No, you usually can’t change the person on a plane ticket, but airlines may fix small name errors or let you cancel and buy a new ticket instead.
You book a flight, lock in a good fare, then plans flip. A friend wants to take your seat, or you spot a mistake in the name right before check-in. The question hits fast: can you change the person on a plane ticket and hand the trip to someone else?
Airlines treat the name on a ticket as more than just text on a screen. That name ties into security checks, ID rules, and the price you paid. So the real answer is split into two paths: small corrections to your own name, and full transfers to a different traveler. Each path has very different odds of success, and the details vary by airline and route.
Can You Change The Person On A Plane Ticket? Airline Rules At A Glance
When people type “Can You Change The Person On A Plane Ticket?” into a search box, they usually hope for a simple yes. In practice, most airlines block full passenger swaps and treat tickets as non-transferable. What they usually allow are name fixes that keep the same person flying.
The table below gives a quick view of common situations and how airlines normally respond.
| Scenario | Change Allowed? | What Usually Happens |
|---|---|---|
| One or two letters wrong in your name | Often yes | Airline corrects the typo, sometimes with a small fee or for free |
| Nickname instead of full legal name | Often yes | Airline updates the name to match your ID after you call or chat with them |
| Totally different person wants to travel | Usually no | Ticket stays with the original traveler; you cancel and buy a new ticket |
| Budget airline that sells name changes | Sometimes yes | Airline charges a name change fee and may add any fare difference |
| Spelling error spotted within 24 hours of booking | Usually yes | Many airlines fix it easily, and some allow a full refund in that window |
| Travel agent entered the wrong name | Often partially | Agent works with the airline to correct the name; full swaps are rare |
| Legal name change after marriage or divorce | Often yes | With documents, airlines adjust the name or accept the old name with matching ID papers |
| Ticket bought from a sale that lists “non-transferable” | Almost always no | Ticket stays locked to the original traveler, even if you pay a fee for dates or times |
This mix of answers comes from two main forces. On one side, airlines must send accurate passenger data to security agencies and match it to government ID at the airport. On the other side, they use non-transferable tickets to control fares and stop a gray market in resold seats.
Changing The Person On A Plane Ticket: What Airlines Allow
Most carriers treat a ticket as a personal contract between the airline and the named traveler. That contract usually cannot be handed to another person. Travel sites, airline contracts of carriage, and government guidance all repeat the same idea: the name on the ticket should match the name on the ID that the traveler shows at the airport.1
Name Corrections Versus Passenger Transfers
Airlines draw a clear line between fixing a typo for the same traveler and swapping the trip to someone else. Small edits keep the same person in the seat, so the security risk stays low. Full transfers swap one person for another and touch both pricing and security.
For that reason, you will often see two sets of rules on airline help pages:
- Name correction – fixing spelling, swapping first and last names, adding a middle name, or aligning a married name with ID.
- Name change – replacing the passenger with a different person, usually blocked on regular tickets.
Carriers such as British Airways and many U.S. airlines state that tickets cannot be transferred to someone else and that a new booking is needed if a different person will travel.2
Why Name And Id Have To Match
Security agencies use your name and date of birth to check watchlists and verify your identity. In the United States, for example, the Transportation Security Administration states that the name on your airline reservation must match the name on your ID used at the checkpoint.3 Airlines also repeat this rule in their own Secure Flight and identification pages.4
Because of that link between ticket and ID, a full transfer raises red flags. If anyone could swap a ticket to another person, the airline would have trouble tracking who is actually flying, and security checks would lose meaning.
Many carriers still allow careful corrections so that a harmless mistake does not ruin a trip. A help page might list rules such as “up to three characters free,” “no change of gender without documents,” or “legal name change with court papers or marriage certificate.” These corrections hang on the idea that the same traveler is still the one in the seat.
So when you ask Can You Change The Person On A Plane Ticket?, airlines look first at whether the traveler stays the same. If the answer is yes, you have options. If the answer is no, the ticket often cannot move.
How To Fix A Wrong Name On Your Plane Ticket
Spelling errors happen often, and airlines know it. The good news is that most carriers let you fix small mistakes once, and the sooner you act, the smoother it tends to go.
Act Fast When You Spot A Name Error
The best time to fix a name is right after booking. Many airlines offer a 24-hour grace period on tickets bought directly from them. During that window you may be able to cancel for a full refund or adjust details at low cost, including name spelling.
Here is a simple order of steps when you notice a mistake:
- Check your confirmation email and see how your name appears on the ticket.
- Compare it to the name on the passport or ID you will use at the airport.
- If the error is more than a letter or two, reach out to the airline straight away by phone, app chat, or social channel.
- Tell them exactly what needs to change and spell the correct name slowly.
- Ask whether the change counts as a correction for the same traveler or as a full passenger change.
Some carriers allow small online edits, while others require an agent to adjust the booking. A few low-cost airlines list strict cut-offs, such as “no changes inside 48 hours of departure” or “only up to three characters free.”
What Airlines Count As A Minor Change
Airlines usually treat an edit as a “minor change” when the pattern of the name stays clear. Rules can differ, but common examples include:
- Fixing a letter in your surname or given name.
