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Man offers free trip around world to anyone with his ex-girlfriend’s name

Posted at 11:52 PM, Dec 17, 2014
and last updated 2014-12-17 23:52:01-05

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- One man's breakup with his girlfriend is a Nova Scotia woman's gain.

A Toronto man made headlines last month by offering a free round-the-world air ticket to a woman with the same name as his ex-girlfriend.

People may ask “what is in a name?”

Well for Elizabeth Quinn Gallagher it means a free trip around the world.

She's got a ticket to ride thanks to a failed relationship.

"When I first heard about the trip it was like. Oh I have his ex-girlfriend's name. That's not weird,” Gallagher said.

In May, 28-year-old Jordan Axani and his now ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Gallagher booked discounted plane tickets for an adventure of a lifetime: Milan, Prague, Paris, Bangkok and New Delhi.

Then they broke up.

The ticket has a no-transfer policy, but Axani offered up the ticket online to anyone with his ex's name.

"We heard from hundreds of people from around the world who wanted to change their name to Elizabeth Gallagher,” Axani said. “Then we heard from many, many Elizabeth Gallaghers from around the world. When we get down to Canadian Elizabeth Gallagher’s there were 18."

Then there was a long questionnaire and a Skype interview. Gallagher almost dropped out but committed once she learned Axani was starting a charity.

She knows travelling with a stranger sounds weird, but she's excited.

"He seems nice enough and he seems like someone I can get along with,” she said. “There's been enough media coverage on this that it can't be that weird.”

There will be a big send off in New York City.

"I have a friend coming with me in case he's crazy,” Axani said.

Elizabeth and Jordan will start their round the world trip on Sunday.

Axani started a charity called “Ticket Forward,” that gives people who can't afford travel the chance to see the sights the couple is about to go forth and see.