The Pet Fare must be paid at the airport ticket counter with accepted credit cards. The Pet Fare is refundable if you cancel your reservation. We allow one pet carrier per ticketed Customer.{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TIn today’s fast-paced world of travel planning, even the most careful passengers sometimes {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tmake {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tmistakes. A common issue among travelers is {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tdiscovering that the name on a Southwest Airlines ticket {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tis misspelled, incomplete, or {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tdoesn’t match the {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tidentification {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tdocument required for travel. In other cases, passengers undergo legal name {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tchanges due to marriage, divorce, or court order after purchasing a ticket. Regardless of the reason, the {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tquestion inevitably arises:
What is the Southwest Airlines name change fee, and how does the policy work?
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TSouthwest Airlines maintains a well-defined name {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tcorrection and name change policy designed to {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tensure that passengers’ travel documents match the {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tinformation printed on their tickets. Because airline {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tsecurity is tightly regulated, even a small spelling {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Terror can potentially trigger delays, boarding denials, {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tor TSA issues. At the same time, Southwest tries to offer {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tflexibility for minor errors, legal name updates, and {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tother valid situations{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}T that require a correction.
Do airlines charge for name change?
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TDepending on the scenario, name changes on tickets {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tare allowed. Airline policies, terms and conditions {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tmay define circumstances differently, but some {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tcommon name change scenarios are: Typos and {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tspelling mistakes: Many airlines permit agents to {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tmake minor name corrections, but a fee may be assessed.
Can you change the name on an already booked flight?
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TNo, you cannot change the name on an already {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tbooked flight to a different person, as tickets are {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tnon-transferable. However, you can usually make {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tcorrections for minor spelling errors or in cases of a {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tlegal name change, sometimes for a fee. If you need {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tto change the name completely, the most reliable {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Toption is to cancel the original ticket (within the {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}T24-hour grace period, if possible) and book a new one under the correct name.
Southwest Award Tickets and MileagePlus Considerations
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TMileagePlus award tickets follow similar rules but are {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tmore restrictive.
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TYou may NOT:
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TChange the traveler entirely
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TReplace one person with another
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}T{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TAllowed:
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TMinor corrections to align with passport
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TLegal name changes with documentation
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TBecause award tickets are tied to loyalty accounts, {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TSouthwest must verify the identity of the traveler carefully.
Legal Name Changes: Marriage, Divorce, Court Order
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TMany passengers need to update names due to life {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tchanges. Southwest accepts legal updates including:
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}T{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TMarriage
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TDivorce
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TGender and name transition
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TAdoption
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TCourt-ordered legal name changes
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TRequired documents may include:
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TPassport or government ID
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TMarriage certificate
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TDivorce decree
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TCourt judgment
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TState name-change paperwork
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TFees:
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TFree to $200, depending on circumstances
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TFare difference may apply if reissuing the ticket
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TLegal changes are considered legitimate and {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Treasonable, so Southwest often accommodates them with minimal hurdles.
FAQsDo name-change rules differ for international flights?
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TThe same rules apply, but verification is stricter.
FAQs Does Southwest charge more for Basic Economy passengers?
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TBasic Economy rules are more restrictive, and fees may apply more often.
FAQsWhat if I discover a name error at the airport?
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TSouthwest may correct small errors, but major changes may be denied or require rebooking.
FAQs Can accents or hyphens be used in names?
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TAccents are removed automatically, but hyphens are typically preserved.
FAQs Can I cancel my ticket for free because of a name error?
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TYes—if within 24 hours of booking.
Conclusion
{{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}TA name mismatch on a Southwest Airlines ticket can be {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tstressful, but understanding the airline’s name {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tchange and correction policies can save you time, {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tfrustration, and unnecessary costs. Southwest {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tdistinguishes between minor corrections—which are often free {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Tor inexpensive—and major legal name changes, {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Twhich may require documentation and come with {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Thigher fees. Transfers to completely different {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Ttravelers are never allowed, yet the airline provides reasonable {{✆1832 ✧ 24 ✧10✧370}}Taccommodations for legitimate legal changes, small spelling errors, and passport mismatches.
