How to change the name on your airline ticket – and what it’ll cost you
From spelling mistakes to swapping passengers altogether, there are many reasons you might need to adjust your airline ticket. Negotiate this tricky topic with our easy-to-read guide. Here’s the information you’ll need to change or amend…
Q&A: Changing names and correcting mistakes on air tickets
First up, here are a few FAQs to help get you started… Read these before contacting your airline.
One of my party’s names is spelt incorrectly on their airline ticket. Does this matter:
Yes! While most security officers will not refuse you entry for a missing or transposed letter, there are countries and staff that will. Heightened security on airlines will also make this more likely. If the name on your ticket and passport don’t match, you need to get the ticket changed.
Many airlines will change a small mistake for free, while other will charge a fee that depends on the size of the error. See out list of top airlines lower down this page for costs.
One of my party has dropped out, can I change their ticket to bring a different person:
Some airlines will allow you to do this, but fees will often be much higher than for simply correcting a spelling mistake. However, some airlines will insist you cancel the booking – taking any cancellation penalties – and make a brand-new reservation.
I have just got married; do I need to change my ticket:
It might be a romantic gesture to buy a honeymoon ticket in your married name on – but if this doesn’t match your passport then your trip is not getting off the ground. Make sure your passport and ticket match.
Not wanting to dampen the mood, but this advice applies to those bringing marriage to an end.
In either case, you will most likely need to send supporting documentation to the airline before the change can be made – so contact your airline as soon as possible. On a positive note, some airlines will make such changes for free.
Can I make changes online or will I need to call the airline:
If you can do it online, this will usually be cheaper than calling the airline; Ryanair will charge £110 for name change online, but doing it by phone will set you back £160.
How will charges for changing names on tickets be applied:
Many airlines will charge the change fee for each flight – so a simple flight to your destination will attract two charges.
How much: Charges for changing or correcting names on air tickets
Here we look at the fees charged by major airlines for altering or changing names and how doing it online or through a call centre could affect your bill. Pick your airline from below.
Name change: £80 per passenger name change and these can be made up to two hours before departure. Small spelling mistakes are likely to be corrected for free. Call the airline.
More information: Click here.
Name change: Changing names on tickets is free if it’s within 24 hours of booking. Otherwise it charges $60 as the name change fee.
More information: Click here to contact Air Canada to discuss your request.
Name change: According to Air France’s website, changing names on tickets can be done up to 30 hours before departure, free of charge.
More information: Click here to find out more and contact Air France.
Name change: Stringent security, visas and waivers mean amending or changing names can be a complicated task for travellers booked with American Airlines. Our advice would be to call the carrier or whoever issued the ticket as soon as possible.
More information: Click here.
Name change: Changing names is free of charge within 24 hours of booking the ticket (with some exceptions, see link below for more details). Outside of the period, the flight will need to be cancelled and rebooked, which can attract additional fees and the original price may not apply. Minor name changes and spelling corrections are undertaken without charge.
More information: Click here to view more
Name change: Passengers flying with easyJet can change the name on a ticket, but a charge will be payable. The amount you have to pay is listed below:
Online – £49
Customer Services Team – £55
More information: Click here for details of cost and timings.
Name change: According to Emirates, if your name is misspelled on the ticket, you may be able to get it changed. Here is an overview of fees:
Direct Bookings made through Emirates – £10
Bookings made through a travel agent – £20
More information: Click here to view more.
Name change: You’ll need to contact the call centre to make the changes and there will be a charge of £45. Corrections made via the call centre or at the airport will cost £45. Changes can be made up to two hours before the scheduled departure time. If you have made a spelling mistake when making your booking, contact the customer call centre where this will be rectified free of charge.
More information: Click here to view more information.
Name change: You can change the name on tickets up to five hours before the scheduled departure time using Jet2’s ‘Manage My Booking’ facility. Changes can be made up to four hours ahead of departure by ringing the call centre, or in many cases at the airport. The charge for making changes is £35. However, if there is an increase in the price you originally paid, or taxes have gone up, then the difference will be added to the change fee… any decrease in the former will not be refunded.
