misspelled name

[rechoboam]

Using a TA for the first time in a LONG time the relatives booked a whole bunch of us onto a 2for1 massively discounted fare (Y) to SIN. We noticed early on that there was a minor spelling mistake in the OHs name, not enough to change the pronunciation but still...
Finally got hold of TA today. He assured me that 99.9% of the time it wouldn't be a problem. I tried to gently explain that I saw his job as being to take care of that .1% rather than the times things go smoothly!
Anyway after I told him I had already been in contact with SQ he told me that because of THAT the ticket would have to be "re-issued" with the OHs PNR split off, and the full fare difference paid. He said that the error had occurred somewhere between his office and SQ because "there is no name on the ticket when it goes to be issued" (??!!)
I basically said that there is no way I would ever under any circumstances allow my OH to travel overseas with an incorrect document and risk denial of boarding and that's that.
The TA is a close friend of one of my relatives!
I would have thought that a spelling change should be possible on any class of ticket if even for a fee?

 

[docjames]

So who is stumping for the error? Or are you going to "risk it".

 

[lovestotravel]

I had a similar problem with SQ recently

I booked a ticket and selected MR instead of MISS

SQ wouldn't change it without a fee.... It was a relatively small fee, but I refused to pay it.

No-one picked up on it except the cabin crew who were slightly confused, being SQ they were so scared to ask/confirm why the MR/MISS mix up.

How different is the spelling ?

Are you just flying Australia - Singapore ?

 

[UP4014]

Yes, I do like to have all the names exactly as they are in the passport. only takes one over zealous customs officer to wreck a trip.

 

[rechoboam]

It's a small error. Won't give the actual name for privacy, but say it was Smith/Smyth.
We are just flying Australia-Singapore. Look if it was just me I wouldn't be too fussed and would just argue at the airport. But we have half a dozen kids between us and are flying back midnight Melbourne time. Murphy's law and all that. Also the OH doesn't like flying (!!!!!!!) especially alone and it would be seriously bad if she was denied boarding.
As for who is stumping: not me. I started my conversation by asking him to recap the entire situation and it was clear that he believes the error occurred between his computer and SQ.
I was intrigued by the suggestion that the name changed during the uploading process, I was about to explain that the essence of digital or binary data is that names etc don't get slightly altered during automated uploads but I would have been wasting my time I suspect.

 

[Travel Guru]

If it's one letter you won't have a problem but you can definitely do a name change on SQ, they'll usually charge a $60 ticket reissue fee and require a copy of the passport for the passenger. (I know because I just did one last week - passenger error not mine).

Personally I think you should find a new TA and they're feeding you a load of BS.

I don't quite understand what they mean by 'there's no name on the ticket when it goes to be reissued', that's impossible, I've been a TA for a decade and I've never been able to issue a ticket without a name...unfortunately some TA's (usually those who work for the big red cult) think they can spin any kind of BS and get away with it.
I would insist that the TA has the ticket reissued at their expense and please be sure to logon and check your itinerary online with Galileo Viewtrip or via the SQ website once it's done as I wouldn't put it past your TA to just manually alter the itinerary.

TG

PS. The error between his computer and SQ would more correctly be described as incorrectly entering the name on his behalf...why oh why do people feel the need to BS instead of being authentic and just taking responsibility when they make a mistake, it'll win you far more respect and business in the long run if you treat the customer well and own your mistakes (we all make them from time to time)

 

[lovestotravel]

If it's one letter you won't have a problem but you can definitely do a name change on SQ, they'll usually charge a $60 ticket reissue fee and require a copy of the passport for the passenger. (I know because I just did one last week - passenger error not mine).

Personally I think you should find a new TA and they're feeding you a load of BS.

I don't quite understand what they mean by 'there's no name on the ticket when it goes to be reissued', that's impossible, I've been a TA for a decade and I've never been able to issue a ticket without a name...unfortunately some TA's (usually those who work for the big red cult) think they can spin any kind of BS and get away with it.
I would insist that the TA has the ticket reissued at their expense and please be sure to logon and check your itinerary online with Galileo Viewtrip or via the SQ website once it's done as I wouldn't put it past your TA to just manually alter the itinerary.

