Vancouver traveller’s name error fixed by Expedia
Posted February 17, 2023 2:07 pm.
Last Updated February 17, 2023 3:04 pm.
A Vancouver man who was facing a big bill to get a name changed on a vacation package following an error is now being covered by Expedia.
CityNews first reported on Nick Assarasakorn’s situation in early February.
Read More: Big bill for Vancouver travellers after Expedia says it can’t fix passenger names
He told CityNews that he and his partner bought flights through the travel company in 2022 for a trip in March to Hong Kong and Thailand. But while securing the flights during a middle-of-the-night deal, Assarasakorn said he accidentally typed his partner’s middle name where her last name should have been.
He said he called Expedia and was told to submit a name correction request. However, after multiple follow-ups with the company, he said Expedia told him they couldn’t correct the name and that he would have to rebook the whole package for thousands of dollars more.
After initially not responding to CityNews’ request for comment, the company said Thursday it issued a new ticket with the name change.
“We have issued a new ticket for this trip with the correct naming, and we have absorbed the cost difference,” a spokesperson with Expedia told CityNews. “When a customer has a concern with their flights, we advocate to find the best and quickest solution possible.”
Nick Assarasakorn, who was facing a big bill to get a name changed after a vacation package error, is now being covered by Expedia. (Monika Gul/CityNews)
Expedia disputes some of Assarasakorn’s claims but says they want to make sure he has a positive experience with the travel booking site.
“Expedia finally caved, finally budged, and then offered me an acceptable solution,” Assarasakorn told CityNews on Thursday.
He says although the company has done what he initially asked, he is wary of booking flights outside of airlines in the future.
Related Video:
“After this experience, I probably will not be using third-party booking websites anymore,” Assarasakorn said.
“A lot of airlines do have name change policies established and there is a difference between name change and name correction. But as soon as there are third parties, third-party flights involved, third-party booking systems, they no longer have control.”
