Last fall, I posted about my failed attempts to change my name on my American Airlines plane ticket. In the end, I was able to travel on that ticket without paying a fee — but it wasn’t easy. Read on to learn how to fly with your current ticket, without paying any fees, plus 5 tips for tips for flying without changing your ticket.
The Backstory
I bought an international plane ticket in March, got married in June, and changed my name in August. My plane ticket was for December. I called American Airlines three times to change my name and they told me it would cost either $100 or $200 (depending on who I talked to) to change my name.
Because it was an international flight, the stakes were considerably higher. Getting stuck in Miami is one thing. Getting stuck in Belize is another altogether. Plus, the ticket was multi-destination so that we could see family for the holidays before heading to Central America, which meant there were more tickets to be issued and more security lines to go through.
Suffice it to say, I was nervous.
The Twist
Then, fate was suddenly on my side. I found a way to sign up to get fast-tracked to get the elite Gold Status on American Airlines. After I signed up, I called the Gold hotline — instead of the general customer service number — and was told I would probably be fine flying with my new passport, as long as I brought legal documentation (official name change document or marriage certificate) with me.
The representative still wouldn’t change my name on my ticket, but she did add a note to my file so that when I checked in for my flight, they would already know what to expect. The fee wasn’t even mentioned.
The Decision
Bolstered by that conversation, I decided not to change my name on my ticket. Worst case scenario, I would have some problems getting out of Belize. It was a tough decision since I was flying internationally, but I figured there are far worse places to get stranded than a tropical destination surrounded by clear blue ocean.
image source: alex-s
The Result
I was able to print the boarding passes with no problem, but that wasn’t the part I was concerned about. I was worried about security.
Armed with my new passport and driver’s license, a copy of my old passport, and my name change documentation, I held my breath as I approached the TSA security officer at the first airport. Part of me was sure he wasn’t going to let me through. He asked to see my legal documentation, carefully check it against my passport and ticket, asked me if I’d gotten married, then let me through. And he was even friendly!
It went almost as smoothly at airport number two, though there was more hassle at the ticket issuing stage, then no hassle at airport number three on the way back. I’d made it — without having to pay any fee!
The Disclaimer
I couldn’t put this post up without a disclaimer. There’s no way I can know if my situation is unique, or if that’s the way it generally goes.
There are a number of factors that might have been different for me, that you should consider when making your decision about whether or not to pay the fee to change your name before you fly:
- The airline you’re flying and its policies. Do your research.
- Elite status. My frequent flier status probably didn’t matter for security line purposes, but it definitely made the airline treat me differently.
- Legal name change (including getting married). I’m sure this would have been completely different if I had just put the wrong name, or misspelled my name, when buying my ticket. Since I’d legally changed my name due to marriage, it was easier.
- Maiden name on passport. I took my maiden name as my middle name (and my entire name is on my passport), so my former first and last names, plus my new last name, were all on my passport.
- Documentation. I had an original copy of my name change document with me, which is what I showed the TSA officers. Definitely carry yours with you.
5 Tips for Flying Without Changing Your Name on Your Airline Ticket
- Call the airline and ask what their policy is. Ask if they can change your name (it’s worth a shot) and when they say no, ask if they can add a note to your file so that check-in is easy. Call back and see if you get a different result with a different agent (it didn’t work for me, but you might as well try).
- Get there early. Give yourself plenty of time to try to go through security with the ticket in your old name. If it doesn’t work for some reason, go back to the airline counter and see if you can pay to change your name.
- Bring all of the documentation you have. Bring copies of old IDs (passport, driver’s license, other), as well as new IDs and your name change document or marriage certificate.
- Don’t update your name on either your driver’s license or your passport. Keep one with your old name (preferably your passport) and use it to fly if you’ve already bought a ticket in your maiden name. (This wasn’t the case for me, but it would have made things easier!)
- Be nice. I’ve found that being nice to people in the transportation industry gets you much further. Remember they have people yelling at them for things that usually aren’t their fault. Sometimes if you’re nice, people are more willing to help you out.
I hope this helps people in a situation like mine! Share your own experience in the comments and help out fellow travelers.
About the author
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My family are going on holiday to Bali in Jan – there are eight of us… The problem is that my sister inlaws name on the ticket is spelt wrong… It says Annie, which is a nick name… But her name on her passport is Ann… We are flying on Malaysia Air… I am so worried now … Will she be allowed to travel… The agent said she has put an endorsment on the booking but I am still concerned… What if they turn her away..
@ Tursha, If you booked through a travel agent that should be ok. Did you buy travel insurance? Worse case scenario she will have to change her name on her ticket at the gate.
I just wanted to say that I really appreciate all your staff Dr Gboco, and Maurice (oh and well, gee, YOU too, Samantha!!!!). Everyone really helped me through what I think was the most difficult time of my life. Your kindness and caring goes way beyond the products you sell.and I hope that I will someday meet you. You will always be in my prayers and I will never forget what you have done for me.thanks Dr(gbocotemple@yahoo.com)arlon
i have brught jetairways ticket but my child name is wrong and date of birth is also wrong ,i call my travel agent he send me one note of correction will that note work at the time of my boarding
I have some little different issues.American airlines did not allow me to board the plane because ticket shows the given name(XYZ) last name (YYZ), but on the passport only it has xyz in given name column and yyz shows on the back of the passport as his fathers name.
but American airline did not allow me to board because not matching. how to enter the last name. what name should be enter as last name on the ticket. If do not enter system will not accept.should we put FNU or same name as given name or first name as xyz?
