Changing the names of passengers

[loren1987]

Due to my partner being called into the army, i have had to try and cancel my holiday that is booked for september. No chance of any sort of refund but my collegue wants to buy the holiday from me so she can travel with her friend, but iv just gone onto the otbeach website and it says it is not possible to change all the passengers names and that we will have to cancel and rebook.
Is it me, or is that completely barmy?
Why cant I change both names? I just think they are being difficult.

[PeeBee1]

Hi

You can change names, i booked in my married name but i had forgotten to change my passport to my married name, which would have cost �72, i opted for the cheaper option of changing my name with the travel agent at a cost of �30.

I would go in & check with the travel agents.

[loren1987]

Ok so just looked on first choice website, that one says nothing about not being able to change all the names.
Ill keep digging around see what i can find.
Im OT beach are just being difficult.... I dont see why you arent allowed to change both names on the bookings, surely this is a common occurance?

[Buenchico]

As I seem to remember stating before, On The Beach Holidays (otbeach.com) does not operate or sell any holidays. The firm merely acts as an intermediary between you and one or more travel operators. Here's the relevant quote from their terms of business;
"When making your booking we will arrange for you to enter into contracts with the Principals (tour operator/airline/cruise company/flight provider/hotel provider/ hotel) named on your receipt. For No frills and Scheduled flight bookings we act only as your agent in making your booking. For all other bookings we act only as an agent for the Principal."

That means that your actual booking is comprised of either a single contract with a third party (i.e. a tour operator) or a combination of contracts with two or more third parties (e.g. an airline and a hotel group).

On the Beach Holidays have the right to refuse to act as your agent in relation to name changes. However you retain the right to deal directly with the company (or combination of companies) that are actually providing your holiday. The relevant information should be on your paperwork from On The Beach Holidays. Find out the names of the relevant company (or companies) and contact them directly, bypassing On The Beach Holidays completely.

Chris

[loren1987]

I have already emailed the hotel and recieved no response at all. Im not even sure they understood my email.
I may try and speak to the airline regarding changing the names but what am i supposed to do about the hotel? Surely they will need to know about any name changes?

[dzug]

I really doubt if the hotel will care.

[Buenchico]

Forget emails. You never know whether they've been received. You never know whether they've been understood. You never know whether you'll get a reply.

For your contact with both the hotel and the airline pick up the phone. (International phone calls don't cost much and most holiday hotels can call upon English speaking staff if you start your call with "�Hablad usted ingles?", or whatever the relevant language requires - Just use a phrase book). With the hotel,ask for a full postal address so that you can confirm the change in writing. The airline will probably charge a fee for the name change, so they should provide you with written confirmation anyway.

You can probably find the relevant phone numbers online. Otherwise call 118 505 for BT international directory enquiries.

Chris