A $5000 mistake. :(

[Scarlett]

I think I’d be rolling the dice.
Is an SQ rep going to potentially strand your child in a foreign country? Worst case scenario is where you may have to buy a last minute Y seat on that flight, but hopefully for less than $5K. If you wanted more insurance could you potentially buy a separate flight of similar times for that child, or are they too young for that (ie: if going to AMS/LHR/BER can you put them on KLM, or BA or LH.

As an aside, many years ago I gave up ever entering middle names on anything. In most cases it’s marked as optional and even when not, I can’t recall ever being asked to add a middle name for anything. Some people don’t have middle names so most IT systems don’t need them. It’s just simpler.

 

[travelislife]

I never enter middle name on booking. Only first and last. Middle names not needed. I would personally show up and play dumb. And if they raise it, say you inputted correctly and just be computer error on their end that the names are reversed. I can’t see SQ stranding your kid. But yes it is a risk obviously!

 

[odysseus]

I would argue it's not a name correction either. It's not, for example, Marie when it should have been Mairie. The name is correct; it's placement in the booking isn't. Where's the policy on that?

That's just the cause of why it's incorrect.

 

[Saab34]

My old folks did the wrong name around a few years back, they just played dumb at the checkin, agent said nothing, but changed it around at the desk without even asking or them telling. That was a SQ Melbourne departure. They are old so perhaps the agent felt sorry for them who knows.

 

[travelislife]

My old folks did the wrong name around a few years back, they just played dumb at the checkin, agent said nothing, but changed it around at the desk without even asking or them telling. That was a SQ Melbourne departure. They are old so perhaps the agent felt sorry for them who knows.

I think it would be such a regular occurrence (people putting the right information, but in the wrong box) these days with people in the main doing own bookings online vs 10+ years ago where the majority would be a travel agent entering the information,

 

[NM]

I think it would be such a regular occurrence (people putting the right information, but in the wrong box) these days with people in the main doing own bookings online vs 10+ years ago where the majority would be a travel agent entering the information,

Indeed. The intention behind the rules for not changing names on tickets is two-fold:
To stop people reselling a ticket they no longer intent to use themselves (to recover their investment or to make money by speculating that the fares will go up and they can sell later)
For "security" reasons, so the airlines and/or authorities can know in advance who will be traveling for their collective knowledge

The intention is not to stop people fixing honest mistakes make at the time of booking data entry (either by the customer, a travel agent, or airline staff).

Examples such as this one that are clearly not being fraudulent or hiding criminal activity, but just a pure data entry mistake (wrong field, typo, dyslexic entry etc.) *should* be no problem to fix. But many call centre staff are not empowered or not trained to fix such things and the end result if too often "computer says no" .

 

[knagelli]

Is there any other way I can get his name fixed?

In the past , I had to forgo the ticket of my son as they have wrongly swapped the names with my mother's ticket travelling on the same PNR. They don't budge and force you to cancel/rebook.

Hope you find a better solution.

 

[AIRwin]

In the past , I had to forgo the ticket of my son as they have wrongly swapped the names with my mother's ticket travelling on the same PNR. They don't budge and force you to cancel/rebook.

Which airline?

 

[knagelli]

Which airline?

Virgin Australia , I remember this pretty much as I had fork out close to 300$ on a domestic ticket and wasting a reward ticket from MEL to SYD.

 

[Quickstatus]

Then after take off, let him come to sit in the empty J seat originally allocated to him?

The mysterious passenger will likely be classed as a no show and the seat re-sold, or given to another pax via an upgrade

the rigidity of the airlines is possibly because the agent the OP spoke to does not have the ability or is empowered to make such changes even though on a cursory examination it was a simple typo.

I would HUACA to try to resolve this

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Worst is that, due to a one pax "no show" in the family's PNR on the day of check in, in SIN. the whole tix for the lot of 3 is cancelled.
2 different PNR means the son will be stuck will be in SIN, or all 3 stuck in SIN, as above have said, or you have to fork more money for him/3 to to fly in Y, if there are seats left on that particular flight, or even more than Aud$5k in J/F.
This is as bad, as the case of the family booking on the QF side of Aust FF, as related a few days ago.
Not that I have a solution: maybe cancel the whole booking, and rebook, ie, start from scratch, maybe that would be the best?
Even if then 2 have to travel in Y, and one in J, or all in Y.
Not ideal.

 

[kpc]

Virgin Australia , I remember this pretty much as I had fork out close to 300$ on a domestic ticket and wasting a reward ticket from MEL to SYD.

Would have just done online check-in and boarded with wrong name. They only check ID if you check a bag in at the desk...so could have done bag drop instead!

 

[Quickstatus]

They only check ID if you check a bag in at the desk

Would you want to risk it travelling internationally?. Pre boarding security checks occur at the gate at SIN - passport + boarding passes will be checked

 

[madrooster]

So PNR 1 is Australia-Singapore with 4 correct names and PNR 2 is Singapore-Frankfurt with 3 correct names and 1 incorrect name - is that correct?

