Wrong gender on a reservation
Feb 25, 2013, 3:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
Wrong gender on a reservation
Hi everyone
Got tickets from Finland to Vietnam and accidentaly put my girlfriend's gender as Male.
Called Finnair helpdesk and they said I need to make a "name change" (though name is 100% correct) as this is not Schengen etc. This costs 25 EUR, not fair.
Is gender really so important? I remember, Expedia tickets do not have gender at all. Probably, any issues with Vietnamese authorities?
Thanks in advance!
Got tickets from Finland to Vietnam and accidentaly put my girlfriend's gender as Male.
Called Finnair helpdesk and they said I need to make a "name change" (though name is 100% correct) as this is not Schengen etc. This costs 25 EUR, not fair.
Is gender really so important? I remember, Expedia tickets do not have gender at all. Probably, any issues with Vietnamese authorities?
Thanks in advance!
Feb 25, 2013, 4:35 am
#2
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,270
I would be very surpirsed if anyone notices that...officially AY is right, of course.
I would not pay anything and just argue it was a typo if somebody asks later..
I would not pay anything and just argue it was a typo if somebody asks later..
Feb 25, 2013, 5:58 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
Yes, I believe so. My argument is that there are even 2 typos allowed in the name, so gender should not be an issue.
However, I am concerned about Vietnamese border guards. Who knows, probably they will defer us as according to tickets there should 2 men arrive
However, I am concerned about Vietnamese border guards. Who knows, probably they will defer us as according to tickets there should 2 men arrive
Feb 25, 2013, 7:52 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Indonesia
Programs: AY, GA, SQ, IHG, SPG
Posts: 135
I have no experience with AY, but I have flown several times in Asia having my gender wrong in the ticket. Why you may ask? Thanks to the local travel agencies and a name which apparently sounds very female for people over here. No problems so far.
Feb 25, 2013, 8:28 am
#5
Join Date: May 2012
Location: GVA (HEL)
Programs: AY Plat (OWE)
Posts: 536
Once back in 2005 I travelled with a friend HEL-JFK-LAX on AY & AA with wrong gender info in my friend's ticket. Nobody said anything at any point, and we certainly didn't raise the issue ourselves.
Feb 26, 2013, 12:44 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
Thanks! Seems like I am too paranoid (as Vietnam is not Sweden or Denmark here, it is communist country in Asia and who knows their regulations) Just do not want to plan a huge Asia trip and find out that boarding is denied
Btw, on the last screen, where you check passenger and flight details before final click for credit card authorization, there was name, all dates and locations, but no gender mentioned. If it was, I would notice for sure (as I always check details once more before paying) and would correct it of course.
And weird that such a reputable company as Finnair charges for such a small correction. It is not Ryan air and ticket price is also not close to Ryan air..
Just do not want to plan a huge Asia trip and find out that boarding is denied Btw, on the last screen, where you check passenger and flight details before final click for credit card authorization, there was name, all dates and locations, but no gender mentioned. If it was, I would notice for sure (as I always check details once more before paying) and would correct it of course.
And weird that such a reputable company as Finnair charges for such a small correction. It is not Ryan air and ticket price is also not close to Ryan air..
Feb 26, 2013, 1:36 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,786
Opinions about communist countries aside, when has an immigration officer / security at your destination ever looked at your boarding pass?
Feb 26, 2013, 1:51 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6
remymartin, true.
But, for example, I need a visa to travel to Vietnam. I can arrange a "pre-approval letter" via internet agencies, so that I get my visa at Hanoi airport. And regulations state that very likely I will not even be allowed for boarding, if I do not have this "pre-approval letter" to show at the check-in / gate. This is the way airlines "care" about these kind of passengers as they will not be allowed to enter Vietnam without visa
Maybe, Finnair sends a list of passengers to the Vietnamese immigration department etc.
At the same time, even typos are allowed in the surname (are they?), so I believe this should not be a problem.
But, for example, I need a visa to travel to Vietnam. I can arrange a "pre-approval letter" via internet agencies, so that I get my visa at Hanoi airport. And regulations state that very likely I will not even be allowed for boarding, if I do not have this "pre-approval letter" to show at the check-in / gate. This is the way airlines "care" about these kind of passengers as they will not be allowed to enter Vietnam without visa
Maybe, Finnair sends a list of passengers to the Vietnamese immigration department etc.
At the same time, even typos are allowed in the surname (are they?), so I believe this should not be a problem.
Never been anywhere outside Europe, that's the reason for worrying
Feb 26, 2013, 12:53 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEB, flies from BUD
Programs: AA Plat (OWS), W6 Discount Club, TK Elite (*G), ex-MA Gold, Carlson Gold
Posts: 271
and enjoy Vietnam, it's a very nice place to visit. It's just one freaking typo! 
Feb 27, 2013, 3:17 am
#14
Ambassador: Finnair
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Location: HEL
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Posts: 4,270
Feb 27, 2013, 7:22 am
#15
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