Problems Changing Ticket : [Resolved]
 

I booked a trip for my husband and I for December using my world perk miles. He is in the service and has received orders to go to Iraq. Needless to say, he will be unable to make the December trip.

I called NWA and asked for a name change for the ticket, that they will not do, saying that the FAA will not allow it (not sure that I believe that). They said that they will redeposit the miles into my account for a $50.00 fee, for each ticket and then I can rebook. Well, as chance would have it the "price" has gone up and they don't even have this same trip listed.

For me to do this my out of pocket expense would be $140.00, because I had to pay the $10.00 fee for each ticket when I booked and would have to pay it again when I re-booked.

Apparently some people (NWA) are unpatriotic and have little or no value for our soldiers that are in harms way fighting for OUR freedom and making great scarifies themselves, not to mention their families!

This just makes me sick! It's not that we went all willy nilly making plans and changing them for what ever reason. We have NO control over this, none!

I plan on contacting the FAA tomorrow for starters, anyone ever been in this situation? Any advise?
Thanks in advance!

Please go easy on me, this is my first post. If I have made mistakes, please point them out and I will be happy to correct.

Welcome to Flyer Talk.

I don't know how much sympathy you'll find here. I was lambasted because I posted that if I have room I bring our soldiers up to FC. Good luck! ;)

Welcome to FT Sue-Mi! ^ :)

I'm pretty sure that the name change is indeed an FAA rule, although one that greatly favors the airlines.

I also don't think that patriotism (or lack thereof) has anything to do. Perhaps you could write NWA and outline the situation. Perhaps someone else will understand it better, and forgive the re-deposit fee.

Good luck!

Sue-Mi

welcome to FT!

I suggest you write a letter to NWA, where you explain your case, ask them to waive the fees paid when miles are redeposited. You might want to enclose all supporting documentation.

Per http://www.nwa.com/plan/comm12.html send the letter to
Northwest Airlines
Customer Care
PO Box 1908
Minot, ND 58702
Phone: 701-420-6282
Fax: 651-367-8459

I have to believe that if NWA can do Active Military WorldPerks® Elite Extension then they can favorably respond to your request.

Welcome to FlyerTalk,

I have to say that I don't see how NW is being unpatriotic. Why would they have to be patriotic for that matter? They are running a business, afterall, with fiduciary obligations to its stakeholders. Certainly, your $140 will most likely not make them or break them, but thats $140 more in their revenue. Thats why there are clearly stated rules that don't have to do anything with being "patriotic" or otherwise, they are in the business of providing transportation, not in the business of being emotional, for whatever reason it may be.

On the personal level, however, I do feel bad for the fact that you have to incur extra expense because your travel plans have changed.

Thanks NWAFA!

I really don't see the need for getting lambasted! I guess some people have a feeling of entitlement, hmmm... again that would be our troops fighting for our freedom! Imagine that.

Good for you. I'm glad that there are people that have appreciation for what our soldiers are doing. REGARDLESS of political thoughts on the issue.

Hi. Welcome to FT.

I'm not sure that NWA is unpatriotic - have a feeling that you may have gotten a customer service person who didn't realize that there should be exceptions to some rules.

I think it might be worth it to call again. And ask to speak to a supervisor if it's not resolved to your satisfaction. Here are a list of other numbers that might help you http://www.nwa.com/travel/nwati/

I'd also try to lodge a complaint on their website https://www.nwa.com/talk/ttu.html

Finally, if neither of those work, then I'd send a letter to the company expressing your concerns.

I appreciate all soldiers' service, however I sense someone else with a sense of entitlement on this thread.

It seem that with; AirCares, Fisher house foundation, Active military world perks elite extention, and allowing the active military on orders up to 70# with their checked luggage would be a start.

I agree. I believe people in other forums have posted about having medical emergencies and not being able to get a refund/change without a lot of work. I think it has nothing to do with patriotism.

Mail them appropriate supporting documentation and see what happens.

I think it's rude to call people unpatriotic for not bending over backwards for soldiers. There is no draft. We all have our roll in society.

