Originally Posted by GoHogsAR

I created a SM account for my son when he was much younger, and before he had a passport. He's the third, we call him Trey, and that's what his SM account says. When he got a passport several years ago, I never updated the name on his SM account. He's only traveled out of the country once with his passport, also on Delta, and didn't have any issues.

I used SM to book four business-class seats from LAX-SYD on VA as soon as the window opened last year. I added the domestic portion in F about a week later once I found a route with availability within driving distance at the low level. That trip commences on Thursday, about 36 hours from now.

I called about a seating assignment yesterday and brought up the fact that my son's ticket didn't match his passport. The agent told me that was a big problem and that he wouldn't be able to check in for the first leg of the flight unless the name on the ticket was changed. She was unable to update the name on the VA legs and called their partner desk, only to be told that they would not update the ticket either. I called VA directly and was told that since we Delta tickets, VA can only talk to Delta about the issue.

Since that call, I've spoken to a dozen different people at both airlines. VA is consistent in telling me that only Delta can change the ticket, and Delta is consistent in telling me that VA will not allow them to. I thought I had it squared away earlier today when an agent put me on hold for a long wait, then came back on the line and told me to take my son's passport to my local airport. She said she was noting my account so the agent only had to verify his passport, but the agent at the airport had to call in to the support desk and the back and forth between the airlines started again. After an hour I was told again that nothing could be done.

What I am being told now is that my only option is to cancel my son's ticket and purchase a coach class seat, and that will cost $3600. I figure it's a long shot, but do any of you know have any suggestions for how I might get the name changed on his ticket to match his passport? I really appreciate all the effort that the Delta agents are putting into trying to figure this out, and I regret that I've wasted so much of their time, but I'm hoping there's something we just haven't thought of.

Thanks