Help Me Hank: Help Me Hank! Travel trouble

For his mom's 80th birthday, Roland Janbergs wanted to do something extra special.

Roland Janbergs, son
"I wanted to get her back to Germany."

Since Mom emigrated to the U.S. in the 1950s, she's only seen her sister back in Stuttgart a couple of times.

Roland Janbergs, son
"They grew up together and did everything together."

So Roland went to a travel Web site, booked a ticket for his mom and also one for her friend, Henry.

Roland Janbergs, son
"Before I knew it, I had two tickets for the two of them."

But when Mom saw Henry's tickets, she began to worry. She calls him Henry, and so does everyone else.

Roland Janbergs, son
"His phone bills, his gas bills, his business, all of that stuff, says Henry."

But uh-oh! His passport says Heinrich. Would that be a problem?

Roland Janbergs, son
"I simply assumed at that point I'd made a mistake, and I'd pay some kind of change fee."

He called the Web site and the airlines, explaining Henry is the English version of Heinrich. But officials said that was a deal breaker. Heinrich could not fly with a Henry ticket.

Roland Janbergs, son
"My mother was basically panicking."

The airline suggested they rebook the seat using Heinrich, but that would mean paying $2,000 more and losing a $700 ticket.

Roland Janbergs, son
"I think that's absolutely insane."

So, how was Henry going to make it to Germany with a Heinrich passport?

Roland Janbergs, son
"I called up 'Help Me Hank!'"

This is real travel trouble. Your passport proves who you are. If your ticket name is different, you'll be grounded.

Terry Tripler, travel expert
"This was even before security. The airlines were very very particular about that."

An airline won't even allow a change from Bob to Robert. It's partly about security and partly airline rules.

Terry Tripler, travel expert
"All airline tickets should be booked under the name exactly as it appears on the identification you plan to use."

Without much hope, we called the travel site and the airline. We explained Henry gets mail in both names: his phone bill says Henry and his credit card bill says Heinrich. Only because of that proof, they agreed to issue this replacement ticket that says Heinrich. Now, the trip is back on schedule.

Roland Janbergs, son
"When the envelope got to my mothe,  and she and Henry had the two tickets in their hands, there was palpable joy."

(Copyright 2007 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)