All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
Can you change a name on a plane ticket? There are a few common reasons you might be asking this: Perhaps you bought an airline ticket under your name but now want to transfer it to someone else, or you’re trying to correct a dreaded spelling mistake. For the newlyweds out there, maybe you booked an international flight with your married name, only to later realize that your passport still uses your maiden name.
Typically, you cannot change the name on a plane ticket to another person after booking it. But as long as it's still going to be you traveling, airlines have policies in place to correct other types of errors. Due to security concerns, airlines require the name on a plane ticket to match the name on your ID or passport, especially when it comes to international flights.
The difficulty (and cost) of changing a name on a plane ticket depends on the nature of the error and how long ago you booked. A minor typo, for example, is less likely to carry a penalty, while other instances may require a fee. One of the easier mistakes to remediate may include removing an extra letter or space that was accidentally added. Hyphenated names or names with suffixes may also cause confusion when making an airline reservation, but shouldn't prevent you from flying. The important thing to remember is that the name on your plane ticket must match what your identification document shows.
Most airlines and travel agencies in the United States allow you to make changes to a ticket (or even cancel it) for travel within or departing from the US for free within 24 hours, as long as the ticket is for travel more than seven days in advance. However, third-party booking platforms, like Expedia or Orbitz, and international airlines may have different policies.
To avoid dealing with these issues in the first place, the best piece of advice is to review your reservation details immediately after booking an airline ticket. Waiting until you get to the airport is not the best idea as it could come down to the capabilities (or kindness) of a ticket agent. Below we break down the ins and outs of how and when you can make changes to the name on a plane ticket.
This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Can you still fly if your name is misspelled on an airline ticket?
TSA rules say the name on the boarding pass must exactly match the passenger's government-issued ID presented at the security checkpoint. “It is important that your name as it appears on the ticket is the same as it appears on the I.D. you will be using,” the US Department of Transportation states.
This is to ensure that all passengers have been screened against the government’s watchlist and are approved to fly. Not only does the TSA have the right to deny you at the security checkpoint, but many airlines also have a cutoff point for making name changes to reservations.
One exception to the rule is for names with suffixes; according to the agency’s website, “TSA accepts variations on suffixes on boarding passes and ID. Suffixes are not required on boarding passes.” The agency adds that “if there is a suffix on the boarding pass, and there is not one on the ID or vice versa, that is considered an acceptable variation.”
Also, don't sweat if you've left out a middle initial: Airlines and TSA are specifically focused on first and last names.
Can I correct a typo in my name on an airline ticket?
Most airlines have procedures in place to correct typos on plane tickets, but the exact policies can vary widely. For instance, Southwest and JetBlue both allow travelers to correct typos or misspellings in their names at least one time free of charge. Southwest, however, only allows up to three letters to be changed in the first name, and the correct notation must be made in the reservation by an airline representative to avoid further fee collection. Other airlines require that the passenger’s gender or date of birth remain the same when correcting a spelling error. To confirm the specific guidelines, check your airline's website for their official name correction policy (likely listed in the terms and conditions or contract of carriage).
Once you realize there’s a spelling error in your name, contact the airline or agency you booked with immediately. If you're at the airport in a panic, head to the airline's ticket desk. If the ticket counter or phone lines have long waits, try using social media services like X (formerly Twitter), which airlines like American and United use as an additional form of customer service. These can be even faster than waiting on hold for a phone agent. Another quick way to connect with customer service is by using the messaging features built into an airline’s app. Delta, American, and United are just a few of the US airlines that offer these on their mobile apps. For those in a real rush, multi-tasking is the name of the game: Wait in line, stay on hold over the phone, and message your airline all at once to see what works out first.
Does it cost money to change your name on an airline ticket?
On any airline, you have 24 hours to cancel a reservation at no charge, according to federal regulations. Because of this rule, some airlines will allow passengers to make name corrections for free within that window—though they’re not legally required to do so. (Several airlines do charge for name changes even within the 24-hour booking window.) If you notice a spelling error soon after booking, it may be worth canceling your ticket entirely and rebooking with the correct details.
Some carriers will charge a fee for changing a name on a plane ticket, which can range anywhere from $125 to $500. For the most part, no matter how good your reason may be to make a change, expect the airlines to apply all penalties, fees, and increased fares. When airlines say tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, they mean it. For this reason, passengers should always review their reservation confirmations immediately after purchasing airfares.
Can I give my ticket to a friend?
Almost never. While airline customer service will usually assist you in correcting the name for the original passenger, hardly any allow you to change it to a whole new traveler. Delta, United, Southwest, and JetBlue all have strict policies against this—although Frontier Airlines allows it for $75 plus any difference in fare. Airlines will typically tell you the reason tickets are non-transferable is for security purposes, but in truth, from a government policy perspective, it is legal to change the name on an airline ticket. What's really happening is that airlines want to control their revenue. In the days when you could transfer tickets, consolidators would scoop up the cheap ones and resell them, negating the airline's ability to move the ticket price around as demand ebbed and flowed.
What if I recently got married or divorced, and my name changed?
If your legal travel documents like your passport or government-issued ID still have your maiden name listed on them, you should use your maiden name when booking your plane ticket. If your names don’t match, be sure to bring back-up documents, such as your marriage certificate, to the airport and give yourself extra time for security officials to review them before your flight.
As the Department of Transportation explains on its Fly-Rights page: “If your name has recently changed and the name on your ticket and your I.D. are different (or will be different by the time of your trip), bring documentation of the change (e.g., a marriage certificate or court order).”
That'll show the necessary authorities that the name on your government ID now corresponds to the one on your ticket, even if your physical ID doesn't reflect it yet. To be safe, we'd encourage you to bring a printout of the Fly-Rights page in case the person you're dealing with isn't aware of this protection.
