How to Change a Name on a Plane Ticket: A Complete Guide

Noticed a typo on your plane ticket? A misspelled name, reversed first and last name, or outdated surname after marriage can turn a routine flight into a stressful scramble at the airport. Most name errors are fixable, but airlines have strict rules about what they'll correct, what they won't touch, and how much it costs depending on when you catch the mistake.

Below, we break down the name correction policies for every major US airline, walk you through the step-by-step process for getting your ticket fixed, and show you how to avoid these errors in the first place.

Name Change vs. Name Correction: What's the Difference?

Airlines treat typos differently than ticket transfers. Understanding this difference determines whether you pay nothing or face fees exceeding your ticket price.

Name corrections fix spelling errors, reversed first/last names, typos, nickname corrections, and surname changes due to marriage. Basically, you're still you. Name changes transfer tickets to someone else entirely. Airlines won't do this because they consider tickets non-transferable.

Why Exact Name Matching Matters

The TSA requires an "exact match" between your ticket and government-issued ID through the Secure Flight program. Don't use nicknames or shortened versions when booking. This matters even more for international flights, where your name gets verified at TSA security screening, CBP exit and entry controls, and airline check-in.

Starting February 1, 2026, passengers without REAL ID-compliant identification may need alternative documentation and extra screening. Acceptable IDs include a REAL ID driver's license, U.S. Passport, or DHS trusted traveler cards.

The Universal Rule

All six major US airlines, American, Delta, United, Southwest, JetBlue, and Alaska, won't transfer your ticket to someone else, but they will fix corrections within certain limits. American Airlines specifically tells travel agents not to make name changes between different passengers.

Name Correction Costs by Airline

What you pay depends on when you catch the error and which airline you're flying. For tickets purchased at least seven days before departure, most airlines give you a 24-hour window aligned with DOT guidance to cancel and rebook without fees. After that window closes, costs vary by carrier and correction type.

Most airlines handle minor spelling corrections at little or no cost on direct bookings. Bigger changes, like legal name updates after marriage or divorce, typically require a ticket reissue, supporting documentation, and can trigger fare differences and sometimes change fees.

Here's what to expect from each carrier:

• American Airlines: Minor corrections often free within 24 hours of booking; policies vary after that
• Southwest Airlines: Usually accommodating for minor corrections
• JetBlue Airways: First correction often free; additional corrections hit you with standard change fees and fare differences
• United Airlines: Simple typos usually free; bigger changes may cost you
• Delta Air Lines: Minor spelling corrections often free; legal name changes may require reissue fees
• Alaska Airlines: Varies by correction complexity

A Senate Committee report found that change and cancellation fees aren't always transparent, especially through intermediaries. Third-party bookings can pile on agency processing fees, and if fares have gone up since you booked, you'll pay the difference too.

Important: All carriers may charge fare differences if current flight prices exceed your original booking price. JetBlue's official policy gives you one free correction per ticket, then treats additional corrections as full name changes with standard fees.

How to Request Name Corrections

Contact the right party immediately. Who you call depends on how you booked.

Direct Airline Bookings

If you booked directly with the airline, call their customer service line from their official website. Skip third-party customer service sites. They just add unnecessary fees.

Third-Party and OTA Bookings

If you booked through an OTA or corporate booking tool, contact them first, not the airline. When you book through a third party, you're their customer, not the airline's. The OTA owns the reservation and handles all changes.

These sites may charge their own fees on top of airline charges, so corrections that would be free on direct bookings can cost you extra. They can also drag their feet, sometimes taking days instead of same-day resolution.

What to Say When You Call

Word choice matters. Ask for a "name correction" rather than "name change." The first one qualifies for free or reduced-fee processing, while the second triggers full change penalties.

Legal Name Changes

For legal name changes from marriage, divorce, or court order, airlines need proof: marriage certificates, divorce decrees, or court orders. Carriers won't budge without documentation. CBP help resources also advise US citizens to carry these documents when traveling internationally with a mismatched passport name.

Simple typos get fixed on the spot. Legal changes requiring documentation review can take several business days. Flying soon? Contact your carrier directly and stress the urgency.

International Flight Requirements

International flights require exact name matching with your passport, stricter than domestic. If names don't match, your carrier or TSA may require additional documents before letting you board.

Document verification happens at both departure and destination countries, and passports are the only accepted ID. No alternatives. Budget extra time for international corrections since they need additional verification steps.

Best Practices for International Bookings

Check your passport is valid before booking and enter your full legal name exactly as it appears. After booking, verify your ticket details within a couple hours while you're still in that 24-hour correction window.

Corporate Travel and Third-Party Bookings

Business travelers face extra hurdles when correcting name errors because of the layers between them and the airline. Here's how different channels handle it.

Travel Management Companies

Corporate travel departments using travel management companies get faster correction processes than individual travelers. Dedicated airline relationships and higher booking volumes help. Travel management companies handle corrections through channels individual travelers can't access, though the tradeoff is more complexity in the booking chain.

Corporate Booking Platforms

Corporate booking platforms work like consumer OTAs, but with an extra layer. Your relationship becomes Business Traveler → Corporate TMC → Airline, meaning corporate approval workflows get added to the process.

If your company uses Global Distribution Systems, know that Southwest's GDS policy enforces a one-correction limit when 'NAMECORRECT' appears in the endorsement field.

Consumer Third-Party Sites

Third-party consumer sites have their own headaches. Some carriers require you to contact the airline directly even though Expedia technically owns the booking. This confusion can delay corrections significantly.

This applies to Tigerair, Condor Airlines, Olympic Air, Allegiant Air, and Spirit Airlines when booked through Expedia. Delta's professional portal gives travel agents self-service capability but limits you to one reissue per ticket.

How to Prevent Name Errors

Name errors happen during rushed bookings when you're focused on finding the right flight instead of double-checking spelling. Here's how to avoid them:

1. Before You Book

Keep your passport details somewhere you can access quickly: your phone's secure notes, a password manager, or a travel profile you reference every time. AI travel assistants like Otto the Agent store your exact legal name, loyalty numbers, and payment details automatically, so every booking pulls the correct information without manual entry.

2. During Booking

Enter your name exactly as it appears on your ID. No shortcuts, no assumptions about how airlines handle middle names or suffixes.

3. After Booking

Your confirmation hits your inbox. Open it immediately, not tomorrow morning. Check every letter of your name against your ID while you're still in that 24-hour window when corrections are typically free. This quick verification habit prevents the phone calls, the fees, and the stress of discovering an error the night before your flight.

Act Fast, Or Avoid the Problem Entirely

Fixing a name on a plane ticket comes down to timing. Catch errors early for free corrections, or face carrier-specific fees and documentation headaches after the window closes.

The better fix: don't let name errors happen in the first place. Otto is an AI travel assistant that keeps your traveler details accurate across every booking. When changes happen, Otto handles rebookings directly, no phone calls or intermediary runaround.

Try Otto to skip the name correction headaches entirely.