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How to change or correct the name on your flight ticket – and what it will cost you – Last updated: June 2026

You’ve just spotted it. The name on your ticket says “Jon”, but your passport says “John.” Or worse – you bought the ticket for yourself, but your travel plans have changed, and your friend wants to go instead. Either way, you need to know: can you fix this, how much will it cost, and how quickly does it need to happen?

The short answer: it depends entirely on which airline you’re flying with. Some will fix a typo for free in under five minutes. Others will charge you more than the original ticket cost. This guide covers every major airline’s 2026 name change policy, what the fees actually are, and exactly what to do right now.

Just Spotted a Mistake? Do This First

  1. Check when you booked – if it’s within 24–48 hours, most airlines will fix it free
  2. Check how many characters are wrong – if it’s 3 or fewer, most airlines fix this free at any time
  3. Find your airline in the quick reference table below
  4. Go to Manage Booking online – always cheaper than calling
  5. Don’t check in yet – some airlines cannot change names after check-in is complete
How to change the name on your airline ticket — and what it’ll cost you in 2026

Quick Reference: Airline Name Change Fees 2026

Use this table to find your airline fast. Full details for each airline are below.

AirlineMinor Typo FixFull Passenger ChangeFeeOnline Self-Service
RyanairFree (within 48hrs of booking)✅ Yes£115 online / £160 phone✅ Yes
easyJetFree (≤3 characters)✅ Yes£25–£50 per flight✅ Yes
Jet2Free (≤3 characters)✅ Yes£35 per flight✅ Yes
TUI AirwaysFree✅ Yes£25 flat fee❌ Phone/store only
Wizz AirFree (≤3 characters)✅ Yes€60 per flight✅ Yes
NorwegianFree (minor errors)✅ Yes€65 per flight✅ Yes
SASFree (minor errors)✅ Yes (select fares)~£57 per flight + fare diff❌ Phone only
Aer LingusFree (minor errors)✅ Yes£80 per flight❌ Phone only
Air CanadaFree (≤3 characters)Partial (select fares)$60 CAD+❌ Phone only
British AirwaysFree❌ NoN/A (cancel and rebook)❌ Phone only
Virgin AtlanticFree❌ NoN/A (corrections free)❌ Phone only
EmiratesFree❌ No£10–£20 correction fee❌ Phone only
KLMFree❌ No€0 for corrections✅ Partial
Air FranceFree (if >30hrs before)❌ NoUp to €200 (flex fares)✅ Partial
LufthansaFree❌ No€100 (flexible fares only)❌ Phone only
American AirlinesFree❌ NoN/A (cancel and rebook)❌ Phone only
United AirlinesFree❌ NoN/A (corrections free)❌ Phone only
DeltaFree❌ NoN/A (corrections free)❌ Phone only
Turkish AirlinesFree (minor errors)❌ NoCase by case❌ Phone only
VuelingFree (minor errors)✅ Yes (select fares)€30–€50 per flight✅ Yes
IberiaFree (minor errors)❌ NoN/A (cancel and rebook)❌ Phone only

Should You Pay the Fee or Buy a New Ticket?

Before paying any name change fee, always check the current price of a new ticket on the same flight. Here’s a simple rule:

This is especially relevant for Ryanair, where the £115 name change fee routinely exceeds the original fare on promotional routes. A £29 Ryanair flight with a name error could cost you £144 total to fix — always check new ticket prices first.

Airline-by-Airline Name Change Policies 2026

Aer Lingus

Real situation: You booked Aer Lingus Dublin–London return for a colleague but they can no longer travel. You want to transfer it to someone else. The cost to change both legs: £160 – before even checking whether a new ticket might be cheaper. Always compare first.

Air Canada

Air France

American Airlines

Real situation: Your passport says “Catherine,” but you booked as “Katherine.” Call AA immediately – this is a genuine spelling difference, and they will typically correct it as the same passenger without charge. Don’t leave it until the airport.

British Airways

easyJet

Real situation: You booked an easyJet return flight to Barcelona 3 months in advance. Your name is misspelt – “Sara” instead of “Sarah.” That’s a 1-character correction, so it’s free online. Log in to Manage Bookings right now, and it’s sorted in minutes. No phone call needed.

