V-Flyer

Hi,

In Feb I booked a return flight to Las Vegas from Gatwick going out PE and returning Economy. I booked it as 'miles & money'. When booking the 'fare terms' stated "Changes are permitted at any time for a charge of GBP50" Once the flight was booked i also then received a confirmation e-mail once again stating the same statement in the small print... Since then myself and my partner have gone our seperate ways and i want to do a name change to go with someone else. I have spoken to virgin and they have told me that they can not do name changes and all they can do is offer to split the booking so my x partner has her ticket and I have mine. The also said we could use the seperate tickets for any flight between now and next february and if they flight we book is cheaper we will get a refund!?!?!? Surely if they can make all those changes and are willing to refund if i book a cheaper flight, they should be able to do a simple name change but keep the rest of the booking the same?!?!

Any advice as surely the fact that it stated on the booking page and even on my confirmation e-mail that changes could be made they have technically 'mis sold' me the tickets and should change the name if thats what I wish?[:(!]

I would ring them back and quote from the booking you received. If you get no joy, keep going up until someone accepts it or they get fed up with hearing from you.

Hi Richard,

Thanks for the advise and I appreciate that they are saying name changes are not permitted but surely if they have not specified that in print, but have actually specified that 'changes' can be made i can get them on a technicality? Even if they don't back down on the name change, do you think that speaking to the Air Transport User Council will help in getting a full refund for my ex-partners ticket?

The most common reasoning behind the "no name changes" is that otherwise scalpers could get all the really cheap tickets and then resell them nearer the date with a simple name change.

Originally posted by pete saxon
Hi Richard,

Thanks for the advise and I appreciate that they are saying name changes are not permitted but surely if they have not specified that in print, but have actually specified that 'changes' can be made i can get them on a technicality? Even if they don't back down on the name change, do you think that speaking to the Air Transport User Council will help in getting a full refund for my ex-partners ticket?

Mmm, to be honest I'd need to see the full rules and conditions. You could try arguing the toss, but I personally think you would be on a losing battle.

Here are an excerpt of the change rules for a K class ticket to LAS:

FOR K-AP TYPE FARES CHANGES BEFORE DEPARTURE CHARGE GBP 50.00. AFTER DEPARTURE CHARGE GBP 50.00. WAIVED FOR ILLNESS OR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. NOTE - UPGRADING TO ANY HIGHER FARE OR CABIN AT CHARGE OF GBP 50.00 PER TRANSACTION PLUS ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARE. ------ CHARGE APPLIES TO ADULT AND CHILDREN. ------ BEFORE DEPARTURE CHANGES ONLY PERMITTED UP TO THE DAY BEFORE OUTBOUND DEPARTURE. NO CHANGES OR UPGRADES PERMITTED ON DAY OF DEPARTURE. ------ AFTER DEPARTURE CHANGES ONLY APPLY UP TO THE DAY BEFORE INBOUND DEPARTURE. NO CHANGES OR UPGRADES PERMITTED ON DAY OF DEPARTURE. ------ ORIGINAL REFUND CONDITIONS APPLY TO ANY UPGRADED TICKET. ------ WHEN THE ITINERARY RESULTS IN A HIGHER FARE THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE COLLECTED AND THE GBP50 CHANGE FEE WILL APPLY. WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS IN A LOWER FARE THE GBP50 CHANGE FEE WILL APPLY AND NO REFUND WILL BE MADE. ------ WAIVER ONLY APPLIES IN THE EVENT OF CERTIFIABLE HOSPITALISATION. CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE. WAIVED FOR ILLNESS OR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER. NOTE - WAIVER FOR ILLNESS ONLY APPLIES IN THE EVENT OF CERTIFIABLE HOSPITALIZATION. IN THE EVENT OF CANCELLATION /FAILURE TO USE CONFIRMED SPACE AN MPD WILL NOT BE ISSUED.

They all relate to the £50 fee for a fare change.

Quite a lot of airlines do this, as it stops ticket touting. Some LCC's allow names to be changed for a fee, but VS/BA etc do not.

Thanks,
Richard