If NW were unpatriotic, it is highly unlikely they would extend the Elite status of Silver/Gold/Plat WP members who got deployed (see below).

I don't believe any airline allows you to change the name on a ticket once it's been purchased.

The OP never specifically mentioned that NW was informed of the situation at hand here (although it may well have been mentioned). I second notsosmart's suggestion to write NWA with the details and ask to have the redeposit fee waived.

From NW's website:
Active Military WorldPerks® Elite Extension
Thank You United States Armed Forces!

Northwest Airlines® and the WorldPerks® program would like to thank all military personnel who bravely serve our country! In recognition of your commitment, Northwest will extend your 2006 WorldPerks Elite membership through February 29, 2008.

Requirements for Elite extension:

1. You must be a 2006 WorldPerks Elite member.
2. You must have been on active military duty and deployed during 2006 (includes guard/reserve personnel activated and deployed).
3. You must register for the Elite extension.

Instructions to register for Elite extension:

1. You must fax to 1-218-254-7566 a written request, your WorldPerks account number, and your official deployment papers: - Active Military Personnel - Deployed on Official Travel orders - National Guard or Reserve Forces - Activation/Mobilization form or Official Travel orders.
2. Request must be received by December 31, 2007.

* You may conceal the Social Security number field.

Reference Code: GWOR ELITEDUTY07

I'm sorry, you are wrong on that! I am only asking them to work with me on something that is out of our control.

Furthermore, I have made many sacrifices with the military in the past 20+ years, without a complaint, thank you very much.

you were???? There was an old thread a few years ago about doing that with our elite companion upgrades (I've been doing that ever since....I usually ask the gate agent not to reveal who upgraded them and to just tell them a thankful fellow American did it)

Sue-Mi

Did you see Jano's post about a special World Perks number for the military? http://www.nwa.com/features/militaryelite/index.html
They might be able to help.

Excellent suggestion! ^ ^


I don't think that is either here or there, though, again, most of us appreciate these sacrifices.

Based on the OP's posts, I completely agree

:rolleyes:

<<<<<<<<I booked a trip for my husband and I for December using my world perk miles. ...... If I have made mistakes, please point them out and I will be happy to correct.

I HATE to do this, but it should be: "I booked a trip for my husband and me for December..."

and not: "I booked a trip for my husband and I for December..."

(To check whether to use "me" or "I", simply leave off the words "my husband and" to yield the more easy to choose option).

I also hate to say it, but the nick "Sue-Mi" sounds awful trollish! ;) But I'm sure you are actually quite righteous! Sorry about the ex-English major action! :eek:

Whoa! I think you are playing the unpatriotic card here a little early. The agent you spoke to doesn't know you personally, so how is s/he to know that you are not making this all up to get out of paying the fees? It sounds like better communication could have been had from the agent, to tell you how to appeal this decision, but that is by no means being unpatriotic. Call again and speak to a supervisor or send an email to TTU. You should be able to garner better information the second time around.

As others have mentioned, you will probably have to fax or post mail documentation proving deployment to get fees waived. NW is in the business to make money and limit fraud. Go through the proper channels and I think all will be well.

Best of luck!

I don't see a sense of entitlement here.

Even on nonrefundable tickets, they can be refunded in full with no fees if military orders prevent travel. If there is a death or illness in the family, same thing.

All the OP is asking for is the same respect to be given to her award ticket. Regardless of your views on the military, deployments are unforseen and necessary. Going on deployment is totally out of the persons control (just like a family member dying) and should be given full advantage to take care of lingering business (like an airline ticket) beforehand.

I seriously doubt that the "no name change" is an FAA regulation. I am pretty sure it is an airline-imposed restriction. In fact, I recall an airline recently mentioning that they allow name changes.

I know that Jet Blue allows anyone to use someone else's credit for unused tickets and I think the same goes with Southwest. Not exactly the same thing, but not government-imposed. All legacy carriers require credit from unused tickets to be used only by the originally-ticketed passenger.

There are lots of situations out of our control that still incur penalties - death in the family does not always mean you get a refund or no penalty for a change. Same goes with tickets to attend meetings that were canceled by others - certainly out of our control but the airlines still impose fees to cancel/change.

