Wendi’s Wanders

The power of the Holy Spirit, enlightening man’s intelligence, has enabled him to discover means of bending many natural laws to his will. He flies through the air, floats on the sea, and even moves under the waters . . . Remember not your own limitations; the help of God will come to you. Forget yourself. `Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i writings

My good friend Thelma Batchelor, a regular reader of this blog and known to many of you as the compiler of Pioneer Post since 1988 (!), has sent me this story and her hot tip for all travellers:

In a bit of a hurry, the eve before leaving for the Cyprus Arts & Music Festival on 21st June, I booked flights with BA for Baha’i pilgrimage at the end of October because I was worried about the prices going up the longer I left it.

Fine! I’ve booked flights many times before on-line so didn’t reckon this should be any different. I carefully worked out the times of the flights and the dates from London to Tel Aviv and pressed the button.

Good, I thought, that’s done! BUT when I printed out the e-ticket, to my horror I saw that my ticket was booked in my maiden name (Thelma Halbert)! How on earth did that happen I wondered? Then it occurred to me that in a senior moment I must have typed my name as it was 37 years ago before I was married! Ron Batchelor’s name was fine!

I couldn’t find any telephone number on the e-ticket whereby I could phone BA and tell them what I had done and anyway it was late at night and unlikely that anyone would be there to speak to a frantic senior who was suffering from a senior moment! So the next day we flew off to Cyprus and I tried to forget my silly mistake. Meanwhile friends were telling me that BA would probably have to reissue the ticket and that would mean paying the full price all over again. I was worried!

On my return from Cyprus I immediately phoned BA (Manage My Booking) and spoke to a very nice lady who sympathised with me and thought my mistake was very funny! I did too but I was still worried about how much financially I was going to have to pay for that mistake. She told me that for an extra £25.00 I could change my name from my maiden name to my married name but, in addition, I would have to fax BA my marriage certificate to prove that I was who I was.

Heck, the next day found me scrambling up in the loft and searching for my marriage certificate issued in 1970. I couldn’t find the original but I found a copy so I faxed that to BA along with my booking reference number and waited. A few days later I was informed by email that I had been issued with a new e-ticket. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then, on checking, I discovered that they had now issued two tickets - one to Mrs Thelma Batxhelor (note the x) and the other to Mrs Thelma Halbert.

Not even Ron had a valid ticket this time!

I was back on the phone to BA (Manage My Booking) and pointed out their mistake this time. I was assured that in no time they would rectify their mistake and that I would be notified of the newly amended e-tickets. Again I waited. Each day I checked BA’s Manage My Booking and for five days there was nothing new. I was even informed on-line that I had been checking too frequently and told not to check for another 24 hours at least!

Yesterday, at long last, two correctly amended e-tickets were issued for us both.

My hot top for travellers? Be sure to remember who you are!

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