It was my mistake... initially. My wifes green card has her last name as but the all important passport has her Russian name of. So, I prayed... Then called Cheapoair. They assured me that they could not change the ticket... As it was their own and Lufthansa airlines' policy to disallow name changes. Period.
15 minutes later. Lufthansa told me they would change the ticket for $100."Great", I said. "Do it!" "I'm sorry sir, your agency issued this ticket and therefore they must change the name themselves. We can not even if we wanted to change a ticket issued by an agency." "But they refuse too." I said. They can, sir. Have them do a 3-way call with us.
So, back to Cheapoair... After hours of calls and speaking to half of India's population they finally agreed to add the middle name to my wife's airline ticket for $200.00. Shortly thereafter I was sent the following email and I confirmed the same.
"Dear DAN,
Thank you for choosing cheapoair.com
As per our conversation, We have made the changes on your booking 2458495,
for name and there will be a charge of $200
airline penalty for changing name on the tkt.
Kindly reply to this email authorizing the charge.
Thanks and regards
trevis
customer service
cheapoair.com"
(I received this email on June 30)
What a relief... I thought. Then, Trevis told me that it may take 24-48hrs. For the name to change which I thought seemed an unusually long time just to add my wife's middle name to the ticket? But, that was the best news I heard all week so I said ok.
Every day and I mean every day thereafter even today (8 days now) agents and supervisors' (Monica and Nigel) have told me they need "24-48hrs to get this worked out." They could confirm nothing. But my wife's flight (along with our 2 girls) is July 13th. Today for me is July 8th Wednesday... The have only 4 days 'till departure! Why is this so difficult?!?
Finally, cheapoair told me they're having trouble getting my wifes flight to match up with our our 2 year old girls' flights. "Well", I said, "Your email confirmed the name was changed and this was all a done deal!"
Then I called Lufthansa and to make matters worse they then informed me that my wife no longer has a ticket! My girls do, but not wife. All Lufthansa could tell me was their system showed that Cheapoair canceled the flight on June 30th and they haven't called back since.
One Lufthansa agent told me Cheapoair didn't need to cancel the ticket. The could have used the 'help line' that instructs them how to make a name change.
Anyway, here I am today July 8 7:30 pm and I have 3 confirmed tickets for my 2 girls, and myself (I meet them all on their return flight)... For JULY 13th.. This Monday. And my wife's ticket has been cancelled.
I now feel like a boiled lobster..
I didn't cancel this ticket! They did. And if I'm not mistaken an airline ticket is a binding contract they have to honor... But at this point I think they're trying to blow me off. They no longer take or return my calls and if I DO get through after holding for 20-30 minutes I get the same ole, "We're still working on it and will have an answer in 24-48 hrs.
If I don't have a ticket for my wife, then obviously my two 2-year-old girls' ticket is no good as well, and neither is mine. This would cost me about $5,000 if they don't come through.
Anyone, have advice?
Daniel
Ocala, Florida
U.S.A.
0 comments