COMING AND GOING

What's Your Name?

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UPRIGHT AND LOCKED

What's Your Name?

Is it a big deal to buy an airplane ticket using your nickname instead of the legal name on your official identification, be it driver's license or passport? Ask Betsy Erickson of Vienna, a.k.a. Marion Elizabeth Erickson.

In the excitement of booking tickets to Italy for her and her husband's 25th wedding anniversary, Erickson messed up and used her everyday name. When the paper tickets ordered through Orbitz arrived, she realized her mistake -- then spent weeks trying to correct it.

Initially she was told to send her $820 ticket back and it would be reissued in her legal name. When she called back to give Orbitz the UPS tracking number, as instructed, an Orbitz rep said they'd need permission from the carrier, Virgin Atlantic. Later Orbitz told her that it had permission to reissue but that she'd have to pay the current fare, $1,800. Subsequent calls yielded a consistent message: Pay $1,800 for a new ticket.

By the time she contacted CoGo, she had almost given up. "I've told my husband to be on the lookout for some other woman named Betsy Erickson with a passport in that name. Maybe the two of them could enjoy our 25th anniversary in Rome."

CoGo figured Orbitz was just passing on the bad news. But Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman Suzanne Weldon said that "Virgin Atlantic's standpoint has always been that we would [allow a new] ticket in the amended name for no cost," but that the ticket would have to be issued through the original channel: i.e., Orbitz.

After CoGo contacted the Orbitz press relations office, the problem was corrected, no fee. The explanation, according to Orbitz spokeswoman Jeanenne Diefendorf: "In this isolated instance the travel agent unfortunately mistook the customer's request for a name "correction" for an actual name "change," meaning the agent thought the customer wanted to issue the ticket in another person's name." She added, "We are currently revisiting our policies and procedures regarding name corrections to find a better way to handle these types of issues when they arise."

But save yourself a major hassle: When buying a ticket, use the name that appears on your official I.D., no matter what you're called.

SAFETY WATCH

Wildfire Update

Florida firefighters on any given day last week were battling about 200 wildfires on more than 190,000 acres. Aside from some smoke that at times blew toward Daytona Beach, no effects were felt near major tourist attractions, reported Ronda Sutphen of the Florida Division of Forestry.

But dry conditions make for a rapidly changing situation. If you are headed that way, check the latest fire reports at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Web site, http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/. The Florida Highway Patrol posts road closure information at http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/.

TRAVEL TICKER

Get Express Service Parking at BWI for $9 a day through Sept. 3 by printing out a coupon that will save you up to $5 at http://www.bwiairport.com/. The express lot provides luggage assistance and car-to-curb shuttle service. It is just off Interstate 195 at Exit 1-A, across from the daily garage and the Four Points by Sheraton airport hotel. . . . Hotels.com is no longer charging a fee for changing or canceling a reservation. The previous fee was $25. Some hotels still might assess a fee that the booking site will pass along; check by clicking on the "rooms and rates" tab of the individual property you're considering.

BARGAIN OF THE WEEK

Maine Stay

AirTran has a systemwide sale for travel through Nov. 8. Fares from BWI are $49 to $159 each way plus taxes; from Reagan National and Dulles, fares start at $69 each way. For example, fly nonstop from BWI to Portland, Maine (service begins June 7), for $117 round trip (including $19 in taxes); fares on other airlines for nonstop service start at $334. Book by June 5; lowest fares apply to Tuesday and Wednesday flights. Fourteen-day advance purchase is required; blackout dates apply. Purchase at www.airtran.com, or pay $5 more by calling 800-247-8726.

Reporting: Cindy Loose

Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy tattles tocogo@washpost.com. By fax: 202-912-3609. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.

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