Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

Name change on United flight

Search
Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

Name change on United flight

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 04-24-09, 10:18 PM
  #1  
for affordable housing
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 329
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Name change on United flight

So I just booked flights to New Hampshire for my friend and I (we're both doing Bike and Build this summer), but I made a boo-boo.

My friend refers to herself as Kathie, and so I just assumed her full name was Katherine. Well, we all know what happens when you ASS-U-ME. It turns out her full name is in fact Kathie, and my mistake reflects on her plane ticket. To make matters worse, United has a policy against name changes on tickets. I'm sure this is to prevent people from transferring tickets, but obviously that's not what I'm trying to do here.

My question is simply this - does anyone have any experience with a similar issue and know how to get a hold of United to get this resolved? The phone number they want you to call on their website is entirely automated and doesn't give you the opportunity to talk to a real person at all, ever. I also tried sending them an email, but I'd like to get some way to contact them more directly.
4000Miles is offline  
Old 04-24-09, 10:29 PM
  #2  
on by
 
skijor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 957

Bikes: Waterford RS-33, Salsa Vaya, Bacchetta Giro 20 ATT

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 927 Post(s)
Liked 690 Times in 437 Posts
No experience but how about calling an airport in Madtown that has United. General Mitchell in Milwaukee has United Express. Should be able to get a human there?
skijor is offline  
Old 04-24-09, 10:31 PM
  #3  
on by
 
skijor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 957

Bikes: Waterford RS-33, Salsa Vaya, Bacchetta Giro 20 ATT

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 927 Post(s)
Liked 690 Times in 437 Posts
Even better...I knew I bookmarked this "gethuman" link for a reason:
https://gethuman.com/customer-service...lines_817.html
skijor is offline  
Old 04-25-09, 12:56 AM
  #4  
for affordable housing
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 329
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanks a million, I'm going to try this tomorrow, and if it doesn't work I'll just try contacting someone in Madison or Chicago (since that's where we're flying from). If anyone else has any other ideas, though, I'd love to hear them.
4000Miles is offline  
Old 04-25-09, 01:05 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
BengeBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Posts: 6,955

Bikes: 2009 Chris Boedeker custom; 2007 Bill Davidson custom; 2021 Bill Davidson custom gravel bike; 2022 Specialized Turbo Vado e-bike

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 9 Times in 8 Posts
In my experience, the fastest way to get through to a human at an airline is call the number for reservations and select the menu options for "booking a new flight." That's always the shortest queue because they want to get new customers connected with a reservations agent ASAP.

Of course, when you get through to them, explain to them you already have a reservation and you want to change the name. They won't hang up on you.
BengeBoy is offline  
Old 04-25-09, 01:35 PM
  #6  
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,013
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 287 Post(s)
Liked 120 Times in 88 Posts
Just say the word "agent" on United's speech recognition system and you'll be connected with a real person.
axolotl is offline  
Old 04-25-09, 07:48 PM
  #7  
mev
bicycle tourist
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Austin, Texas, USA
Posts: 2,299

Bikes: Trek 520, Lightfoot Ranger, Trek 4500

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 476 Post(s)
Liked 263 Times in 178 Posts
Hopefully you'll be able to get things fixed up with United.

I will point out that I've had combinations of "Mike", "Michiel" and "Michael" between tickets, IDs and frequent flyer cards - sometimes not all agreeing. It sometimes takes a second look/discussion but so far hasn't been a big issue in the US on United.
mev is offline  
Old 04-25-09, 08:40 PM
  #8  
for affordable housing
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 329
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Mev - Deep down, I suspect you're right, but we've both worked really hard what with fundraising and training and everything, and I would hate for my friend to have to miss out on some of the trip due to my own idiocy if the folks at United wouldnt have been as accommodating at check-in as they were on the phone.

I managed to get this all resolved, the gentleman on the phone was very helpful, but I wouldn't have been able to get a hold of him without you guys. Thanks to all of you!
4000Miles is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.