Airline demands $1332 for simple name change request
- Replies 9
Have you ever felt like airlines don't value your loyalty and are really just after your hard-earned money? Perhaps you've experienced the frustration of dealing with unhelpful customer service or been shocked by the outrageous fees they charge.
Remember that story about the Qantas ticketing error that left a 61-year-old woman and her family stranded, with a whopping $17,000 bill? Or the frequent flyer who was denied any vegetarian options on his flight, despite being a vegan?
However, this latest incident might just take the cake for being the worst. Get ready to be shocked and outraged, folks — it looks like those other horror stories were just the tip of the iceberg.
A passenger named Daniel from Perth had been planning to fly to Adelaide on Monday, March 13, when he suddenly needed to cancel his trip due to his grandmother's passing.
As a result, he wanted to give the tickets away to a friend and needed to change the names on his and his fiancé's tickets and. Seems like a simple request, right?
Well, that's what Daniel thought too until he contacted the airline's customer service for assistance. At first, the representative was helpful, but then came the shocking news – the name change would cost $666 per flight, adding up to a grand total of $1332.
Naturally, Daniel was left reeling after being told what the simple name change request for his and his fiancé's Jetstar flight would cost. Keep in mind, the two round-trip tickets originally cost only $750!
Despite his disbelief, the online assistant confirmed that the price was correct and even explained the process behind the request. Apparently, the airline needed to delete the passenger's name on the booking and all flights associated with it.
After adding the new name, the system would retrieve the current fare price and deduct what was initially paid, resulting in a potential fare difference.
After being quoted the exorbitant price, Daniel took to Reddit to share his horror. And it seems he struck a nerve, as his post has racked up hundreds of reactions from appalled users.
One user even jokingly pointed out that it would be cheaper for their friends to change their names outright, with the Australian government website quoting a cost of just $185 for the name change.
Another user couldn't help but comment, 'A $666 fee, well, the devil is in the details.' And it seems they're not the only ones who think so. Many others chimed in, calling the airline's actions a 'scam' and accusing them of 'essentially extorting someone because they can'.
In response to the outrage, Jetstar has defended its position, pointing out that its name change fees are clearly outlined in its terms and conditions and are standard practice in the industry.
'Like most airlines, a name change is not included as part of a basic fare,' a spokesperson for Jetstar said. 'Customers with “Starter Fares” who want to transfer their booking to another passenger are required to pay a change of name fee, plus the difference between the original fare paid and the advertised fare at the time of the change request.'
While the policy is meant to prevent people from purchasing cheaper fares with the intention of selling them later at a higher price, customers like Daniel were left feeling unfairly treated.
But it seems that Jetstar may be trying to make amends. In a surprising turn of events, the airline has since stated that it wasn't made aware of Daniel's circumstances when he contacted them.
'However, since learning more, our customer team is reaching out to him to discuss the options under our compassionate policy,' the spokesperson explained.
It's always a good idea to be aware of the terms and conditions of your flight ticket, but it's shocking to think that a simple name change could cost nearly twice as much as the original ticket itself. Unfortunately, stories like this are all too common, and many airlines have been accused of using similar tactics to charge exorbitant fees for even the most basic services.
Have you ever been caught out by surprise fees or charges when flying? Share your stories with us in the comments below – let's bring awareness to these predatory practices and hold airlines accountable for treating their customers unfairly.
Remember that story about the Qantas ticketing error that left a 61-year-old woman and her family stranded, with a whopping $17,000 bill? Or the frequent flyer who was denied any vegetarian options on his flight, despite being a vegan?
However, this latest incident might just take the cake for being the worst. Get ready to be shocked and outraged, folks — it looks like those other horror stories were just the tip of the iceberg.
Daniel asked Jetstar if he could give away their tickets, but trouble struck when the name change fee was revealed. Credit: Instagram/drg_aero.
A passenger named Daniel from Perth had been planning to fly to Adelaide on Monday, March 13, when he suddenly needed to cancel his trip due to his grandmother's passing.
As a result, he wanted to give the tickets away to a friend and needed to change the names on his and his fiancé's tickets and. Seems like a simple request, right?
Well, that's what Daniel thought too until he contacted the airline's customer service for assistance. At first, the representative was helpful, but then came the shocking news – the name change would cost $666 per flight, adding up to a grand total of $1332.
Naturally, Daniel was left reeling after being told what the simple name change request for his and his fiancé's Jetstar flight would cost. Keep in mind, the two round-trip tickets originally cost only $750!
Despite his disbelief, the online assistant confirmed that the price was correct and even explained the process behind the request. Apparently, the airline needed to delete the passenger's name on the booking and all flights associated with it.
After adding the new name, the system would retrieve the current fare price and deduct what was initially paid, resulting in a potential fare difference.
Daniel was quick to point out that the actual price of two return tickets was only $750. Credit: Reddit.
After being quoted the exorbitant price, Daniel took to Reddit to share his horror. And it seems he struck a nerve, as his post has racked up hundreds of reactions from appalled users.
One user even jokingly pointed out that it would be cheaper for their friends to change their names outright, with the Australian government website quoting a cost of just $185 for the name change.
Another user couldn't help but comment, 'A $666 fee, well, the devil is in the details.' And it seems they're not the only ones who think so. Many others chimed in, calling the airline's actions a 'scam' and accusing them of 'essentially extorting someone because they can'.
In response to the outrage, Jetstar has defended its position, pointing out that its name change fees are clearly outlined in its terms and conditions and are standard practice in the industry.
'Like most airlines, a name change is not included as part of a basic fare,' a spokesperson for Jetstar said. 'Customers with “Starter Fares” who want to transfer their booking to another passenger are required to pay a change of name fee, plus the difference between the original fare paid and the advertised fare at the time of the change request.'
While the policy is meant to prevent people from purchasing cheaper fares with the intention of selling them later at a higher price, customers like Daniel were left feeling unfairly treated.
But it seems that Jetstar may be trying to make amends. In a surprising turn of events, the airline has since stated that it wasn't made aware of Daniel's circumstances when he contacted them.
'However, since learning more, our customer team is reaching out to him to discuss the options under our compassionate policy,' the spokesperson explained.
It's always a good idea to be aware of the terms and conditions of your flight ticket, but it's shocking to think that a simple name change could cost nearly twice as much as the original ticket itself. Unfortunately, stories like this are all too common, and many airlines have been accused of using similar tactics to charge exorbitant fees for even the most basic services.
Have you ever been caught out by surprise fees or charges when flying? Share your stories with us in the comments below – let's bring awareness to these predatory practices and hold airlines accountable for treating their customers unfairly.
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