ffman999

My wife recently changed her last name to match mine. We have a J class flight using Alaska miles on Fiji. Is it true I need to cancel our flight completely and rebook in order to change her last name on the ticket? My concern is that if we cancel, availability in J might not come back. Do you think there is way around this? Maybe paying a fee to Fiji instead?

Thanks for your help!

rustykettel

Which name is in her passport? Can she delay getting a new passport until after your trip?

flyupfrnt

Bring marriage license or other legal paperwork related to name change along with you!?

vgc

I'd like to know the answer to this as well. I'm getting married next month, but we're putting off any and all name changes until we're done with all major airline travel this year for just this reason.

ffman999

Her maiden name is on her passport, but unfortunately it expires in about 6 months so we need to change it anyway. My wife called AS and they said she needs to cancel her ticket and re-book, which we all know is the "kiss of death" for availability. I'm likely going to call today and keep asking for managers to see if that helps. I've had some really bad luck with agents recently, where I feel like I know more about the booking system then they do. For example, they've told me certain aspects of booking (like using miles from two accounts is not allowed) when I've done it many times. They also told me Dubai was in India and Auckland was in Australia.

Finkface

If you can't change it, then don't change the passport. Renew it in the old name and change it later. Don't rely on just taking a marriage certificate and getting through. Some friends of mine were denied boarding in January for this exact thing. She had every document imaginable, including her old passport. No go. Don't chance it. Getting a new passport later will cost you less than not flying.

dc333

^ Safest plan with minimal hassle. Consider the cost of that next passport (after the trip) as the fee you're willing to pay to Fiji Airways.

missydarlin

Every country has rules about how much validity must be left on a passport before they will let you in. Some say 6 months, some say 3, etc. If Fiji will let you in with her current passport, then this is by far the easiest course of action.

If that is not an option:

Have you checked to see if there is availablity to just book another ticket in the correct name before you cancel her existing one?

It's not a simply matter of asking for managers. Some of the other airlines simply don't accept name changes, and their system will cancel the space (for both of you). Even if you get someone on the Alaska side to agree to try, you could end up in a worse spot.

The safest scenario would be to get the new passport in her maiden name, and then get another one in her current name once you return. I know its an extra unnecessary $100 for the interim passport, but that's still cheaper than a name change, and much less risky.

You could also find out if Fiji (both the airline and country) will allow her to use her old passport for name match along with her new passport for entry.

ffman999

Just an update that I was able to cancel and rebook all our tickets under her new name. Luckily the hard flight for availability (Fiji) popped back up after the ticket was cancelled so I snagged it again.

After talking to a dozen + agents in the past week on the phone, here is what I've found:

1) The vast majority are really friendly and helpful.

2) There is MAJOR inconsistency in knowledge of policy, rules and procedures.

3) The specialists at the "international desk" seem to have the best skills (maybe they have been there longer or have more specified training)?

4) Booking decent award flights can be incredibly difficult and I feel bad for the non AvGeeks who don't know the intracracies of how to get them.

5) I'm thankful Alaska has diverse partner airlines.