Name Changes on Air Reservations?? Help Please!

[1GR8DISNEYFAN]

I am in a bit of a bind and I am trying to correct a situation without having to spent a lot of extra money. I will try to make a long story short.
I received 4 RT flights from SW with thier cc deal a few months ago, it was great. So 4 members of our family are flying SW, the other 2 members, being myself and my 15 yo daughter, got flights on Delta leaving the night before on a red eye as those were the least expensive flights I could find. Now my 15 yo has made the cheer team at school and cheer camp is not over until the day after her and I were to leave. So what I am wondering is this, one of my 20 yo daughters can easily pass as a 15 yo and fly as her sister
( please don't flame me!) But a 15 yo can't fly as a 20 yo because she doesn't have the ID. So if I switch my 15 yo to the SW reservation, which I can do at no charge, and also leave her name on the Delta reservation, is there some system the airlines uses that would show that the same person is flying the same direction cross country in less than 24 hours? I really don't want to take any chances with getting in trouble with security, If I have to I will spend the extra money to change names, but I was just trying to come up with a cheeper solution, especially if it is no big deal with the names being the same. Thanks for any advise!

 

[NotUrsula]

...is there some system the airlines uses that would show that the same person is flying the same direction cross country in less than 24 hours?

I won't address the rest of your idea (which is a tad dodgy), but the simple answer to this part of the question is no, there isn't.

 

[maxiesmom]

Do you really want the added stress of having to worry about clearing security and getting on the airplane with someone other than the person listed on the ticket? I wouldn't. I would be nervous about it until we were in the air.

To me, the money I would save wouldn't be worth the nervous breakdown I would come near to having.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Why don't you simply pull the 15 year old out of cheer camp a day early? Surely you're not the first parent to which this has happened.

 

[francie57]

I agree with the pp, pull your daughter from camp early - one day won't make a difference. I wouild never try to do what you want since I would worry the entire time that something would happen and I would get caught. If you don't want to pull her early from camp, call the airline and explain the situation and make the necessary changes. Sorry but seeing some of the young adult girls here, there is a big difference in the look of a 15 and a 20 year old.

 

[azdizzymom]

I honestly can't believe you'd even try to do this! What is going to happen when the 15 year old is asked for the ID and some agent really looks at her picture. I hope you get caught if you try this. Just my opinion but it is stupid the way people try to save money. Either pull the 15 year old out of camp early OR PAY THE DIFFERENCE. That is a good way to get all of you extra screenings on future flights too....can't believe anyone in this day and age would even consider this BUT know people will do just about anything to save money!

 

[crashbb]

I honestly can't believe you'd even try to do this! What is going to happen when the 15 year old is asked for the ID and some agent really looks at her picture. I hope you get caught if you try this. Just my opinion but it is stupid the way people try to save money. Either pull the 15 year old out of camp early OR PAY THE DIFFERENCE. That is a good way to get all of you extra screenings on future flights too....can't believe anyone in this day and age would even consider this BUT know people will do just about anything to save money!

NOTE - I AM NOT CONDONING THE OP'S IDEA (AT ALL).

The thing is, a child who is 16 or under doesn't need ID. So, if the 20 year old uses the the 15 year old's ticket, she just has to keep with her lie. So, when asked for ID, she just lies and says that she is only 15 years old and doesn't need to show ID.

That is why the 20 year old could try to fly on the 15 year olds ticket, but the 15 year old couldn't try to fly on the 20 year old's ticket.

I agree with you though.

 

[vicki_c]

NOTE - I AM NOT CONDONING THE OP'S IDEA (AT ALL).

The thing is, a child who is 16 or under doesn't need ID. So, if the 20 year old uses the the 15 year old's ticket, she just has to keep with her lie. So, when asked for ID, she just lies and says that she is only 15 years old and doesn't need to show ID.

That is why the 20 year old could try to fly on the 15 year olds ticket, but the 15 year old couldn't try to fly on the 20 year old's ticket.

I agree with you though.

I would never even have come up with this idea in a million years, but even if I did, it would have been quickly discarded as this is something I would never ask my teenager to do. Too risky, too stressful, too wrong.

 

[Brian Noble]

it would have been quickly discarded as this is something I would never ask my teenager to do. Too risky, too stressful, too wrong.

On the long list of things I would never want to do, sending my 15 year old daughter the message that "It's okay to lie about things when it is convenient" has to be somewhere in the top ten.

 

[mickey2000]

On the long list of things I would never want to do, sending my 15 year old daughter the message that "It's okay to lie about things when it is convenient" has to be somewhere in the top ten.

I agree !

Somewhere I am thinking the movie "Home Alone "

 

[Tozzie]

I have three words for the original poster, DON"T DO IT. This is not about breaking an airline rule what you are asking about is a criminal offense, and no matter how innocent the reason, it wouldn't matter you could end up spending a whole lot more than change fees in addition to missing your vacation if you are caught.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Not only is it a criminal offense its a federal offense

 

[Jestocost]

Could this work? Yes.

Are the potential consequences if it doesn't worth the risk? IMHO, no.

 

[soxfan11901]

I'm not going to comment on the legality of what you are proposing, but did want to comment on your statement about paying a fee for a name change.

