Expedia/Virgin Name Change Debacle - Please Advise!

[JaqEOn]

Hi everyone,

 

We recently booked a ticket for my friend to come visit the UK. The ticket was booked by her sister and her visa is suitably covered by details of her accomodation, etc while she is here.

 

Sadly, the ticket was accidentally booked with Expedia in her married name. We realised the mistake within the hour and tried to change it but were told they could not change names. As she has identification in her married name for the local flights (within South Africa where she's coming from), it's only really the flight with Virgin that needs changed. After contacting Virgin, we were told they couldn't change her name unless she shows up to them with proof of her name change so that they know it's her flying.

 

Virgin is only in the international airports in South Africa, so while flying halfway across the country to Cape Town to get her visa sorted, she stopped in to Virgin to get the name changed. At this point (having flown so far and with a pending visa appointment), they said they couldn't change it after all. As a result, her visa was refused and she can't make the trip (23rd June). Virgin have said they're willing to fully refund the ticket - not sure what Expedia will do. She's already paid over R2,000 to get just the ticket and visa sorted and now if we can find a way of getting it changed still, we're going to have to cough up again. Thanks Virgin!

 

Getting a new passport takes about 6 months, a second visa appointment before departure will be tight as it is! If we cancel and re-book the flights, they've now drastically increased so we'll be a lot worse off.

 

At the moment our best plan is to phone Virgin and pester them until they change the name! Any suggestions welcome - in these hard times even splitting the ticket costs 3 ways is killing us and any way of not having to come up with more money we don't have would be incredibly welcome.