Incorrect spelling of name on ticket

[Kazzie]

Hi,

Sorry if this is a little long winded but I am just looking for a bit of advice regarding our upcoming flights. I booked tickets online through a travel agent flying with Delta as it worked out £200 cheaper per person than booking direct with Delta. When I received the confirmation of our flights they had spelt my husband's name wrong, his name is Jeffrey and they had spelt it Geoffrey. I emailed the agent to let him know about the error and he said he would sort it with Delta before they issued the tickets and then he emailed to say it had been sorted. The tickets arrived today and the name is now still spelt incorrectly (Geffery). When I emailed the agent about it he replied that Delta had made a note on their side of things but I am worried that we will arrive at the airport and my husband will not be allowed to fly with the name not matching that on his passport. Has this happened to anybody else and if so what was the outcome?

[florida4sun]

I could be wrong but I though the the name on the ticket had to match exactly.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Kazzie
Hi,

Sorry if this is a little long winded but I am just looking for a bit of advice regarding our upcoming flights. I booked tickets online through a travel agent flying with Delta as it worked out £200 cheaper per person than booking direct with Delta. When I received the confirmation of our flights they had spelt my husband's name wrong, his name is Jeffrey and they had spelt it Geoffrey. I emailed the agent to let him know about the error and he said he would sort it with Delta before they issued the tickets and then he emailed to say it had been sorted. The tickets arrived today and the name is now still spelt incorrectly (Geffery). When I emailed the agent about it he replied that Delta had made a note on their side of things but I am worried that we will arrive at the airport and my husband will not be allowed to fly with the name not matching that on his passport. Has this happened to anybody else and if so what was the outcome?
[/quote]

[ellie]

We had exactly the same thing happen with Virgin. They mis-spelt our surname - I booked them over the phone and am always very careful with the spelling, so know it was not my mistake, and they admitted it was their mistake. I noticed it immediately - actually his ticket was ok, it was mine. [msnscared]

They were not at all bothered and said they were allowed to make up to 3 mistakes (?) They said they would change it on the system but that our tickets would be ok, and they were. No bother at all at either airport.

[DANESKA18]

Hi Karen

We had the same problem with Virgin with our daughter, Darcey, the first time we took her. They spelt it "Darcy". As she was only 6mths old she had a paper ticket. When I pointed it out they told us not to worry but I made them send me an e-mail stating it was their fault and that it had been altered on the system. Glad to say all was well at the desk!

[Kazzie]

Thank you for your replies. I have emailed Delta directly to confirm that we will be ok but am still waiting a reply. I do not want to turn up at the airport without confirmation from Delta that we will be ok. We have only used Delta once before and we missed our returning flight so I am paranoid that Delta are a jinx for us.[msneek]

[ellie]

Very sensible idea, Karen, best to make double sure.[msnwink]

[Sniff]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Kazzie
Hi,

Sorry if this is a little long winded but I am just looking for a bit of advice regarding our upcoming flights. I booked tickets online through a travel agent flying with Delta as it worked out £200 cheaper per person than booking direct with Delta. When I received the confirmation of our flights they had spelt my husband's name wrong, his name is Jeffrey and they had spelt it Geoffrey. I emailed the agent to let him know about the error and he said he would sort it with Delta before they issued the tickets and then he emailed to say it had been sorted. The tickets arrived today and the name is now still spelt incorrectly (Geffery). When I emailed the agent about it he replied that Delta had made a note on their side of things but I am worried that we will arrive at the airport and my husband will not be allowed to fly with the name not matching that on his passport. Has this happened to anybody else and if so what was the outcome?
[/quote]
I would say get it changed. Technically the name on the ticket and the name on the passport much match, and if they do not the airline is within its rights to deny your boarding. That would be very harsh, especially if it's just a spelling mistake and the name is obvious, but it only takes one check-in agent getting out of bed the wrong side..

Incidentally, officially you shouldn't even be issued with paper tickets now. Since 1st June 2008 IATA has ruled that all their member airlines must issue only electronic tickets

[ellie]

Virgin would not change my ticket although I did ask as I, too, was worried. They insisted it was ok with their system, which accepts a certain number of mistakes.....seems odd though. But we had no trouble.

[Sniff]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ellie
Virgin would not change my ticket although I did ask as I, too, was worried. They insisted it was ok with their system, which accepts a certain number of mistakes.....seems odd though. But we had no trouble.
[/quote]
I'd be absolutely amazed if either Delta or Virgin systems accepted and counted a 'certain number of mistakes' and blocked changes after the magic number. But I guess it's possible

It's usually up to the check-in agent whether to accept the ticket, so I'd always try and make sure the spelling is correct, but for a pure spelling mistake it's likely you won't have any issues.

Do point out the mistake to the check-in agent though, as all this data is transmitted to US before takeoff.

[ellie]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Sniff

[i]I'd be absolutely amazed if either Delta or Virgin systems accepted and counted a 'certain number of mistakes' and blocked changes after the magic number. But I guess it's possible

Well, that is exactly what we were told, amazing though you may find it, and we were surprised too! They would not change the name on my e-ticket or re-issue it although it had a different spelling from my husband's and although it was booked at the same time. It was their mistake, and they owned up to that, but they did not seem the least bit bothered by it. Maybe other airlines are different. But we had no trouble at all, either inbound or outbound, and this was in May/June of this year.

Of course it is [u]always</u> sensible to check with the airline as their policies may differ.