As far as I know all tickets on legacy carriers like Delta are non-transferable.
Meaning you cannot change the name at all. If you purchased a refundable ticket you can get a refund and buy a new one in the other persons name.
I'm assuming the tickets you purchased were non-refundable though.

I used to work for one of the major airlines and the only time (very rare) that we would even consider reissuing a ticket in someone elses name is if the original passenger had died.

Southwest has different rules than Delta, so don't assume that because you can do it on Southwest, then the same applies to Delta.

 

[Janis]

I'm not going to comment on the legality of what you are proposing, but did want to comment on your statement about paying a fee for a name change.

As far as I know all tickets on legacy carriers like Delta are non-transferable.
Meaning you cannot change the name at all. If you purchased a refundable ticket you can get a refund and buy a new one in the other persons name.
I'm assuming the tickets you purchased were non-refundable though.

I used to work for one of the major airlines and the only time (very rare) that we would even consider reissuing a ticket in someone elses name is if the original passenger had died.

Southwest has different rules than Delta, so don't assume that because you can do it on Southwest, then the same applies to Delta.

Southwest recently implemented the same policy that tickets are not transferable.

 

[1GR8DISNEYFAN]

Why don't you simply pull the 15 year old out of cheer camp a day early? Surely you're not the first parent to which this has happened.

This was my first thought, but evaluations are done the last morning so if she is not there, she can't be included in any of the routines they learn, and no use in her going to camp.

I would like to say that I appreciate everyone's opinions, it makes me realize that I need to listen to that little voice in my head telling me not to consider it. I do have to defend myself in saying that I was not going to ask my 15 yo to lie, I thought I would put her name on one of the SW reservations, so there was no problem with that. What I was considering was having my 20 yo fly with her 15 yo sister's name on her boarding pass. In all the times we have flown, I don't remember any of my minor children being asked their name. My 20 yo is oftenly mistaken as the youngest of my children so I just thought all we would have to do is hand the ticket to the agent, she wouldn'd be asked for ID and that would be it. It sounds like such a simple exchange, I thought possibly it could be no big deal. I guess I was being a little naive.

I have three words for the original poster, DON"T DO IT. This is not about breaking an airline rule what you are asking about is a criminal offense, and no matter how innocent the reason, it wouldn't matter you could end up spending a whole lot more than change fees in addition to missing your vacation if you are caught.

Thank you for this statement. This is what made me realize how serious it is. I would never do anything to jeopardize any of my family. We are going to the happiest place on earth, I don't want to have any worries.

So I am not sure what I will do, my daughter may just have to miss the last day of camp and suffer the consequences.

I do have something I would like to say in closing. I think we all come to these boards for friendly advise and opinions. And also to be able to give some in return when able. Now I can see that what I was asking an opinion about seemed to be offensive to some. I do respect everyone's opinions. What I don't understand is why some people just feel the need to be rude and judgemental.

I honestly can't believe you'd even try to do this! What is going to happen when the 15 year old is asked for the ID and some agent really looks at her picture. I hope you get caught if you try this. Just my opinion but it is stupid the way people try to save money. Either pull the 15 year old out of camp early OR PAY THE DIFFERENCE. That is a good way to get all of you extra screenings on future flights too....can't believe anyone in this day and age would even consider this BUT know people will do just about anything to save money!

 

[vicki_c]

I think you're making the right decision.

 

[azdizzymom]

You are asking people not to be rude and judgmental when what you are doing is illegal. Your 20 year old is impersonating a 15 year old and your 15 year old would impersonate your 20 year old. The 15 year old WOULD be asked for ID since she would be impersonating the 20 year old. What would happen when she was caught...she couldn't fly...the rest of the party flying with her that day couldn't fly either because I assume they wouldn't leave her at the airport. You are asking your children to break a law and do something dishonest. You honestly don't see anything wrong with this. You are too cheap to pay the difference in price....so there is no issue at all. You want people to sprinkle you with pixie dust and tell you there is nothing wrong with this....SORRY CAN'T IMAGINE WHY THEY WOULD. I would never think of doing this with my kids....I lost money cause we had to postpone a trip due to golf sectionals in 3 weeks. Was I happy....no but as parents we need to set examples for our kids. Golf team needed my son so we postponed and lost a deposit of $200. PAY THE CHANGE FEE AND QUIT EXPECTING PEOPLE TO BE NON-JUDGMENTAL...what you want to do is wrong. If you don't like the answers you are given then don't ask questions or for opinions when you know what you want to do is wrong. We need to set examples for our kids....what you want your kids to do is terrible. BTW why the confused head shaking after you quoted me.... thought the original post was clear. Can't understand how you'd be confused when YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ASKED WAS WRONG.....

Either way...good luck in your decision making. Have a fun trip and good luck to your daughter at cheer.....

 

[goofy4tink]

Your best bet is going to be just realizing that it is going to cost you to make the changes. It's wonderful that your dd made the cheer team. I get that it is important. I have a 17 y/o dd...so understand the importance. But it is not going to be a good way to start your trip. You are going to be stressed out beforehand, thinking of all that can go wrong.

Just bite the bullet and change the flights. It will cost you. But that's really your only option.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If I have to I will spend the extra money to change names,

You cannot change the name on an airline ticket on any airline at any price. You would have to cancel the ticket and buy a new ticket under the right name.