Do not mistype your name.  Or your grandmothers name.  That is the lesson I learned recently when I realized I had purchased a plane ticket for my grandmother with the wrong name on it for a trip later this year to a family wedding.

Somehow, I managed to put my grandmothers last name in incorrectly, double-check it repeatedly, and then submit it.  Somehow, I put in my grandmothers name from her 1st marriage — over 50 years ago — and not the name she’s been using for the past 50 years… Whoops!

Regardless, I assumed these sort of mistakes happen all of the time and was stunned to learn that, while they may happen often, there is very little recourse.  Apparently, airlines do NOT change the names on the tickets once they’ve been purchased.   Somehow, this is construed as a security precaution though in what manner it adds security, I have no idea.  Regardless, particularly after 9/11, it’s apparently a real challenge to get the airlines to help you out if you make just such an error.   The people at Orbitz and the airline were extremely friendly and eager to help… as long as it was understood that they would provide no help whatsoever.  Why the name I typed in on a website with no validation is any more “secure” than the slightly different name I want to put in to replace it is beyond me.  The only “help” I received is that the lady didn’t “think” it would be a problem.  Reassuring.

A perfectly innocent mistake that could have, and still might, cost me several hundred dollars.  Especially since the flight is on… 9/11.  Oi.