Airline Name Change Policies 2026: What Every Traveler Should Know

A name change is when the passenger name on an existing airline booking is altered. This can be a simple typo correction (e.g. 'Jonhn' → 'John') or a full name change to transfer the ticket to a different person.

Airlines differentiate between 'minor corrections' (fixing a typo in the same person's name) and 'full name changes' (transferring to a completely different passenger). The former is usually free or low-cost; the latter is what enables ticket resale.

Most airlines don't advertise name-change transferability prominently, but the option exists on most routes and fare classes — especially on more flexible fares. Low-cost carriers like Ryanair and easyJet have made name changes a deliberate revenue stream and offer them at a fixed fee.

Ryanair: Name changes are allowed up to 2.5 hours before departure. Fee: €/£115 per name change online, or €/£160 at the airport. Typo corrections (same passenger) are free up to 2 hours before check-in. Route: spareholidays.com/name-change-guide/flights

easyJet: Name changes allowed up until check-in opens (approximately 30 days before for most routes). Fee: £35 online, £50 at the airport. Typo corrections for one or two characters: free.

Wizz Air: Name changes available online up to 3 hours before departure. Fee: €45 online, €50 at the airport.

Vueling: Name changes allowed for all fare types. Fee varies by fare class (€30–€90). Must be requested at least 24 hours before departure.

Norwegian: Standard tickets do not allow name changes. LowFare+ and Flex fares allow changes. Fee: varies by route.

Jet2: Name changes available up to 28 days before departure. Fee: £35 per passenger.

British Airways: Full name changes (to a different person) are not permitted on standard tickets. Minor typo corrections are free. Flexible fares (including Club Europe/World) allow rebooking but not passenger transfer.

Lufthansa: Name changes to a different person are generally not permitted. Typo corrections of up to 3 characters are handled at check-in. Flexible fares allow fee-based rebooking.

Air France / KLM: Same policy — passenger transfer not permitted. Name corrections for typos handled case-by-case at the airport.

Iberia: Standard tickets are non-transferable. Flexible fares allow rebooking with a fee. Iberia Plus elite members may have additional flexibility.

Turkish Airlines: Name corrections allowed for a fee. Full transfer to a new passenger is not standard — contact Turkish Airlines customer service directly.

Emirates: Minor name corrections only. Full passenger transfer is not available on standard Emirates tickets.

Aer Lingus: Name changes allowed for a fee (€/£60 online). Applies to the passenger name, not just typo corrections — making Aer Lingus more transfer-friendly than most full-service carriers.

Online: Most low-cost carriers allow name changes directly through their website under 'Manage Booking'. This is the fastest and cheapest method.

By phone: For carriers that don't offer online name changes, call the airline's customer service line. Have your booking reference, original passenger details, and the new passenger's full name ready.

At the airport: Name changes can usually be processed at check-in or the airline's desk, but fees are higher and time is limited.

Third-party name-change services: Avoid these. They add cost and may not be recognised by the airline.

When you list a ticket on SpareHolidays, the name-change step happens after the buyer pays and their funds are secured in escrow. You then contact the airline to change the booking to the buyer's name, upload proof of the change, and the buyer confirms receipt.

SpareHolidays' listing form asks for the name-change fee upfront — this is shown transparently to buyers so they know the total cost of the transaction.

Only list tickets on carriers that support name changes. If your airline doesn't allow passenger transfer, consider listing the ticket as a travel voucher (if you can cancel for credit) or check if the fare allows free cancellation.