billy, is it an e-ticket, or has a paper ticket been issued?
if it is an e-ticket, austravel can alter the name of the passenger on the computer, and then it is up to them to charge what they want.
if it is a paper ticket, then the ticket would have to be reissued and sent back to their office.
has a ticket been issued on this booking?
if so, what class is on the ticket? this will have some bearing on the restrictions of the ticket. i presume it is economy class?
go back to qantas again, and ask if there could be a name change actioned on a flight leaving in june. if they say it is up to the agent, get their name.
then go back to the agent and tell them that you have spoken to qantas and to spoken to ref xxxxxx (name), who has advised you that a name change can be done at austravel discretion. advise them that you will gladly pay an admin fee, for the time it takes to change the ticket (if an e-ticket, about 1 minute, if a paper ticket, about 10 minutes).
some airline fares have restrictions on them, where they have to be ticketed within say 7 days of the booking being made. these are the cheaper end of the market, and i guess this is what you have got booked. they are just trying to make their money and sticking to their guns, by the sound of it. they are not legally bound to change the name, if the ticket is fully restricted.

HOWEVER, you should have something in writing from them which advises you of the restrictions on the ticket. i seem to recall this is the law? if a ticket is non-refundable, non changable (which a lot are, it depends on the classes used), then you should have been informed, and i am almost sure it has to be in writing. if you havent had that, there is your leverage.

hth.

Hi
When I was a travel agent, Qantas only allowed name changes of up to 3 letters (to cover a spelling mistake really), and then the agent had to get special permission/ authority from Qantas to change the name. Under no circumstances did they ever allow any more than 3 letters. This was the case regardless of a paper ticket or an e-ticket, the booking process is the same.

Many of the cheaper tickets have more restrictive conditions on them. It is more common to get a non refundable ticket than one that allows no changes (eg dates, not names). If the ticket is non refundable they cannot charge cancellation fees aswell, because they already have all of your money. Cancellation fees only apply when the ticket is partially refundable, and then the cancellation fee is the bit they keep, and you get back however much is left over.

Is the ticket completely non changable? Are any date changes allowed within the seasonality of the ticket? If so, could the ex-girlfriend perhaps use the ticket herself at a later date?

Did she take out travel insurance? Is there any cover in the policy that may be stretched/ exaggerated to cover such an issue? Ie, she never fell ill, did she? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge...I know it's not a perfect solution, but it's a lot of money to lose.

Clutching at straws here, but do you know anyone with the same name as hers within 3 letters....?

Sorry for the bad news. Good luck.

The ticket is hers, not yours, she should be trying to sort this out.
Tell her you want the money for HER ticket.

Watchdog on TV tonight had a radical solution for this problem.

Get the person who is going to fly to change their name by deed poll to that on the ticket. This costs about £25 at a solicitors apparently!



Buzzy

Hi
Great idea, can you change your date of birth as well???
i have a friend going into a branch as it may be better to speak to someone face to face i will let you all know
as i now know i am not holding out much hope

Billy