If you any answers please let me know.
AMAR
I do love the way you have framed this concern plus it does give me some fodder for consideration. However, through what I have personally seen, I basically wish when the responses pile on that folks continue to be on point and in no way embark on a tirade of the news du jour. All the same, thank you for this superb piece and whilst I do not really go along with the idea in totality, I respect the viewpoint.
So I booked a trip to cancun last week through apple vacations. I’m not sure exactly how I did it but my boyfriends last name is McCabe and I only entered Mc in the last name spot. After speaking with apple less than 12 hours after the booking I was told I mught have to pay the much higher rate to reissue the ticket (500$ more) and that they could not get in touch with united airlines until Monday and I would receive a call then. Monday morning I got a call saying everything had been taken care of and that I would not have to pay any extra.. I even got an updated itinerary in my email with the correct names. So I gave my friend and her husband the go ahead to book thier trip at the same time as ours.. The next day I get a call from the same woman at apple telling me there is a problem and I may need to pay the 500$ for a new ticket.. ? So now I’m playing the waiting game while apple tries to work things out with united airlines.. I just don’t understand how such an obvious mistake can be so difficult to fix..
I am looking to book tickets to Europe from Australia. We plan to go in about 5 months and all the rest of our extended family are ready to book now and we hope to all fly together.
Before I book I am already in a spot of bother about what name to book for my daughter. We are in the process of changing her current last name in the court. (not yet approved). The passport is in her current name. Should I book the airline ticket in her now current name (same as passport) or book in the (hopefull) new name and get her a new passport?
Thanks
I want to get this right before I book the ticket and avoid making a stressful situation.
How long will it take the court to change her last name? You will likely be able to bring the court documents with you to show that her last name was changed recently. Or I would just not change her passport with her new name until after you’ve returned from your trip.
Hi everyone. I booked tickets today for my mother and me to go to London and Paris over my spring break. I only had her passport available, so I listed my name like hers: first and last. My passport has both my first and middle name listed. Does anyone think this will be a problem? I called the airline, and they said I should be fine, but I’m freaking a little. Thanks in advance
Hi Jill,
I don’t think this should be a problem at all. As long as your first and last name are on both your ticket and your passport you should be fine.
Hey everyone
i booked with easyjet and had to do a name change, the charged me £168 which was made up of administration fees and airline fees and then extra because they said i had to pay the cost of the airline ticket now, but i have paid the deposit so surely i have already bought the airline ticket. I havent received the tickets yet so they havent been printed so why so much…can they actually do this?
Unfortunately, airlines can charge fees for pretty much anything. I would recommend calling the airline again and asking them to waive the additional fee since you already bought the ticket. If the representative you talk to says he/she can’t do it, ask to talk to a manager and see if the manager can help you. You could also send them an email. It may not work, but it’s worth a try.
hi frnds
my agency issued aticket with my name and middle name in emirates can i travel safely.the stupid guys didnt mentioned my surname pls some one tell me how to include my surname pls
The best thing to do would be to contact your travel agency and ask them to take care of it. It is, after all, their fault and any fee that needs to be paid should be paid by them. If they refuse, you can contact the airline directly and explain what happened, then see what they recommend. You’ll probably have trouble flying with the wrong surname, so try everything you can to get it taken care of before your trip.
heyy
i buy a ticket but they mispelled my first name , my first name is Marleni & they put Marlene instead of putting i in the end,, should this is a problem??? someone help mee pleasee i need to know if i have a problem when i get to the airport???? suggestion??
You don’t say where you are flying from or to. If you will be flying internationally, there is a greater likelihood that the airport would care. Since it is someone else’s fault that your name got misspelled they should be responsible for fixing the name on your ticket.
yeah i will be flying internationally..
but i call to the company & she told me she was going to send a message to American Airlines to change my name!! you think they going to change my name????
Glad to hear that the company said they would change your name on the ticket. You can call American Airlines and ask them if the company changed your name properly on the ticket.
ohh okk thanks for the help
i hope everything goes finee :]
I just got my pass port a week ago in the mail. When i was booking my trip to Mexico I just noticed they put a e instead of an o in my last name. Can I just buy the ticket and put the e in my last name? Or if it doesn’t match my driver license and marriage certificate will I have problums? I don’t think I will have time to get a new one before we were planning to go.
I would call your passport agency and also a travel agency to ask what you should do. You should not just buy a ticket and put the wrong name as you will have problems with immigration.
I think travel agencies should take more responsibility in booking international flights! If its so damn important to have your legal name on the ticket then the agent should properly check every customers credentials! Most travel agents are so laid back about this, but they will tell you, you could have a probelm, or it will cost you to change a name. Ok these are all excuses for doing the job correctly! Let’s take some time and do things right for once, This problem would not happen if the agent would just take the time to check a persons id like birth certificate or passport before causing a whole lot of hell later on! I know everyone wants to get a good deal quickly, so you book a flight asap, But this mentality can be very costly when you gamble with international security. Im hoping travel agents or the gov will make this mandatory . This will not only improve correct and secure bookings of flights, but also customer service.
God be with us!
Nate
I have a question? I am sort of worried My 1st name on the E~Ticket is spelt wrong Lsa and should be Lisa. Do you think I will have a problem getting on my plane? I’m leaving Minneapolis to Texas. Dont want to miss daughters graduation from Air Force. Everything else matches as on my I.D