest service Hawaii. And the aircraft they fly would drop into the ocean part way there since they don't have the necessary range.

You win. I'm an an idiot.

If anyone can catch themselves from laughing so hard and gets past the bullying, I really should have said - With my Disney bought ticket, the original name has no other options but to fly to Disney before one year after the original purchase date, AND stay in a Disney Resort - with the remaining original purchase fare minus $75 plus any additional cost of the new flight. Direct with a real airline - I could have cancelled it for $75 bucks and used the credit to buy the corrected person's name on the same flight. When and if AirTran changes that policy - she could fly anywhere that airline currently has flights scheduled without any place limitations other than picking any flight option available.