American Airlines provides passengers and travel agents with a clear and flexible process to correct or update names on flight reservations. Whether the ticket has a simple spelling mistake, a legal name update, or involves codeshare / R inventory bookings, American Airlines uses a two-tier system:
Minor Name Corrections
Major Name Corrections
This complete guide explains American Airlines’ name change policy in detail, including rules for SSR/Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD), waiver codes, endorsement requirements, instant upgrades, infant tickets, and SalesLink processing.
American Airlines allows name corrections on wholly unused (001) ticket stock.
The process depends entirely on the type of itinerary and the flight inventory:
Applies to American Airlines (AA) prime flights and American Eagle flights only
Correction is done within the same PNR/Order
Must not alter the original DOB or gender in SFPD
No fee, no fare difference, no penalties
Immediate reissue with waiver code NC03AGCY
Required when itinerary includes:
R inventory
AA/codeshare segments*
Other Airline (OA) prime flights on an AA fare
Requires a new PNR/Order
Itinerary must match the original flights exactly
Reissue using waiver code MAJORNC
A Minor Name Correction applies when:
The itinerary consists only of
American Airlines prime flights
American Eagle flights
The ticket is on 001 stock
No codeshare or other airline segments
No R inventory (because R inventory forces a major correction)
Minor corrections typically include:
Misspellings (one or multiple characters)
Missing middle name or adding a middle name
Interchanging first/last names
Adding/removing hyphens or suffix (Jr., Sr., III)
Correcting married or maiden names (with the same traveler)
Changing DOB or gender in SFPD
Changing the traveler entirely
Making changes within 24 hours of departure (may be under Airport Control)
Name is modified within the current PNR/Order
Must match TSA-required documents for Secure Flight
Re-enter SSR DOCS/SFPD after name change
DOB and gender must remain identical to initial input
Any changes may result in a debit memo
For minor corrections, add:
Waiver Code: NC03AGCY
For instant upgrade bookings: NC03AGCY/IU
This code must appear at the start of the endorsement box
Failure to include it may result in a debit memo
Reissue the ticket with the original fare
Must be an even exchange
No penalties, fees, or additional collections
No change to flights or dates
A Major Name Correction is required when any of the below appear in the itinerary:
R inventory seats
AA* (codeshare) segments
Other Airline (OA) flights on an AA fare
AA segments combined with any partner flights
Create a New PNR/Order
The corrected name must be placed in a brand-new PNR
Do NOT cancel the original PNR until reissue is completed
Itinerary Must Match 100%
The new PNR must include the same:
Flights
Dates
Routing
Inventory
Origin & destination
If issues arise, contact the Agency Support Desk–+1-866-438-9027(USA).
SFPD/SSR DOCS Must Match
DOB and gender must remain identical
Only the name can be corrected
Changes to DOB/gender lead to debit memos
Waiver Code for Major Corrections
Waiver Code: MAJORNC
For Instant Upgrades: MAJORNC/IU
Ticketing Requirements
Reissue as an even exchange
No fare difference
No name correction fee
Once tickets are reissued successfully, cancel the original PNR
If the customer purchased a confirmed Instant Upgrade, name corrections must preserve the premium inventory.
Reissue ticket as even exchange
Use waiver code: NC03AGCY/IU
Create a new PNR with identical itinerary
Reissue using waiver code: MAJORNC/IU
American Airlines allows multiple name corrections, provided:
The traveler remains the same person
DOB and gender never change
Minor corrections follow Minor rules
Major corrections (including R inventory) follow Major guidelines
American Airlines has special guidelines for lap infants and infants occupying a seat.
Allowed
Name can be corrected in the same PNR as the adult
Allowed even if itinerary includes
R inventory
AA* codeshare
Other airlines
Infant name is not transmitted to other carriers (only a 3SSR message is sent)
SFPD Rules
Gender must include “I” → Example:
FI = Female Infant
MI = Male Infant
Must be associated with an adult traveler
Ticketing
If infant has a ticket, reissue using the original fare
No waiver code required
No penalties or extra charges
Minor Name Correction:
Applies to AA/AE flights only
Reissue ticket as even exchange
Waiver Code: NC03AGCY
Major Name Correction:
Required when itinerary contains:
R inventory
Codeshare
OA prime flights
Rules:
Create a new PNR for both infant + adult
Itinerary must match exactly
Use waiver code MAJORNC
Reissue both infant and adult tickets
Cancel original PNR after completion
Log into SalesLink
Choose Service as request type
Select Name Correction
Enter AA PNR/Order
Select passenger + passenger type
Choose ticket to be reissued
Select reason for correction
Verify segment details
Submit request
Authorization appears as Remarks or OSI/SSR in PNR depending on GDS
Yes. American Airlines allows both Minor and Major name corrections on tickets issued on 001 stock (American’s validating carrier). The type of name correction you must use depends entirely on the itinerary:
Minor Name Correction applies when:
The booking includes only American Airlines (AA) prime flights
Or American Eagle (AE) flights
There are no codeshare segments
There is no R inventory
Major Name Correction applies when:
The itinerary includes AA codeshare segments*
The reservation contains partner airline flights
The ticket includes Other Airline (OA) prime flights
The passenger is booked in R inventory, even on AA
American Airlines does not allow a complete passenger switch. The traveler must remain the same person—only the name can be corrected.
Absolutely, yes.
