Fixing a Misspelled Name on a Plane Ticket

A friend of mine booked a flight from Dublin to Krakow under 'Sian' when her name is actually 'Siân' and spent an hour convinced she needed to buy a second ticket. She did not. Airlines generally distinguish between a minor spelling correction and an actual change of identity, and the rules that apply to each are very different.

What counts as a minor correction

Most full-service carriers, including Lufthansa and British Airways, will fix these free of charge or for a small administrative fee through their customer service line, provided the name still clearly matches the same passenger and the same passport.

• A transposed letter, such as Jonh instead of John
• A missing or extra letter in a surname
• A dropped accent mark, as with Siân versus Sian
• A missing middle name or initial that does not affect the primary name match

What counts as a name change, not a correction

Swapping 'Michael' for 'Michelle,' correcting a ticket booked under a nickname to a full legal name after marriage, or transferring the ticket to a completely different traveler is a different matter entirely. Nearly every airline treats this as a new booking situation. Budget carriers such as Ryanair explicitly charge a name change fee, often around 160 euros, specifically because the ticket is non-transferable between people.

If you got married in November and the ticket you bought in July still has your old surname but matches your current passport, some airlines will accept documentation like a marriage certificate to update the name without charging the full fee. This varies by airline and is worth asking about directly rather than assuming either way.

How to actually fix it

1. Check the manage-booking page first. Some airlines, including Turkish Airlines, let you correct minor spelling errors online without a call.
2. Call the airline directly. Have your booking reference and passport open. Explain clearly whether this is a spelling fix or a legal name change.
3. Ask what documentation is needed. A scanned passport photo page is usually enough for a correction; a name change may require a legal document.
4. Get written confirmation. Ask for an updated e-ticket or confirmation email showing the corrected name before you go to the airport.

We are not able to make the correction for you

EuroHostelTraveler writes about how these processes work, but we are an independent publication with no access to airline reservation systems. If your name needs fixing on a ticket, the airline that issued it, or the online travel agency you booked through, is the only one who can make the change.

The safest habit is the simplest one: type your name exactly as it appears on your passport every single time you book, accents and all, and you will rarely need this guide again.