Changing or Correcting an Airline Booking

Airline tickets come with fare rules, a set of conditions attached to the price you paid. Those rules decide whether changes are allowed, how much they cost and whether any value is kept if you cancel. Two passengers on the same flight can have very different options.

Who controls your booking

This is the question to answer first. If you bought directly from the airline, the airline controls the booking and you can usually manage it on their website or app. If you bought through a travel agent or online booking site, that company issued the ticket and often has to process the change, even though the airline operates the flight.

Date and time changes

Flexible fares usually allow date changes with no fee, but you pay any difference in fare. Basic or light fares may not allow changes at all, or only for a fee plus the difference. The fare difference is often the larger cost, especially close to departure.

• Check the fare conditions in your booking.
• Compare the total cost of changing with simply booking a new ticket.
• Make the change as early as possible, prices tend to rise.
• Get the new itinerary in writing before you consider it done.

Name corrections

Small spelling errors are often fixable. Airlines generally treat a correction (one or two letters, a missing middle name) differently from a name change, which means transferring the ticket to a different person. Name changes are rarely allowed on standard tickets.

Fix name issues before travel. At the airport, staff may not be able to reissue a ticket and you could be refused boarding if the name does not match your passport.

When the airline changes the flight

Sometimes the airline moves your flight time, changes the routing or cancels. In those situations you often have more options than with a voluntary change, such as rebooking on another flight or requesting a refund. The specifics depend on the airline and on the passenger rights rules that apply to your route.

Cancelling

Cancelling a non-refundable ticket may still leave you with taxes that can be refunded, or with a credit to use later. Ask what exactly happens to the value of the ticket before you cancel, and whether it is easier to change instead.

Keep it in writing

Phone calls are fine for getting answers, but ask for confirmation by email. Note the date, the name of the person you spoke to and any reference number. If something goes wrong later, that record is very useful.