Not to pay a travel agent £100 to correct the spelling of my name

[viktoria]

On Sunday I booked flights online for a family holiday to South Africa.
When I received the email confirmation I realised that I made a typo, let's say one surname is Glanville but I typed Glanvuille.

I tried to call the travel agent but as it was a Sunday, nobody was in. I sent an email and on Monday morning I called. I was told as - in the meantime the e-ticket had been issued - and to correct it I would have to pay £130 fee, which after various mails and phone calls was reduced to £105.

I also contacted Simon Calder (travel expert from the Guardian) who replied and wrote: "Probably no-one will notice the issue, and if they do they probably won't care or will fix it in an instant. So don't pay anything."

So, AIBU to follow his advice (even though he uses the word "probably" twice), or do I pay and buy myself the peace of mind?
Has anybody else been in this position and what happened?

For information: Flights are with Emirates and South African (I contacted Emirates who said they couldn't change it on my e ticket as I hadn't booked directly and said they could put a note on my reservation but couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be problems, but if I had booked directly with them, they would amend it free of charge if noticed within 72 hours)

I once had this, say my birth name for example was Susan and my friend booked the tickets in the name of Sue which of course doesn't match my passport.

Jet2.com wanted a hefty fee to change, so we ran with it. On check my friend (who made the mistake) gave lots of chat and friendly banter to the operative both on exit and return and no one noticed.

I would play ignorant.

I'd go back to the airline and query why the 72-hour 'free of charge' grace period applies to direct bookings but not agent bookings.

Because the agent has to spend their time on contacting the airline and changing the booking etc. That's time they could have been spending on taking other bookings.

First names are often ok if not right - eg Sam instead of Samuel, but last names need to be the same and match your passport.

As it’s your mistake and not the agent’s I would pay. You should have checked all the details were correct before buying.

karrie, that's an argument I'd expect from the agency, but why should an airline care? It doesn't make any difference to them who made the booking.

I agree Rhiannon but in looking back at the OP I have just noticed that it’s not entirely clear whether the agency are telling OP that Emirates wants to charge them, and passing on that cost, or whether the fee is something charged by the agency itself. I’d assumed the former but perhaps not.

You should get a grace period after booking to cancel or change anything

My MIL got DP and SILs names round the wrong way on their tickets so they didn't match their passports (same first initial but put DP down as miss and SIL down as Mr).

It caused massive issues at check in and it was touch and go whether they let us on the flight or not, so I would say change it to be on the safe side.

Im very surprised you got that advice, it’s shoddy and leaves you open to a significant problem as you rightly spot.

Because the ticket and the boarding pass need to match exactly. For very obvious security reasons to know who is on the plane. If it is spotted, and there is no “probably it won’t be” then you will not be allowed to board and forfeit your ticket.

I’d recommend getting it fixed, because otherwise, you run a risk, both ways.

karrie, that's an argument I'd expect from the agency, but why should an airline care

Yes They care becaus the ticket is “owned” by whomever made the booking until the moment of travel. As such, the agent needs to instruct the airline to change it. The op cannot do so. She has effectively employed an agent by using them. These guys make their money on this sort of shit, changing itineraries, cancellations, wrong spellings etc. This is their fee for making rhe change and will have been explained in the terms and conditions she agreed to when she booked her ticket with them.

There should be a cooling off period.

Cancel and rebook

Just realised you booked on Sunday. Probably too late for cooling off. Sorry

These guys make their money on this sort of shit, changing itineraries, cancellations, wrong spellings etc. This is their fee for making rhe change and will have been explained in the terms and conditions she agreed to when she booked her ticket with them.

'These guys' being the agency, yes? I know they make money like that but my point is, does the airline? Or does it make any difference to them who needs to change a spelling mistake?

Yes I agree Rhiannon. I get your point- if the airline are fine to change a name for free within 72 hours for a member of the public booking directly, why would they charge a fee for an agency contacting them to do the same thing?
That makes me think that this is a charge imposed by the agency, not the airline.

I'm relieved that I've understood it right; was doubting myself!
It WAS the agency imposing the charge; the OP says they said they could only put a note on her reservation, but could have amended it free of charge if she had booked directly with them.

'These guys' being the agency, yes? I know they make money like that but my point is, does the airline? Or does it make any difference to them who needs to change a spelling mistake?

Some airlines charge yes, some airlines don’t. There is no rule across the industry, in this instance this airline doesn’t. Howcer it’s irrelevant, as she is not the airlines customer, she did not buy from them, she bought from the agent, she is their customer and they do charge.

The airline is paying the travel agent commission to work on their behalf. Airlines generally will not make changes to travel agency bookings. The airline is not BU here.

Something similar happened to me with BA. I booked using Avios and the flights came with my Exec name J Smith as opposed to Jane Smith.

The Exec club wanted to charge me £40 to put the full name on the ticket. I decided to risk it and it wasn't mentioned at bag drop or the gate.

I probably wouldn't pay.

If I had provided the correct spelling to the agent I would absolutely refuse to pay the fee because it's their error.

If they are managing your trip I'd ask why they didn't notice one passengers name is spelt differently. You are paying the agent to manage your trip. They are not managing it.

I would not be happy paying the fee.

@Want2bSupermum op said she/he made the typo

The company I work for handle flights, so we see tickets and passports. You would be amazed how many people's tickets are incorrectly spelt and they travel both in and out the country with no issues. Thinks similar to yours, so gree instead of green etc. Personally for the sake of £100 I would pay it.

If it was you that made the mistake the fee is due, if the travel agent made the mistake it's up to them to pay.

I still wouldn't pay. I have three passports in three different last names so have all three on the ticket. I've never had a problem. Also, an agent is supposed to be adding value and sorting out stuff like this. They shouldn't be adding a fee to do their job.

Are you travelling with other people with the same surname? I would think if you're travelling as a family, it will be obvious it was a typo and they won't give you a hard time.

I do know of someone that wasn't allowed to board because of this.

Pay to get it changed.

I would pay as unfortunately you made the error and you could be refused boarding.

I’m fairly sure they can change it at the boarding gate if they need to. I once got as far as the plane with stuff in a different name to my passport. Literally on the plane but the cabin crew turfed me off, I’d got through security somehow! Anyway, they rang the desk people who sorted it out and printed new tickets off instantly. Was their fault btw not mine.