Spelling errors of up to three letters will be corrected for free.
More information: Click here for more.
Name change: If your name has been spelt incorrectly, you can either contact KLM on social media (see the link below) or head to KLM.com and correct it yourself using the ‘MyTrip’ feature. Click the ‘Passenger Details’ link and request a correction. Both these methods are free providing flights were booked direct with KLM. Corrections take 24 hours, so get in contact as soon as you can. KLM will not transfer tickets, meaning reservations will need to be cancelled and rebooked.
More details: KLM social media contacts can be found here.
Name change: names can be changed easily and free of charge before the tickets have been issued. However, name changes to be made after the tickets have been issued are only possible for a fee of 100 euros per passenger name to be changed. Name corrections (e.g. upon marriage) are, however, permissible without charge even after tickets have been issued.
More details: Call the hotline on 0371 945 9747
Name change: Norwegian will let you change names on flights for £60. Flex and Premium Flex tickets offer this service for free. Correcting a minor spelling mistake should be free. It is also worth remembering, that like most other airlines, charges for changing tickets will be applied for both outbound and inbound flights.
More details: Click here for more details.
Ryanair:
Name change: Minor name corrections can be made for free within 48 hours of booking, using the ‘Manage Booking‘ service. Minor changes to names outside the 48-hour period are likely to cost £10. Changing names completely will cost £110 online and £160 if altered by phone or at the airport.
More details: Click here for more details.
SAS:
Name change: Most tickets purchased on flysas.com can be rebooked for around £57 per person per leg within Europe. If rebooking to a higher price category, you will pay the difference between the two fares plus the change fee.
More details: Click here for information.
Name change: TUI allows for spelling corrections for free. To change a passenger name costs £25.
More details: Click here for more details.
Name change: Minor name changes and spellings can be changed free or charge, whereas more significant changes will need supporting documents such as marriage certificate and divorce decrees. Tickets cannot be transferred and will need to be cancelled and a new booking made. Cancellation fees may apply. Name changes within 24 hours of purchase costs $75. Name changes made after 24 hours from purchase will cost $200.
More details: Find out more about amending names here.
Name change: Minor name changes and spelling errors will be corrected for free. If you notice a mistake has been made you may still amend the name on your booking and ticket to reflect the correct spelling in your passport up to 2 hours before the flight is due to depart. You cannot transfer the ticket to another person. If you have a legal name change, through the likes of marriage or divorce, you will be able to change your ticket to reflect this for free – if you provide the relevant legal documentation.
More details: Find out where to change here.
Name change: Changes to names on Wizz Air tickets will be charged at €47 per per person per flight.
More details: Find out more about amending names here.
Hi, I am traveling from Etihad airways heathrow terminal 4. I have only one name on passport which is my surname. In UK all the companies include banks use my same name as a first and last name. I bought a ticket and it shows same name two times( First & Last). Can it be problem when i go to airport and getting boarding pass? Please reply. Secondly on my ticket they wrote like this.FIRST NAME SAMIMRS. SUR NAME SAMI. Will it be fine???
Contact Etihad Airways: They can confirm if having one name will be an issue and advise on any steps you might need to take. You can find their contact information on their website.
Explain at Check-In: When you check in at Heathrow Terminal 4, politely explain to the agent that your passport only has one name, which is listed as both first and last name on your ticket.
Bring Supporting Documents: Take your bank statement or another official document showing your single name format alongside your passport for reference.
Regarding the format on your ticket (SAMIMRS. SAMI):
This format with “MRS.” in the middle is likely a system quirk and shouldn’t cause any problems. It seems they’ve tried to accommodate a middle name or title but left it blank.
Arrive early at the airport: This gives you time to address any issues at check-in.
Be polite and explain your situation to the airline staff.
I hope this helps! Have a great trip!
I understand that you’re worried about your friend’s middle name not being reflected on his passport and that you’re flying on Ethiopian Airlines next week. Here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue:
Follow up with Ethiopian Airlines to ensure that the name change has been processed and that the updated ticket has been issued.
