Canadian man offers free trip around the world

Photo courtesy of Jordan Axani

TORONTO — A Toronto man is offering a free round-the-world air ticket to the right woman. But restrictions apply. You must be named Elizabeth Gallagher and have a Canadian passport.

Jordan Axani, 28, said he and his then girlfriend, named Elizabeth Gallagher, booked heavily discounted round-the-world air tickets in May, but their relationship has ended and he doesn’t want her ticket to go to waste. He told The Associated Press on Saturday that the ticket has a strict no-transfer policy, but since passport information was not required when booking, it can be used by any Canadian woman named Elizabeth Gallagher.

“I just want to see the ticket go to good use and for someone to experience a lot of joy,” said Axani, speaking by telephone from his Toronto home.

Axani posted the ticket offer Monday on the popular Reddit social media website, and has since received thousands of emails, including about 15 to 30 from actual Elizabeth Gallaghers with Canadian passports.

“More interesting, there are hundreds of Canadians who are interested in changing their name to Elizabeth Gallagher,” Axani said with a chuckle. “It was absolutely out of control, thousands of emails, people around the world sharing their incredible stories of travel.

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He wrote in his Reddit post that he is “not looking for anything in return” and that the woman who uses the extra ticket can choose to either travel with him or take the ticket and head out on her own.

“Having said that, I will buy the first round of vino at JFK upon departure,” added Axani. In his online posting, Axani said his other requirements for his prospective travel partner are that she be “sane, smart and (hopefully) interesting,” have a desire to travel and be ready for “a rather spontaneous life experience,” and be willing to pay the good deed forward to someone else.

Axani said that after the breakup he deferred all other planning for the trip, such as making hotel reservations.

Axani, who works for an international real estate development and advisory firm, said the tickets were purchased for a couple of thousand dollars, but their cash value today is around Canadian $5,000-$7,000 (US$4,400-$6,200).

The trip is scheduled to start Dec. 21 in New York City and continue on to Milan, Prague, Paris, Bangkok and New Delhi before ending in Toronto on Jan. 8.

Axani said he’s even received a few date requests, but “can’t imagine who would want to solicit romance from someone who dated someone with the same name.”

He said the lucky recipient of the free ticket will be announced on social media and the trip will be documented and shared online.

Axani said that he was so moved by some of the emails – including one from an 8-year-old boy who said he was going blind and wanted to see the world before that happens – that he and his brother want to create an organization called A Ticket Home to help people who desire to see the world but lack the finances to do so.