What Is the Name Change Policy of Southwest Airlines?

Booking a flight is easy, but what if there’s a mistake in your name on the ticket? Or what if you’ve legally changed your name after booking? In such cases, understanding the Southwest Airlines name change policy is crucial. While Southwest is known for being one of the most flexible airlines in the U.S., its name change rules are specific — and it’s important to know what’s allowed and what’s not.

Can You Change the Name on a Southwest Airlines Ticket?

The short answer is no, you cannot transfer a ticket to another person. Southwest Airlines does not allow full name changes that involve changing the passenger identity. Once a ticket is issued in your name, it is non-transferable. However, minor corrections are allowed if there is a spelling mistake or an error made during booking.

So if your ticket says “Jonh Smith” instead of “John Smith,” you can request a correction — but if the name on your ID is completely different (like “Michael Johnson”), you’ll likely have to cancel the ticket and book a new one.

Minor Name Corrections: What’s Allowed?

Southwest understands that typos happen. That’s why it allows minor corrections in the name under certain conditions. Here’s what you can typically fix:

Spelling errors (e.g., Micheal → Michael)
Missing middle name or initial
Reversed first and last names (if clearly an error)
Fixing order of name parts (e.g., Singh Amanpreet → Amanpreet Singh)

To make these changes, you usually need to contact Southwest customer service. If you booked through a travel agency or third party, you may need to work through them.

Legal Name Change After Booking?

If you’ve changed your name legally due to marriage, divorce, or any other reason after booking, Southwest can help you update your ticket — but you’ll need to provide documentation. Accepted documents include:

Marriage certificate
Court order
Updated government-issued ID (like passport or driver’s license)

Keep in mind, legal name change requests should be made as early as possible before your departure to avoid any delays or issues at check-in.

How to Request a Name Change or Correction

You can request a name correction or legal name update through these methods:

Call Southwest Customer Service:

U.S. Toll-Free: 1-800-435-9792

Reach out via Social Media: Southwest has responsive teams on Twitter/X and Facebook.
Visit the Airport Desk (for urgent corrections): If your flight is close and you need to fix something fast.

Make sure to have your confirmation number, photo ID, and any legal documents ready before reaching out.

Can I Cancel and Rebook in a New Name?

If the name on your ticket is completely incorrect and cannot be fixed with a minor correction, the best option is to cancel the ticket (especially if it's refundable or within the 24-hour window) and rebook it using the correct name. Fortunately, Southwest does not charge cancellation fees, so you can cancel and reuse the travel funds.

Why Is Name Accuracy Important?

The name on your airline ticket must match exactly with the name on your government-issued ID. Even a small mismatch can result in denied boarding or complications at TSA checkpoints. That's why it’s essential to review your ticket immediately after booking and request changes promptly.

Final Thoughts

Southwest Airlines offers more flexibility than most carriers, but it’s important to understand the limits of their name change policy. Minor spelling fixes? No problem. Full identity switch? Not allowed. If you're dealing with a legal name change, be ready with documents and act early.

For hassle-free name corrections or flight changes across multiple airlines, you can always reach out to Aeroflyticket — we’ll handle the tough part for you.

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