SWA--Name change on reservation?

[madge]

I booked a trip for a church group about a month ago, on Southwest. Of 21 people taking the trip, one has to back out....there is another student that would like to fill the slot, as long as I can change the name on the ticket without a fare increase. When I booked the flight, the internet fare was $175.40, and the same flight is well over $300.

Has anyone tried to change a name on a ticket on SWA, were you successful?

I've cross-posted on Flyertalk, just in case

 

[rdsx28]

Hi,
I would call customer service directly. I do believe they will make you pay the higher fare. I wanted to change a flight ane way and they told me if I did that then my return flight would be cancelled as well and I would have to rebook at a much higher price. My advice don't do anything yourself until you check with them. Good Luck!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

You're talking about changing the person on the ticket? As in, for example, instead of "John Smith" using the ticket you want it transferred to "Bob Jones?"

I hate to say it, but I don't know of ANY airline that will do that. It may not even be airline policy but FAA regulations. "John Smith" would be able to cancel and apply the ticket toward a future flight, but "Bob Jones" would have to buy his own ticket.

I may be wrong, though. It wouldn't hurt to contact Southwest and check.

 

[Tinkim]

I can't believe I am going to tell this story but here goes. Back in August, my mom decided she was going to go visit my aunt in Florida. I told her I would buy her a ticket on SW and wanted to try the newly installed Ding program. So after almost buying it a couple of times my patience paid off and I got a $54 one-way fare. Yesterday, I printed the ticket and gave it to my mom. She called me last night and told me I had put the reservation in her old name. She was married to my dad for 25 years and when he passed away she got remarried. She has been remarried for a few years and I have no idea why I put the wrong name. Now you know why I am embarrassed.

I called SW yesterday and the customer service rep told me that it was not possible to change the name on the ticket. He said once the reservation is made that it cannot be changed. I could cancel the ticket and get another one but that same ticket now costs $204 one-way. I did see the Ding today for $54 again but it was unavailable. He told me to have her bring something showing a "paper trail" with both names. She has her marriage license showing her new married name and her old married name. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will suffice.

I would call SW directly and ask but my guess is that person who has the ticket will get a credit but you won't be able to change the name on the existing credit since my mom's reservation is actually for the same person. Maybe if you could get a Ding for that flight you could transfer the credit to the person in need of the ticket. Good luck.

 

[plutolovr]

Madge,

Did you book this with their group department? Sometimes when a group is booked together, the airline will allow a name change. It all depends on how and who you booked this through. If you booked with Southwest Group Department, call them and ask them if they can change it.

 

[madge]

Madge,

Did you book this with their group department? Sometimes when a group is booked together, the airline will allow a name change. It all depends on how and who you booked this through. If you booked with Southwest Group Department, call them and ask them if they can change it.

I made the decision not to use groups. I spoke with them 2 or 3 times before I booked the flight, I explained the needs of the group, and that cost was a concern. Each of the agents I spoke to suggested I book online for the best price. The internet fare I booked for the group is $75-80 per person cheaper than the cheapest group fare I could get.

When I booked the fare, I was confident that each person in the group would make the trip....each person in the group paid a non-refundable deposit to the conference we are attending. I felt quite comfortable booking online, as opposed to going through the group fare department.

Of course, it doesn't help matters that the parent of the student not travelling is a thorn in my side to begin with

I'll call SWA today and see what they suggest.

thanks for the input, everyone!

 

[goofyforlife]

Well technically.....If your "student" is under 18...they can't ask for ID anyway so if the new person is the same sex or the name could be either M or F. I don't think you'd have trouble.....Unless something would happen like a luggage loss issue where then they might want id but you would have the luggage claim tickets

 

[bicker]

Students are unpredictable. If one other student, just as a joke, reveals the truth about the deception being committed, someone's going to be talking to TSA for a few hours.

 

[Lewisc]

Group sales usually give you better payment terms and might allow for a change of name. You decided to bypass group sales to save over $1500. Even after paying the fare difference your group is still saving a lot of money. The new person isn't paying that much more than the original group fare would have been.

Suppose SW decided to be nice and let you re-book your entire church group at the group rate? Still wouldn't help you you'd owe them money on the entire group.

Call and beg and see if you get lucky.

 

[madge]

Students are unpredictable. If one other student, just as a joke, reveals the truth about the deception being committed, someone's going to be talking to TSA for a few hours.

exactly. There is NO way I'd even consider trying to pass Bob off as Mike.

I spoke to someone in customer relations this morning, explained the situation and we worked together to come up with a fair solution. If I were to go online and purchase a seat for Joe, the lowest fare available for the flight is $352.40....$177.00 more than the fare I originally booked. Southwest is going to allow me to cancel and rebook at the advance ticket price, which ends up being $275.40. $100 more than the internet fare, but $77 less than what I'd pay if I cancel & rebook on my own. I have to call and speak to this agent directly, so everything is cancelled and rebooked correctly. Under the circumstances, I think that's more than fair

I am quite pleased with the solution. Southwest is awesome to work with--from the very first call I placed to them related to this trip. The customer relations agent was very helpful this morning, I really appreciated it.

 

[Chicago526]

Tinkim, marriage certs showing the name change are usually accepted by airlines for domestic flights, your mom should be fine.

 

[Tinkim]

Thank you for the reassurance! I really appreciate it. I am taking my mom to the airport and I figured we would arrive a little early just in case. This makes me feel better though!