- Swapping first and last name fields when they were entered backwards.
- Adding or removing a middle name when the rest matches your ID.
- Updating spelling to match a passport with a special character.
Some carriers, such as Ryanair and Wizz Air, allow a limited number of free character changes and then charge a fee once you pass that limit or want a broader adjustment.5 Others treat nearly any change beyond a small typo as a full name change and may ask you to cancel, then rebook.
When You Have A Legal Name Change
If you marry, divorce, or change your name through a court process between booking and travel, you have two broad paths:
- Travel under the name on your ID and ticket if they still match.
- Ask the airline to update the booking so both match your new legal name.
Airlines often accept name updates for legal changes when you send copies of the documents that prove the change, such as a marriage certificate. Some carriers list this clearly in their identification rules and treat it as a correction, not a transfer.4
If your passport still shows your old name but your ticket was booked under a new name, speak with the airline well before travel. They may adjust the ticket or advise you to carry both IDs and legal papers so staff can verify that you are the same person.
When Someone Else Needs To Take Your Flight
This is where many travelers hit a wall. You cannot go on the trip, someone else would love your seat, and the idea of throwing the ticket away feels rough. The rules in this case depend heavily on the airline and the type of ticket you bought.
Airlines That Let You Transfer A Ticket
A few low-cost carriers sell tickets that can be transferred to another person for a fee. The trade-off is that their base fares often come with strict conditions in other areas. Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Vueling, and some regional airlines publish detailed fee tables for full name changes and passenger transfers.5
This second table gives a rough picture of how different airline styles handle a request to move a ticket to someone else. Always check your exact airline site for the latest wording and prices.
| Airline Type | Transfer To Another Person? | Typical Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Full-service legacy airline (many U.S. carriers) | No | Tickets are non-transferable; you cancel and rebook in a new name, often with change or cancellation fees |
| British or European flag carrier | Usually no | Name transfers rarely allowed; staff may correct small spelling errors only |
| Ultra low-cost airline (Ryanair type) | Often yes, for a fee | Full name change allowed for a set fee per flight plus any fare difference |
| Other European low-cost airline (easyJet, Wizz Air) | Sometimes yes | Paid transfers allowed online up to a time limit before departure |
| Regional point-to-point carrier | Mixed | Some allow paid transfers; others follow non-transferable rules |
| Corporate or fully flexible ticket | Occasionally | A few contracts let firms swap staff names under strict terms |
| Award ticket from a frequent flier program | Usually no | Miles bookings often must keep the same passenger once ticketed |
Low-cost carriers that allow transfers usually charge a set “name change” fee for each flight segment and may add any fare difference between what you paid and the current price. Some also block changes after check-in or close to departure, so timing still matters.
When You Must Cancel And Rebook Instead
On most airlines, when a different person needs to travel, your realistic path is to cancel the original ticket and book a new one. Here is how that usually plays out:
- You check your fare rules to see whether your ticket is refundable or can hold value as a credit.
- You cancel through the airline site or app and note any fees or remaining travel credit.
- You or the new traveler then buy a fresh ticket in the new name at the current price.
This can sting if fares have risen, but it keeps you clear of check-in issues. It also keeps the record clean with security agencies, since each ticket has a clear link between name, ID, and booking data.
If you bought travel insurance that covers schedule changes, check whether unused tickets or extra costs fall under your policy. Some cards and plans help when illness or other covered reasons stop you from flying.
Tips To Avoid Plane Ticket Name Problems
A little care during booking saves a lot of stress before boarding. These habits cut the risk of last-minute calls and fees:
- Copy the name on your passport or ID exactly into the booking form, including middle names where the airline asks for them.
- Check the spelling on the confirmation page before you pay, then again in the confirmation email.
- Avoid nicknames; use the same form of your name that shows on your travel ID.
- Book flights only after you finish any legal name change and have new documents in hand.
- When booking for someone else, ask them to send a photo of their ID so you can match every letter.
- Read the fare rules so you know whether the ticket can be changed or refunded if plans shift.
- Keep a note of your airline’s name correction page, such as the TSA guidance on matching ticket and ID names and your carrier’s own ID policy, like the JetBlue identification requirements page.
These small checks take only a minute during booking but help keep your record clean across airline systems and airport security checks.
Final Thoughts On Plane Ticket Name Changes
So can you change the person on a plane ticket? For most travelers on regular fares, the honest answer stays “no.” Tickets are written for one named person, and that person is meant to be the one who stands at the gate with boarding pass and ID in hand.
Where you usually do have room is around that single traveler. Airlines fix minor misspellings every day, and many accept legal name changes once you send proof. A handful of budget carriers even let you move a ticket to a friend for a fee, as long as you do it before their cut-off time.
The safe way to travel is simple: book under the exact name on the ID you plan to carry, scan your confirmation for errors straight away, and act fast if something looks off. When plans change and another person needs the trip, treat it as a fresh booking rather than a quick swap. That mindset keeps you aligned with airline rules, security checks, and the real limits behind that one big question about changing the person on a plane ticket.