TORONTO — A Canadian man will travel to Thailand and the rest of the world with Elizabeth Gallagher. Just not the same Elizabeth Gallagher he used to date.
Jordan Axani, 28, and his former girlfriend booked the three-week trip in May, including stops in Thailand, Italy, France, and India. But the pair broke up, leaving Mr Axani with plane tickets booked in her name.
Wary of the hassle of changing names on tickets booked with several airlines, Mr Axani put out a call on social media website Reddit in November for someone with the same name as his ex-girlfriend and a valid Canadian passport.
Jordan Axani, left, chose Elizabeth “Quinn” Gallagher to travel with him to Thailand and the world after a social-media search begun when he broke up with his girlfriend, also named Elizabeth Gallagher. (Facebook and LinkedIn photos)
After worldwide media attention, Axani received thousands of responses, including from Nova Scotia student Elizabeth "Quinn" Gallagher, 23. Mr Axani picked Ms Gallagher, a homeless-shelter volunteer, after talking with her on the phone and becoming impressed with her social conscience.
"It's totally platonic," Mr Axani said from New York where the trip starts on Sunday. "Do I think we'll become friends? Sure."
Other responses were more odd. Mr Axani said he heard from hundreds of people, male and female, who offered to legally change their names.
Mr Axani has turned the attention into a charity called A Ticket Forward that aims to fund trips for underprivileged people.
What does the original Elizabeth Gallagher think of all this? Mr Axani said she has been in touch but he declined further comment.
The video below is an introduction his A Ticket Forward charity initiative, which launched Wednesday.