Airlink extremely bad customer service and uncompromising fees

Due to unforeseen circumstances, my 2 sons were not able to relocate with me to Bloemfontein and I had already paid for their tickets. Although Airlink has kept it as an open booking, my boys are not able to fly alone as they are only 11 years old. When I contacted Airlink to ask if I could use the tickets for myself and my daughter, they told me that I have to pay R1100 PER NAME CHANGE ! When the actual cost of the ticket is R879 as I booked in advance to get the lower rate..... I called and explained my situation to them, that I am in Hospitality industry and that due to Covid-19 ( As we all know) the hospitality industry has been hit EXTREMELY hard. I was battling to get a job and that I simply cannot afford R2200 ontop of R1758 that I had already paid.

I asked the consultant to justify the cost of the name change as it is the same seats on the same flight with no extra benefits and I was told that according to them they have done International research on the "name change rates " which I COMPLETELY FAIL TO UNDERSTAND when every country worldwide's currency differs...

In a time like now where people are battling to make ends meet due to the economic stress due to Covid, especially the industry that I am in they are unhelpful and the consultant still said to me " Mam, it is cheaper for you to just buy 2 new tickets " so what happens to the money that I have spent on the previous tickets if my boys cannot fly before the expiration date......???? And I cannot afford to pay the EXUBERANT amount for a name change???? Am I supposed to just simply right off that money because of the lack of understanding and exceptional Bad customers service from Airlink?????

Never mind the fact that a Mother who hasn't seen her children in over 6 months and is battling to make ends meet, not even that is taken into consideration by management