Mistakes happen, and noticing a spelling error or incorrect name on your flight ticket can be stressful; correcting it is often easier than you might think. Whether it’s a minor typo or a more significant name change, we will walk you through the process and advise you on airline-specific policies, potential fees, and the urgency of correcting.
When booking with Alternative Airlines, you are in safe hands with our excellent customer service team to provide you with the help you may need. You can contact us by telephone, email, live chat, and WhatsApp.
The general rule of thumb is that if your booking was made within 24 hours of noticing your error, we can cancel your booking and you will receive a full refund. Of course, different airlines have different name change/spelling mistake policies therefore, we advise you to check the airline's website.
You will need to provide us with a photo of your passport or ID, it will be sent off to the airline, for them to confirm the name change or spelling mistake.
Sometimes you can call the airline and they will advise you on the steps to go ahead with the amendments. Always check the "manage my booking" page on the airline's website to see if you can make these amendments there as this is straightforward and quick.
You can change the name on most flight tickets but the airline will normally charge you an administration fee to do so.
Some airlines will allow you to change the name on your reservation because of a spelling mistake but won't allow you to transfer your flight to somebody else.
These changes may be limited to one or two characters. Please bear in mind that airlines may not allow any changes at all depending on the fare rules of the ticket you have purchased.
When booking a flight ticket you will need to make sure your name is the same as your passport otherwise your ticket will become invalid as per TSA rules. This is to ensure that all passengers have been screened against the government’s watchlist and are approved to fly. TSA have the right to deny you at the security checkpoint and many airlines also have a cutoff point for making name changes to reservations.
If you are unsure of the rules regarding suffixes then contact the airline directly as sometimes this can be an exception. If you are making a booking always make sure you are using the name you will have when going on the trip, this applies to those who are getting married as it will need to match your legal documents.
You may be wondering "What if I have left out my middle name?" Depending on the airline's rules this is normally fine as TSA focuses on your first and last name however, some airlines have strict policies and may charge a fee or not allow you to amend this.
If you're at the airport in a panic, head to the airline's ticket desk as they will be able to advise you on the fare rules of your ticket and if you can amend the error.
Contact either Alternative Airlines or the airline your flight is with and seek some advice on the fare rules of your ticket.
Provide a photo of your passport or ID that displays your full legal name to either the Alternative Airlines customer service team or the airline you are flying with.
Once you have got your updated flight ticket, you can then check in and receive your boarding pass.
If you have made a booking with Alternative Airlines and realised a name is misspelt or you need to make a name change, check the e-ticket that was emailed to you for the fare rules of the ticket you purchased.
We advise you to check the airline's website as all airline policies on name changes and spelling mistakes are different and will be displayed on manage my booking. By checking the airline's website you may also find out the deadlines for making amendments.
Some airlines allow minor corrections, like fixing an error of up to three letters, for free. For more significant changes, like changing a first or last name, airlines may charge a fee or require additional documentation. However, if you have purchased a fully restrictive ticket, you cannot amend the name/error on the booking.
If the airline policy states you can amend the error or go ahead with the name change, send our customer service team a photo of your passport and we will contact the airline and send you a price breakdown (if there are additional fees).
Although it's rare, some airlines such as Frontier and easy jet allow you to change the ticket name to a whole new traveller for a fee.
Here we have included popular airlines and their name correction policies:
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To change the name on a flight ticket you should always contact the airline or travel agent you booked with as soon as you realise the name change is needed. This is because many airlines will have a cut-off point for name changes (generally up to 24 hours before the flight). Mistakes of up to three letters are normally undertaken without charge, however, major name changes will normally incur an additional cost. In certain cases, the flight booking may even need to be cancelled and then rebooked. To request a name change on your Alternative Airlines flight, please give us a call at +441293 874 920 from 8 am to 8 pm UK GMT.
If your name has been misspelled on your flight ticket then you should endeavor to call the airline you are flying with or Alternative Airlines to correct the spelling mistake as soon as possible. You may not be able to fly if the name on your ticket does not match the name on your passport. In the majority of cases, a small correction may be done without additional cost to the passenger, however, this will depend on the individual airline's name change policy. Please visit our travel documents page to learn more about travel documents, and discover whether you need a passport to fly.
If you have a double-barrelled surname and the second surname is missing from your flight ticket you should contact the airline or the travel agent who booked your ticket to amend the name on your flight reservation. Passenger details on their flight ticket should always match the passport or identification they are travelling with. If you have special characters in your name, please omit them when making your booking. Alternatively, visit our guide to adding your name to your Alternative Airlines booking for more information.
The cost of making a name change on a flight ticket will vary depending on the airline you're flying with. Many airlines will charge a small typo for free but may charge to transfer the flight details to another passenger. In some cases, passengers may incur a cancellation fee if the flight needs to be rebooked under a new name.
To avoid any additional fees regarding name changes and spelling errors always make sure you double-check your ticket as some airline policies state that it has to be amended within 24 hours of the booking being made. Please contact either us or the airline to assist with the name change or cancellation.
If you have accidentally bought a flight ticket using your maiden name and then changed your name after marriage, you will need to contact either the airline or us and provide the relevant documentation (such as a marriage certificate) as proof of the name change.
If your middle name or initial is included on your ID but not on the ticket, or vice versa, it typically does not cause problems during check-in or security screening as long as the first and last names match. We do recommend contacting us or the airline as some airline policies are more strict than others.
