Hi a few weeks ago I made a domestic airfare booking and I put my partners middle name where their surname should be, whoops. I rang up the call centre and they said it will be $20 flight difference plus $70 name change fee. That's as much as the ticket cost. The thing is I can't remember the last time my ID was checked when I travelled domestically, even with counter check in. I'm tempted to not fix it and use web check-in. What has been everyone else's experience with having their ID check when they travel domestically?
Name Mistake on Domestic Airfare Ticket Booking
minniethemoocher on 29/12/2015 - 13:04
Comments
Check-in online, I've never had my ID checked on domestic flights in Australia.
I agree with PVA, however it really does depend on circumstance. Should an Airline for whatever reason check and they want to be jerks you could have issues, but we are talking like 1% chance for domestic.
I have a question on a similar note, I want to travel soon for my sons 2nd birthday. By the book id need to pay for him prior to his birthday, but pay for him on the way back. I could just lie and say hit birthday is after the return trip and yes they really dont have a means to check. However it is with Qantas and I have flown with his correct age before, they wouldn't have the means to check prior dates and pull me up?
Book under a different name?
Kinda feels like we have done the full circle back to the OPs question …
So we won at OzBargain?
It's a federal offence to travel under a false name which can potentially result in jail time. The current system is flawed and should be tightened as a matter of national security.
My work has spelt my name wrong on a ticket before, the check in staff checked my ID and it wasn't a problem. I guess in your circumstance it should be okay as well. Then again it depends who you get, just like how some staff want to charge you excess baggage and others don't care.
If it provides you with any comfort, I flew tiger airways 2 weeks ago and the guy didn't check my ID. But when I flew Jetstar a few years ago, they checked my ID
Flew Jetstar twice to Melbourne from Sydney in the past six months; never got ID checked. YMMV
I flew with qantas the other day. Checked in at the airport (on the computers) and could have entered any name.
Don't bother getting it changed. Providing your wife checks in herself either web / mobile or kiosk very little chance of getting picked up and even then should be ok. It's amazing with domestic travel as long as you have boarding pass in advance you could be anyone.
I had exact same issue on international flight and they just changed the middle/surname around at the checkin without issue.
Worst case let them do that and (maybe but unlikely) they will charge you. Don't leave check in till last minute in case they need to send you to the ticking desk but this is extremely unlikely.
Main thing for domestic ID checking is that the credit card you paid for your ticket with is available for inspection when you check in.
The charging policy from ticketing centre is more stringent than the check in staff who have quite a lot of latitude to fix minor glitches like this without reference to ticketing dept.
Bon voyage and don't worry.
no checks for me for a while. I wouldnt bother to change and even if they do pick it up just make sure she has her ID that shows the middle name, they will let you through.