Land of the free (ticket change), home of the brave!
 

I rather think that the military is being unpatriotic by having him deployed in Iraq around the holidays. I mean, what gives them the right? Don't they know that he already had a trip planned?

Or perhaps it's your fault because you don't fly enough? If you were a platinum elite, you would pay no redeposit, or telephone booking fees.

And since you've been making great scarifies for 20 years, you would think you would be cognizant of the chance of deployment. There is this little war thing that's going on.

In the end, I'd guess that NWA will probably refund the change fees. They seem to be pretty customer friendly when presented with a documented case. I don't quite understand why you wouldn't go on the trip by yourself, or just buy the ticket outright for whatever companion is going with you. Reward inventory changes all the time, and what may be available one day, is gone the next.

Your whole slant that NWA is trying to take advantage of you is ludicrous.

Before I made Platinum on NWA, I maid numerous changes to award tickets and paid the change fee. I knew that if I wanted to change it, I'd pay for it. No crying, or whining that NWA was taking advantage of me. The draft has been over for quite some time, and anyone who is serving in the military does it by choice. I feel deep empathy for the soldiers who are serving in harms way, but they are there by choice.

LOL, thanks for the English lesson.;) Sue-Mi. may sound trollish, but that is OK with me. I am Sue and I am from Michigan hence Sue-Mi.:D
When I said: go easy on me that if I had made a mistake to let me know and I would fix it. I was thinking of things like making sure I had posted in the correct place.

The fact that this situation has been posted publicly is exactly why NW shouldn't waive the fees. If they do, and it's posted here, every Tom Dick & Harry with a situation as insignificant as a hangnail will be asking for 'change fee forgiveness'. I don't mean to sound unsympathetic, unpatriotic, or un-anything else you may feel, or maybe I'm just spoiled being Platinum and don't have to pay any fees, I just feel that all programs have rules. Sometimes they work FOR you and sometimes they work AGAINST you. What can you do.

. . . And by all means - - DO TRY to write to them, and I hope they waive the fees for you!! Good luck!!

How does the sarcasm help?

If I see a uniformed soldier traveling alone, I have, on more than one occasion, swapped seats with him. One was even on a long haul SAN to DTW. He'd just finished up boot camp and was going home, before I assume being deployed.

It's just the right thing to do sometimes. And the smile on their face is worth it.

A big thank you to those of you with helpful information and suggestions!
I called NWA and they did work with me on the issue!
So, hopefully without damage done, I take back what I said about them being unpatriotic!

Sue

Your first action should have been to to go through the chain of command at NWA. If the outcome was unsatisfactory then you should have looked for help or advice on flyertalk. There are a lot of knowledgable people here on flyertalk, and there are a lot of knuckle-heads too who try to pad there post numbers with spelling advice and sarcasm. Some people wear there post numbers like a badge of honor, others just have too much free time on there hands.

Go through the chain of command at NWA, Im sure you will find someone who will help you in some way, maybe not for the outcome that you want, but something fair for you and your husband.

Give the chain of command at NWA a chance first.

Word.

Uff Da!

Let's keep the politics of patriotism out of this and let it be a customer service issue. I DON'T read FT for the "patriot" debate.

Thanks.

Good point. I've deleted the line in that post :)

Welcome to FT...Yes, do as suggested

I'm with both of you.

Support Our Troups

(The following said in my best Rick from The Young Ones voice) "Ah, yes, well, now see, it's not really freedom if you expect something in return for it, is it now, Vivien."

OP: whether it is freedom your husband is fighting for, well, that in itself is a debatable subject. I wouldn't play that card. Invoking patriotism, or emergencies does not and should not always, in my opinion, bend the rules. The bottom line is, whenever booking a flight well in advance you should be aware that unforeseen circumstances may preclude it. You accept that risk by accepting the terms and conditions. I'm glad NW worked with you on this and that you were eventually able to work it out (yey, NW!^ ), but I don't think that your that your particular situation entitled you to this. I believe that your initial disappointment with NW was unfounded.

In the end, it's good news and that's what matters.:)