Emirates

Jet2

Real situation: You’ve booked a Jet2 holiday to Tenerife but your partner can no longer travel and your sister wants to take their place. At £35 per flight, you’re looking at £70 to transfer both legs to your sister’s name – significantly cheaper than Ryanair or easyJet for the same scenario. Jet2 is one of the best airlines for this kind of last-minute swap.

KLM

Lufthansa

Norwegian Air

Ryanair

Real situation: You booked a Ryanair flight to Malaga for £42 six weeks ago. You’ve just noticed your name shows “Davies”, but your passport says “Davis.” You’re outside the 48-hour free window. Your options: pay £115 online to correct it – nearly three times the ticket price – or check whether a new flight on the same date is now available for less than £115. If it is, buying a new ticket and accepting the loss on the original may actually be cheaper. Always compare before paying Ryanair’s name change fee.

SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)

TUI Airways

United Airlines

Virgin Atlantic

Real situation: You got married three months ago and have since updated your passport to your new surname, but your Virgin Atlantic transatlantic booking is still in your maiden name. Call Virgin or message via WhatsApp with your marriage certificate. They will reissue the ticket in your married name at no charge. Easy – and far better than trying to explain it at JFK.

Wizz Air

Vueling

Turkish Airlines

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you change the name on a flight ticket?

Yes, in many cases – but it depends on the airline. Low-cost carriers like Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 allow full passenger name changes for a fee. Traditional airlines like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and American Airlines do not allow you to transfer tickets to someone else. Minor spelling corrections are free at almost every airline if caught early.

Does a one-letter typo in the name matter?

Yes – the name on your ticket must match your passport. One wrong letter might be overlooked at security, but it is not guaranteed. Fix it now. Most airlines correct up to 3 characters for free, and the process takes minutes online. Do not risk being denied boarding over something easily fixable.

Can I transfer my ticket to someone else?

Only with certain airlines. Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, Wizz Air, Norwegian and TUI allow full passenger transfers for a fee. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, United and most other traditional carriers do not – you would need to cancel (possibly losing your money) and buy a new ticket for the new passenger. Always compare the name change fee against buying a new ticket before paying.

I got married and my passport name has changed. What do I do?

Contact your airline as soon as possible with your marriage certificate or deed poll. Most airlines – including Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, KLM and Emirates – will update the ticket to your new legal name at no charge. The key is that the name on your ticket and passport must match when you travel. If your passport is still in your old name, simply fly under that name and update the ticket once your new passport arrives.

Is it cheaper to change a name online or by phone?

Always online. Ryanair charges £45 more if you call instead of self-serving online. easyJet adds £5. Wizz Air adds €15. Use the airline’s Manage Booking portal whenever possible. Only call if the online system won’t allow the change you need.

Do name change fees apply per leg or per booking?

It varies. Ryanair’s fee covers the whole booking (both legs). easyJet, Wizz Air and Norwegian charge per flight – so a return trip doubles the fee. Aer Lingus also charges per leg. Always check whether the fee quoted is per flight or per booking before paying.

How long before the flight can I change the name?

Most airlines allow corrections until 2–3 hours before departure. Jet2 allows up to 5 hours online, 4 hours by phone. Ryanair allows online changes up to 24 hours before and phone/airport up to 2 hours before. Do not leave it to the airport – sort name issues at least 24 hours before your flight whenever possible.

Do I need my middle name on the ticket?

Generally no. Most airlines do not require middle names on tickets and a missing middle name will not cause issues at security or boarding. The key requirement is that your first name and surname match your passport. Virgin Atlantic explicitly confirms this – if the only discrepancy is a missing middle name, no action is needed.

What happens if I turn up at the airport with the wrong name on my ticket?

In the best case, the airline agent recognises it as a minor typo and lets you through. In the worst case, you are denied boarding and lose your ticket. Do not rely on airport staff being lenient — fix name issues in advance. If you arrive at the airport and realise the problem, go immediately to the airline’s check-in desk before joining the boarding queue. They may be able to process a correction on the spot for a fee, but there is no guarantee.

Key Takeaways

Safe travels – and may all your bookings be error-free from the start.

Disclaimer: All airline name change policies, fees and procedures in this guide are accurate at the time of publication in June 2026. Airlines update their terms regularly. Always verify directly with your carrier before making any changes to your booking.

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