American Airlines treats spelling mistakes as Minor Name Corrections, but only when:
The itinerary contains AA or AE flights exclusively
There are no codeshares, no partner airline segments, and no R inventory
Examples of minor spelling corrections include:
Fixing incorrect letters in the first or last name
Adding or removing a hyphen
Correcting transposed letters
Adding a missing middle name
Removing an unnecessary middle name
Adjusting suffixes (Jr., Sr., III)
These name corrections:
Are completed within the same PNR
Require re-entry of SSRs/SFPD, but DOB and gender must remain unchanged
A Major Name Correction is mandatory when any of the following appear in your reservation:
R inventory
AA* (codeshare) flights
Other airline (OA) segments on an AA fare
Any mixed itinerary involving partner airlines (BA, JL, QR, AS, IB, QF, etc.)
A major correction always requires:
Creating a new PNR
Rebooking the same itinerary exactly
Reissuing the ticket with the waiver code MAJORNC
Keeping DOB and gender the same as originally entered
Cancelling the original PNR only after ticket reissue is completed
These requirements protect the reservation from being canceled by partner airlines due to the name mismatch.
No. American Airlines strictly prohibits any changes to the date of birth (DOB) or gender during a name correction.
DOB and gender must match exactly what was originally submitted in the Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD).
Changing either field (even if incorrect) may result in:
A debit memo issued to the travel agent
Potential cancellation issues
TSA verification delays
If DOB or gender was entered incorrectly, a separate SFPD correction process may be required—but not as part of the name correction.
No. American Airlines does not charge:
Name correction fees
Reissue fees
Penalties
Fare differences
Service charges
As long as:
The itinerary remains unchanged
The correction follows AA’s Minor or Major Name Correction guidelines
Correct waiver codes are applied
Name corrections on AA/AE-only itineraries are typically straightforward and cost-free.
Generally, no.
Within 24 hours of departure, reservations often fall under Airport Control, meaning:
Travel agencies or online portals cannot modify certain elements
Name corrections may be blocked
The passenger may need to visit the airport ticket counter
American Airlines may decline modifications if the flight is locked for departure
For best results, start the name correction no less than 25+ hours before departure.
American Airlines requires specific waiver codes to authorize name corrections.
These must be entered in the Endorsement Box during ticket reissue.
Minor Name Correction Waiver Code:
NC03AGCY
Minor Name Correction with Instant Upgrade:
NC03AGCY/IU
Major Name Correction Waiver Code:
MAJORNC
Major Name Correction with Instant Upgrade:
MAJORNC/IU
Failure to use the correct waiver code may result in a debit memo issued to the travel agency or GDS user.
Yes. American Airlines allows name corrections for:
Lap Infants
Name can be corrected within the same PNR as the adult
Allowed even on itineraries with:
R inventory
Codeshares
Other airline segments
Only a 3SSR infant message is sent to partner airlines—so it does not affect space
Infants Occupying a Seat
Minor corrections follow AA/AE-only rules
Major corrections require a new PNR for the infant + adult
Reissue of both tickets is required
Gender must be appended with “I”:
MI = Male Infant
FI = Female Infant
In both cases, departures, flights, and routing cannot be changed during correction.
Yes. American Airlines allows legal name updates for:
Marriage
Divorce
Court-ordered name changes
Requirements:
The traveler must remain the same individual
Supporting legal documents may be requested
The correction must follow Minor or Major name correction rules depending on itinerary
DOB and gender cannot change
Legal name changes follow the same reissue rules and waiver code requirements as standard name corrections.
This requires a Major Name Correction because a partner airline (BA) is involved.
Steps:
Create a new PNR
Replicate the exact same flights, dates, routing, and inventory
Enter SFPD that matches the original DOB and gender
Reissue the ticket with:
Waiver Code: MAJORNC
Cancel the original PNR only after successful reissue
This ensures the partner airline doesn’t cancel the space due to name mismatch.
No.
R inventory always triggers a Major Name Correction because:
System limitations can auto-cancel R-space during name updates
AA mandates a new PNR for protection
You must:
Build a new PNR
Book identical flights
Use waiver code MAJORNC
It depends:
AA/AE flights only → Minor Name Correction
Includes codeshare or partner airline → Major Name Correction
Missing middle names are one of the most common, easily fixable Minor Corrections—again, only when the itinerary is AA/AE-only.
The upgrade adds a requirement:
You must use special waiver codes tied to Instant Upgrades.
Minor Correction with Instant Upgrade: NC03AGCY/IU
Major Correction with Instant Upgrade: MAJORNC/IU
Additionally:
The upgraded segment must remain in the premium inventory
No flight/date changes are allowed
American Airlines allows multiple corrections, provided:
Traveler remains the same
DOB and gender stay unchanged
Waiver codes are correctly used each time
Minor vs Major rules are followed accordingly
This is especially helpful when:
More than one spelling error exists
Hyphens or multiple surnames need adjustments
Legal names change after purchase
Note: Need Expert Help With Your American Airlines Name Change or Name Correction?
Get step-by-step guidance, waiver code instructions, and error-free PNR handling for any AA Minor or Major Name Correction, including codeshare flights, R inventory, and Instant Upgrades.
You can get help by calling at +1-866-438-9027(USA).
American Airlines provides one of the most organized and flexible name correction policies in the airline industry. Whether you need a small spelling adjustment or a complete PNR rebuild for a partner-airline itinerary, AA ensures:
Zero name correction fees
No fare differences
No penalty charges
Clear Secure Flight (SFPD) rules
Step-by-step waiver code requirements
Simple reissue through SalesLink
This makes AA name corrections:
TSA-compliant
Cost-efficient
Safe for codeshare segments
Efficient for agencies and passengers
Travelers can confidently fix errors without losing their fare, their seat, or their itinerary.