TG

PS. The error between his computer and SQ would more correctly be described as incorrectly entering the name on his behalf...why oh why do people feel the need to BS instead of being authentic and just taking responsibility when they make a mistake, it'll win you far more respect and business in the long run if you treat the customer well and own your mistakes (we all make them from time to time)

I have to post all of this as it's 100% correct

The TA should be paying the $60 change fee.

It was a fee I refused to pay, but my problem was the MR/MISS and not the name......

 

[straitman]

I/we have a similar spelling issue on a flight this Saturday from Nadi to Melbourne.

Our grandsons name has been spelt Lawrance rather than Lawrence. Quite frankly I'm not going to worry and will be surprised if anyone even notices.

 

[Travel Guru]

Our grandsons name has been spelt Lawrance rather than Lawrence. Quite frankly I'm not going to worry and will be surprised if anyone even notices.

I'd be very surprised if you have an issue Bill, even the airline employees have told me from time to time not to bother for one letter.

TG

 

[rechoboam]

If it's one letter you won't have a problem but you can definitely do a name change on SQ, they'll usually charge a $60 ticket reissue fee and require a copy of the passport for the passenger. (I know because I just did one last week - passenger error not mine).

Personally I think you should find a new TA and they're feeding you a load of BS.

Yes I worked that out! I told him that pretty frankly. The MIL will call me shortly in a bit of a frenzy when she works out how frank I was, as I said the TA is a friend of the inlaws. You know it's bad when you say, "I'm not trying to be unreasonable..." and they interrupt with "no, you are being very unreasonable" ! :shock: That was the whole point for me, I specifically said to them that SQ must surely allow a spelling/typing error to be rectified for a minimal fee. They didn't know..?

I don't quite understand what they mean by 'there's no name on the ticket when it goes to be reissued', that's impossible, I've been a TA for a decade and I've never been able to issue a ticket without a name...unfortunately some TA's (usually those who work for the big red cult) think they can spin any kind of BS and get away with it.

It's more of a corporate travel outfit. I hope I am hard to fool- I have had three family members in the business, one a TA for 35 years now (wow!) and I know quite a bit about how it all works given I spent most of my childhood sitting in an agency in pre-internet days.

 

[Travel Guru]

It's more of a corporate travel outfit. I hope I am hard to fool- I have had three family members in the business, one a TA for 35 years now (wow!) and I know quite a bit about how it all works given I spent most of my childhood sitting in an agency in pre-internet days.

I still don't understand how they can abscond from being responsible for the error? At some stage a name has to be provided to the airline and unless the TA telepathically relays the name to SQ and someone at SQ misread their telepathic message then the TA mis-spelt it (if it was the airline they wouldn't charge for the reissue)

If your MIL's TA doesn't even know that you can have SQ reissue due to name change then I think it's time they found a new career.

TG

 

[rechoboam]

and please be sure to logon and check your itinerary online with Galileo Viewtrip or via the SQ website once it's done as I wouldn't put it past your TA to just manually alter the itinerary.

You are making the (incorrect) assumption that two months after booking, we have actually received an itinerary.

One thing I do now is check in online as soon as I can, it means if the ticket was never actually issued (i.e. no ticket number) or some other error incompatible with flight I find out during business hours.

 

[straitman]

I'd be very surprised if you have an issue Bill, even the airline employees have told me from time to time not to bother for one letter.

TG

At least in this case I know where/how the error was caused.

 

[Alanslegal]

only takes one over zealous customs officer to wreck a trip.

Probably an Australian Customs Officer too

 

[kpc]

At least in this case I know where/how the error was caused.

A senior moment, Bill?

 

[straitman]

A senior moment, Bill?

No.

I never cud spel vary wall :!:

 

[KLN]

have had a similar problem with Mr. KLN's name.............Geoffrey..........made the mistake of putting "Geoff" on the ticket..........hhhmmmm extra couple of minutes of keyboard clicking, but it's never been too big an issue, and have done it twice now...........and one more coming up. keep you informed next Saturday....eeewww!