Online booking nightmare with Travel Republic

Harryboy1973

We booked flights and accommodation to Las Vegas. When booking I misspelled a name on the online form. As soon as I noticed, which was immediately i used their online booking correction form 2 minutes after I confirmed the booking. I also followed up with a phone call and was told it would be sorted. I then received an email from them telling me a had two days to confirm the flight names and details were correct as after this period they cannot take responsibility which is fair enough. The next day no one phoned back so I called them again. I was promised a call back. 4 hours later no call, so I registered another query using their booking management tool. I called again and asked to speak to a Manager and was told the Manager was in a meeting. I then received a reply from Travel Republic which left me gob smacked "the names on this booking cannot be changed, you will need to re-book flights at today's rates, existing flights cannot be refunded". I call them immediately and was told nothing could be done, as the flights are to USA the name on the ticket must match the passport so I would have to re book at full price €2400! I begged and pleaded for help, arguing that this seemed incredibly unfair for a typo that was immediately corrected. Again I asked to speak to a Manager and was told I would receive a call back, it never came. During the last three weeks I have called them on approximately 40 occasions not once have they returned my call. I have emailed them numerous times requesting clarification as to why the booking was made when I gave them the correct details immediately, also I have requested details of their cooling of period. They have refused to answer any of our questions.

This trip was a present to my wife for a 40th birthday. I have been saving for two years and now we cannot afford to go. We have also called and emailed British Airways direct, they have a standard answer every time which is " our contract is with the travel agent therefore they cannot help".

I know I made a typo when booking but loosing €2400 just seems incredibly unfair. British Airways have been paid in full for our seats but are also refusing to help, the fact is they want us to pay twice for the same seats. You would think that something could be done as they wouldn't actually be loosing any money, even if we got a discount on seats it would be a help.

Has anyone any advice?

username123

Chargeback on Credit Card?

Small Claims Court?

Solicitor?

Harryboy1973

Tried c/card, no joy.

I'm hoping the threat of solicitor will get some answers

username123

Small Claims will be cheaper than a solicitor.

username123

Yamanoto wrote: »

Limit is €2k iirc.

You're right, solicitor so.

Yamanoto

username123 wrote: »

You're right, solicitor so.

On what basis though?

(this discussion's probably more suited to the Consumer Issues forum tbh).

username123

Yamanoto wrote: »

On what basis though?

(this discussion's probably more suited to the Consumer Issues forum tbh).

I don't mean this to sound flippant, but I don't know, and that's why I'd be asking a solicitor for legal advice!

On the face of it it appears that the OP was misled and told his typo would be fixed and this didn't happen, leading to him losing money. It also seems that their online correction form doesn't work.

It's very sharp practice to allow a customer to lose thousands over a typo, IMO, but as I'm not a solicitor I don't know if it's actually legal.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

keithclancy

Harryboy1973 wrote: »

We booked flights and accommodation to Las Vegas. When booking I misspelled a name on the online form. As soon as I noticed, which was immediately i used their online booking correction form 2 minutes after I confirmed the booking. I also followed up with a phone call and was told it would be sorted. I then received an email from them telling me a had two days to confirm the flight names and details were correct as after this period they cannot take responsibility which is fair enough. The next day no one phoned back so I called them again. I was promised a call back. 4 hours later no call, so I registered another query using their booking management tool. I called again and asked to speak to a Manager and was told the Manager was in a meeting. I then received a reply from Travel Republic which left me gob smacked "the names on this booking cannot be changed, you will need to re-book flights at today's rates, existing flights cannot be refunded". I call them immediately and was told nothing could be done, as the flights are to USA the name on the ticket must match the passport so I would have to re book at full price €2400! I begged and pleaded for help, arguing that this seemed incredibly unfair for a typo that was immediately corrected. Again I asked to speak to a Manager and was told I would receive a call back, it never came. During the last three weeks I have called them on approximately 40 occasions not once have they returned my call. I have emailed them numerous times requesting clarification as to why the booking was made when I gave them the correct details immediately, also I have requested details of their cooling of period. They have refused to answer any of our questions.

This trip was a present to my wife for a 40th birthday. I have been saving for two years and now we cannot afford to go. We have also called and emailed British Airways direct, they have a standard answer every time which is " our contract is with the travel agent therefore they cannot help".

I know I made a typo when booking but loosing €2400 just seems incredibly unfair. British Airways have been paid in full for our seats but are also refusing to help, the fact is they want us to pay twice for the same seats. You would think that something could be done as they wouldn't actually be loosing any money, even if we got a discount on seats it would be a help.

Has anyone any advice?

Why not just get the e-ticket number and contact the airline directly ?

It'll start 0XX (e.g. Aer Lingus is 053)

You never know, the airline might correct spelling mistake for free.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

keithclancy

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Ah .. missed that bit.

Its 30 pounds to re-issue the ticket apparently:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/915062-change-name-e-ticket.html

zl1whqvjs75cdy

How bad was the misspelling? I've done it before for flights and just showed up at the desk and it was grand . This was going to Boston so it was the scary American border people. Unless you get a total weapon on the check in desk you'll be grand.

keithclancy

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

How bad was the misspelling? I've done it before for flights and just showed up at the desk and it was grand . This was going to Boston so it was the scary American border people. Unless you get a total weapon on the check in desk you'll be grand.

Very dodgy with the US, it can can screw up APIS and cause problems at immigration.

Before anyways, BA would change up to three spelling mistakes for free.

However for the US I believe the ticket has to be re-issued.

Etnies

Our Address:
Travel Republic,
Alexandra House,
The Sweepstakes,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin,
Dublin 4


Call down and cause murder they won't be long about listening to you then, public office or not, people who are very brave over the phone will quickly change their tune when you are standing in front of them.

kerry4sam

Temporarily Closed.

Awaiting reply from Harryboy1973 via pm.

Thanks,
kerry4sam