One seemingly small error ended up costing one Australian couple huge — an additional $5,000 on their aircraft tickets.

Phil and Kate (who’ve chosen to maintain their final identify nameless), have been set to fly from Brisbane to Melbourne, Australia on Virgin Airways after which from Melbourne to London on Qatar Airways.

The plan appeared foolproof till the pair reached the check-in counter and a employees member mentioned that Kate’s ticket was printed with the identify “Kate” although her full authorized identify is “Katherine.”

Phil, who had bought the tickets for $2,400 every via the journey firm Scholar Universe, was informed that the one option to repair the error could be to cancel the tickets for a small refund and purchase a brand new ticket underneath the identify “Katherine” which might now value $4,700.

“They did not have time, that was their reasoning, to difficulty a reputation change on the ticket – however that they had time to promote us a brand new ticket,” Phil informed native outlet 9 Now.

The couple was informed that the identify on Kate’s passport needed to be an identical to the identify issued on her ticket, and when the couple contacted Virgin Airways, they have been informed that particulars wanted to be made via Scholar Universe.

Because the pair used a third-party reserving web site, there was not a lot the airline might do, they mentioned.

“They’ve simply taken benefit of all the state of affairs, significantly peak journey season and time was of the essence,” Phil defined of Scholar Universe providing them new tickets on the larger worth level. “We have been caught in a state of affairs the place we wanted to fly — they usually knew that”.

Scholar Universe’s coverage states that the majority airline tickets “enable adjustments for a price” plus regardless of the worth distinction is within the fare, however notes that “airways usually don’t enable adjustments to your routing or identify adjustments,” as was the case with Phil and Kate.

Virgin Airline’s web site additionally explains that prospects who booked with any third-party company or web site might want to contact the third get together on to “focus on any queries you’ll have together with your journey preparations.”