Fixing a flight name mismatch with your passport can be quite tricky. If you happen to be flying with Air France, you might want to check out their "air France name change policy." Am I allowed to change the name on my ticket? What charges and conditions will apply? Let’s see if a friendly Q&A conversation can help you figure out the answers.
Simply put: Air France permits the correction of names only in certain cases but it does not allow relinquishing the ticket to another person.
Typically minor spelling errors (e.g., typo in first or last name) can be fixed.
It is quite possible that changes of legal names (marriage, divorce, court) can also be supported - provided that the documentation is supplied.
Changing the passenger completely (i.e. changing the ticket to a different person) is not allowed according to the standard policy.
Therefore, yes: you are allowed to change your name on a ticket of Air France – but only to a certain extent.
The normal steps of the process look like this:
Examine your ticket along with your ID (passport) to identify any mistakes immediately.
In the case of a minor typo, you should get in touch with Air France (or your agent) as early as possible - that is, preferably way before the flight.
In case you are a legal name changer (marriage, divorce, other official name change), you should prepare your documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order).
Contact Air France customer service by phone or going to the "My Bookings" page. Not all the changes can be done fully online.
Provide any required fee (if asked) and ensure that you get an updated ticket with your new name as your confirmation.
It is always the best of the choices to act early - the sooner you fix the name, the easier the process will be at the check-in desk.
Indeed — there are some fees and restrictions. Here are some important points:
There are some cases when a correction of a minor spelling can be done free of charge or for a small amount of money — mostly when the situation is reported a great time in advance.
The cost of changing the name in case of major changes or legal issues depends on the fare, the route, the factor, and other considerations.
One usually needs to ask for name changes prior to the check-in and the departure of the flight. Some regulations state, "at least 24–30 hours before," or even more, in the case of international flights.
If the ticket is purchased through a third-party travel agent or OTA, the procedure may be different (you might need to contact the agent).
Even after a legal name change, you must still produce the relevant documents during check-in. If not, you will be refused.
Do not consider changing your ticket to another person as an option - Air France treats tickets as non-transferable.
Don't think that every single name correction is free of charge - depending on the timing, fare class, and route you have to take, you may be required to pay.
Do not postpone the moment related to considerable changes in your last name until the very end - in case you will be required to cancel and rebook, which may cost you a lot.
Make sure that your name in your passport is exactly the same as the one you are going to use for the booking. First name, middle name (if applicable), and last name must be exactly the same.
The moment you find a mistake in your booking, you should do something about it immediately. Fixing it right away is much simpler.
If your name has changed due to marriage or divorce: be sure that your documents are readily available and send them if requested.
When you check-in, verify that the name on your boarding pass is the same as the one on your ID – discrepancies can cause you to wait longer or even be refused boarding.
In case you made your reservation through a travel agency or an OTA, find out whether you need to work with them to get the correction or can you deal with Air France directly.
Yes — a person is allowed to fix a name on the ticket in accordance with the "air France name change policy" but only for certain kinds of changes (typos, legal name changes) and one is not allowed to transfer a ticket to someone else. The fewer issues you will come across if you act early — and thus, your traveling will be more pleasant and comfortable. In case you are not sure, just drop a line to Air France customer service with your booking reference and inquire about the rules of your specific fare.
Wish you a pleasant and hassle-free trip!