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 recently had an issue where I booked a flight with my (correct) initials, not my first name. They wouldn't let me check in, name on ticket needs to be the same as passport,.

I had DH ask this morning at the airport. TSA agents allow up to three errors. They said this is a worldwide standard that they follow. Trying to find a link that you can use if someone at the airport gives you a hard time. We live in the US and their idea of worldwide isn't always global.

I would pay. In my experience first name errors are probably ok, but surnames cause a problem. Also, if you are travelling with children, you will need their long form birth certificates and your name on there needs to be exactly the same as on your passport/ticket.

Thank you so much everybody. It really helped me to make up my mind and I decided to pay the travel agent.
Through gritted teeth!
But, it was my mistake and I would have been too stressed before each leg of the journey, so it seemed the best thing to do.
I certainly have learnt my lesson though...
I must be more careful when booking tickets
I must be more careful when booking tickets
I must be more careful when booking tickets
I must be more careful when booking tickets
I must be more careful when booking tickets
I must be more careful when booking tickets
I must be more careful when booking tickets
I must be more careful when booking tickets

My friend was buying two tickets for Spain for her and her great niece.

Only thing was she booked both the tickets in her name.

She won't make that mistake again.

I used to be a travel agent and some airlines were more helpful than others. However, it really is just a money making scheme for them I think, but peace of mind does make it easier to change.

I remember accidentally cancelling someones first class flights to Sydney 2 days before Christmas. 'Mr David Smith' was quite a common name, it wasn't his I cancelled but Mr another and Mrs another David Smith. Cost a fortune to rectify, my manager at the time wasn't particularly understanding.

I'd pay for peace of mind but at the same time of be tempted to leave it. They probably would notice a typo tbh. A few months ago I travelled virgin and for some reason my last and first names were muddled.. .e.g. Ms Elizabeth Smith was showing as Ms Smith Elizabeth. The guy made a a bit of an issue and had me waiting around a good 15 mins and said I had inputted the info incorrectly so there was now a problem. Turns out though it was something on their side and it was all fine. They check passports at check in and then before you get on the plane again and then when you check in to come back and then again when you arrive back here...i think it's bad advice to say someone probably wouldn't notice. I'd pay but not after trying a million times to get the money reduced or waived..there should have been a 24hr period in which you could makes changes for free.

I agree, there should have been a 24 hour window in which to correct the typo.
For what it's worth I certainly won't book with this online travel agent again

It's all very well Simon Calder telling you not to pay it , but it won't be him being denied boarding would it - and that is a very real possibility if you end up having a jobsworth at check in

You could surely pay the fee at that point if it was an issue? I think it is more likely that they will not notice one letter being incorrect. But I know it's irrelevant now as the OP has already paid it...