Here are some additional tips:
Hi ….. would be so grateful if someone could advise. Made a booking for a friend but I added his middle names on the booking using his ID only later realising that the middle names did not reflect on his passport. First and middle names are the same. What is the way forward as we are travelling next week? Having an anxiety attack right about now. Flying on Ethiopian airlines. Have tried to engage with them but there has just been back and forth with no solution in sight. I cannot cancel and rebook as my farebasis is non refundable. Any assistance would we welcomed.
How can I change my name.. my ticket was book last October 16 .. all is wrong…
To change your name on a flight ticket, you need to contact the airline or travel agent you booked with. Most airlines will allow you to make minor name changes, such as correcting a typo or updating the ticket to reflect a legal name change. However, some airlines may not allow you to make any changes at all, or may charge a fee for doing so.
If you booked your ticket last October 16, you should contact the airline or travel agent as soon as possible to request a name change. This is because many airlines have a cut-off point for name changes, which can be anywhere from a few days to 24 hours before the flight.
My wife’s first name on passport is Murtaza and last name is hina but on ticket I put first name hina and last name Murtaza. is there be any issue? Please someone guide.
It is generally recommended that the name on your passport and airline ticket match exactly. This is to avoid any potential problems at the airport or during your travels.
However, in your case, the mistake is minor and involves only switching the first and last names. This is unlikely to cause any issues, especially since your wife’s passport includes both names.
To be on the safe side, I recommend that you contact the airline directly and let them know about the mistake. They may be able to update your ticket for free, or for a small fee.
I am married but I have kept my maiden name .
Maiden name is on passport, driver’s license
Surname on Canadian Airline Transat ticket was printed incorrectly as my husbands surname
Am I able to have e ticket changed to my maiden name
How can book flight without last name o have in my passport only given name
I booked a holiday through Love holidays for a party of 7, as a package. At the time of booking, I realised after a couple of minutes that the surnames of the 4 passengers where incorrect. I rang love holidays straight away, and they corrected the issue straight away ( which I thought). After a couple of days I logged into the airline (corendon), I noticed that the 4 passengers surnames where still incorrect. I rang love holidays and they said that I would have to rectify this with the airline. The airline has now charged me a lump sum of 2,633.34 extra on top of my existing booking just for 4 passengers incorrect surnames.
How can i edit the mistake of the name of the guest in my booking. I cant edit it thru online
Thank you
How can I change the one letter mistake in my booking. It stated in my booking the wrong name. How can I edit it?
Please answer my question.
Thank you
My wife’s name is Hanna,
on her boarding pass it is spelt Hannah
There is a one letter difference, the H at the end.
Is this a big deal.
We leave for Punta Cana tomorrow at five. Is this going to be a problem?
Same problem what did you do? My name is Cris but on my flight ticket is Crid
I have change my last name on my confirmed air aina flight tickets
This page is incredibly helpful – thank you!! :)
hi
i’m flying with a group booking on China airlines from Sydney to Taipei. one of my clients ticket is missing a letter on her first name, I mad the mistake when I sent the details. they want to charge me $230.00 Australian dollars to correct. this is the same airline that tried to charge me last time, again a group booking, for our surfboards, $100 AUD, even though they were included in our 30kg luggage on the way over to Taipei. apparently they changed the rules whilst we were in the air!! When we were returning to Sydney, they charged my clients $100 per person for their surfboard, I fought for 6mths to have the money refunded, yes I won!, but here we go again!
I recently booked a ticket to NZ but spelt first name wrong. Airline wanted to charge full price for a new ticket £750.After a bit of research I discovered that I could change my birth cert name for £40 and airline fee of £50. Saved me a pile of money.
How did you managed to do that? can you please give me information? I was just recently forced to buy new ticket for the same reason and I didnt had no option at the very last moment.
My middle name was somehow left off when I booked. My middle name is in my passport. Will I be allowed to fly with just my first and last name. Am flying from Inverness to Belfast.
How much does turkish airlines charge for 1 letter mistake in first name
Hi Sonia
Did you get an answer to this as I have the same situation?
Got the same problem help
thank you for the information!
You’re welcome.