Have you found an actual policy relating to this on the website? If it’s not specified then I think you still have some hope.

Just had a quick look, and it’s as I suspected. Both VA and SQ have the standard “Name Correction” policy, which is the name can be corrected provided it is 3 letters or less. Anything else is a “name change” which is not permitted. Although, even if it was only 3 characters, when it’s a codeshare everyone points the finger at everyone else.

Name corrections (3 letters or less or juxtaposed names generally) and name changes (complete change of name or anything over 3 letters) can generally only happen when the PNR only contains flights that are marketed AND operated by the ticketing carrier. That is, VA can only do a name correction or name change on VA marketed and operated flights.

Partner carrier prime flights or codeshares generally cannot be changed as a name change or name correction. This is a general rule across the board with all carriers. There are a few exceptions eg. QF and EK, but for the most part, it's a no for partner prime flights or codeshares.

For reference VA clearly states no name changes here in the international tab: Velocity Reward Seat | Virgin Australia

I would be arguing it's not a name change but merely an input error. That is his middle name; it's simply in the wrong place. It's not a name change at all, just a case of moving his real name to a different spot in the booking.

For all intents and purposes, consultant error or not, it's a name change that this person is needing. What is worse is it's the surname that's outright wrong. You're arguing semantics here and it does nothing to help the issue.

Is an SQ rep going to potentially strand your child in a foreign country?

Absolutely. Airlines have no real obligation that they must carry a passenger with incorrect or invalid documentation. It would be up to the travelling party to decide how they wish to proceed, eg. one adult remains behind and the others travel, or everyone doesn't travel. It happens all the time on a daily basis. An airline is not going to risk a fine/ban/punishment from a government for carrying a passenger that doesn't meet all documentation requirements.

 

[kpc]

Would you want to risk it travelling internationally?. Pre boarding security checks occur at the gate at SIN - passport + boarding passes will be checked

It was a Virgin domestic flight

 

[SydneySwan]

So PNR 1 is Australia-Singapore with 4 correct names and PNR 2 is Singapore-Frankfurt with 3 correct names and 1 incorrect name - is that correct?





Name corrections (3 letters or less or juxtaposed names generally) and name changes (complete change of name or anything over 3 letters) can generally only happen when the PNR only contains flights that are marketed AND operated by the ticketing carrier. That is, VA can only do a name correction or name change on VA marketed and operated flights.

Partner carrier prime flights or codeshares generally cannot be changed as a name change or name correction. This is a general rule across the board with all carriers. There are a few exceptions eg. QF and EK, but for the most part, it's a no for partner prime flights or codeshares.

For reference VA clearly states no name changes here in the international tab: Velocity Reward Seat | Virgin Australia



For all intents and purposes, consultant error or not, it's a name change that this person is needing. What is worse is it's the surname that's outright wrong. You're arguing semantics here and it does nothing to help the issue.



Absolutely. Airlines have no real obligation that they must carry a passenger with incorrect or invalid documentation. It would be up to the travelling party to decide how they wish to proceed, eg. one adult remains behind and the others travel, or everyone doesn't travel. It happens all the time on a daily basis. An airline is not going to risk a fine/ban/punishment from a government for carrying a passenger that doesn't meet all documentation requirements.

So basically the name needs to be fixed.

 

[Quickstatus]

It was a Virgin domestic flight

I read differently:

then fly from SIN to FRA on the next booking (this is the booking that has his surname missing).

 

[kpc]

I read differently:

Read my post again....I was referring to knagelli's post and his Virgin Domestic flight

A $5000 mistake. :(

I think I’d be rolling the dice. Is an SQ rep going to potentially strand your child in a foreign country? Worst case scenario is where you may have to buy a last minute Y seat on that flight, but hopefully for less than $5K. If you wanted more insurance could you potentially buy a separate...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[NM]

So basically the name needs to be fixed.

But how to get that done? Seems that only Virgin can remedy the situation, and not by just updating the current ticket. Seems (from @madrooster informed and knowledgeable comment) that its going to require Virgin to cancel the ticket and create new reservations and ticket it from scratch, and that means its also going to be subject to availability on the original booking classes and subject to any pricing changes since it was originally booked. Ouch! Unlikely to be resolved quickly or cleanly

 

[madrooster]

Is there any other course of action I can take that will result in me not having to pay for a new J ticket for my son, and still fly in J?
Is there any other way I can get his name fixed?
Or do we fly anyway and see what happens?
Or do I just need to suck it up and pay?

As you have been a member on AFF for over 10 years and I'm feeling somewhat generous today, I am happy to fix it for you at a small reasonable cost to you. You will also incur some mild fees with VA as well as part of the process.

If you would like to take up my offer, please message me privately and I will give you my email so that you can send all of the required details to me.