Name change for infant fares?

I know, I know....I can call VS and ask this question. Just being lazy and seeing if anyone has had experience with this before I make the call.

Is it possible to book a ticket for a baby that is not yet born, and are these types of tickets more flexible with regards to changing the name on the ticket? I already have tickets for MrStars and myself booked for May, but have not purchased anything for our baby due in February. I suppose we can wait until after the baby is born, but I am planning ahead and wondering if I can buy the ticket sooner than that. We have no idea on the gender yet, and don't have any names picked either.

Thanks in advance!

[Darren Wheeler]

No idea but at any other time, name changes are big, no exceptions, no-no.

[honey lamb]

I seem to recall one of our V-Flyers being in the same situation and being allowed to book a ticket for the unborn baby and then add the name later.

I'll see if I can find it

[HighFlyer]

I know other airlines (usually American) allow you book the ticket under 'Baby ' and you can then call back once the baby is born and you have their passport to change 'baby' to the given name. I'm interested to know how VS handle this as i would expect that this isnt an uncommon situation.

Thanks,
Sarah

[honey lamb]

Found it

I Know on LH(lufthansa) we could not do this and we could only add the childs name after he was born to the reservation for which the rest of the family had, which was no problem, Just taxes to be paid.
Remenber the child will have to have his own passport or be on a parents passport to travel regardless. He/She will also get his own boarding pass with infant recorded on it, with no seat allocation.

Hope this helps

Iain

Thanks for all of the replies! I know normally name changes are an absolute no-go, but I figure in the instance of a yet to be born baby there might be some flexibility.

I will let you all know how I get on when I do call to make the booking. We have not decided yet whether to have the baby be a lap child or to get an additional seat. I guess the price difference will be the main deciding factor.

There will be nearly 3 months between my due date and the date of our flights, so a passport should not be an issue. Based on the experience of multiple friends the US embassy takes about 2-3 weeks to issue passports for new babies born in the UK.

Thanks again!

[Darren Wheeler]

Find out how much a D is for an infant, plus 2 x Y then you get a CDC [}:)]

The main advantage for booking an infant immedietly is you pay the current prevailing fees. The way that they seem to be increasing this may be preferable to waiting until you actually have a name.

In addition - if you are likely to need a skycot you are, depending on who you talk to, reserving that spot as there are a limited number of positions available.

FM

P.S. Unfortunately Darren I already had that thought but alas it is not to be:

CDC - Who is eligible
You must be travelling in Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic on an adult fare booked into J or D booking classes.

I'm only reiterating what others have said really but, from experience, there's no problem booking for an unborn baby - just let VS know the details when he/she pops out (well, not immediately of course. Have a cup of tea or something first).

If you're flying UC, I definitely wouldn't bother with an additional seat - there's acres of room for one and a little one in the suites. If Y or PE, I'm not in a position to say, though snagging a bulkhead seat and a skycot would seem to be the order of the day.

If travelling to the states how can you give advance pax information on a child thta is not born?

just a point to remember

Iain

Thanks again for the replies. I just got off the phone with the VS premier team and was told that I could not book a ticket for the baby until it is born and has a name. I am not totally convinced and will call again later. I've managed to get two completely different answers regarding other questions I've asked the premier line in the past, so if I get a different answer, it wouldn't be the first time.

Regarding the seat dilemma, if we were flying UC it would be a no brainer, but we do our trips to the states in PE out and UC back, so it will be in PE. I had the ticket priced and it is a £700 difference between a lap child and getting the baby it's own seat. So, no seat for the baby! Let's hope we snag a skycot position.

iforres1 - I don't recall ever giving API at the time of booking a ticket, only at the time of doing OLCI. I wonder if this is because we are US citizens? Not sure. I suppose that could be the reason I was told I couldn't book until after the baby is born. Maybe when I ask the question again I should specify the child will be a US citizen.

I will update if I find out anything different, for future reference for others.

Originally posted by stars

iforres1 - I don't recall ever giving API at the time of booking a ticket, only at the time of doing OLCI. I wonder if this is because we are US citizens? Not sure. I suppose that could be the reason I was told I couldn't book until after the baby is born. Maybe when I ask the question again I should specify the child will be a US citizen.

I will update if I find out anything different, for future reference for others.

Sorry did not realise that (you are US)[:I], like myself flying under a flag of convienence[;)] but I am still fairly sure all PAX departing from the UK to the states now have to give API regardless of nationality, in fact there was a new thread not so long about how it is changing from Next year.

Let us know how you get on

Iain

I am thinking of ESTA which only affects poeple who previously used the VWP, so I presume you will be exempt. I get confused easily these days[:)]

Iain

mdvipond jr. was the size of a kiwi fruit and warmly ensconced in Mrs mdvipond's 'tummy' when we booked her first flight to BGI, and she was just put down as 'Infant - name TBA' on the e-ticket. Once she was born we gave them name/sex details and the ticket was updated.

Originally posted by iforres1


Sorry did not realise that (you are US)[:I], like myself flying under a flag of convienence[;)] but I am still fairly sure all PAX departing from the UK to the states now have to give API regardless of nationality, in fact there was a new thread not so long about how it is changing from Next year.

Let us know how you get on

Iain

No worries! [:)] No reason you would automatically know that. You are correct in that we have to supply API before flying even as US citizens. I only meant to explain that we don't have to supply it far in advance, only at check-in. So even if I booked before the baby was born, by the time I went to check-in for the flight, I'd (had better) have that information. [y]

I don't even know what ESTA stands for, but if it is what I am thinking (long list of questions for non-citizens) then I think you are correct in that it needs to be supplied farther in advance than API.

Will keep you posted.

Originally posted by mdvipond
mdvipond jr. was the size of a kiwi fruit and warmly ensconced in Mrs mdvipond's 'tummy' when we booked her first flight to BGI, and she was just put down as 'Infant - name TBA' on the e-ticket. Once she was born we gave them name/sex details and the ticket was updated.

So either the woman I spoke to hasn't got a clue (very possible) or they have changed the rules since jr was kiwi fruit-sized.... we shall see....