According to T.S.A. rules, the name appearing on your boarding pass and government-issued ID must match exactly. To comply with this requirement, United Airlines name change policy requires that the name appearing on your boarding pass and ticket must be correct in all respects, failing which you may not be allowed to board your flight.
An Overview of United Airlines Change Name on Ticket
United Airlines allows passengers to change the name on their tickets. The name change option is available for both domestic and international flights. Some of the important points to keep in mind are as follows:
- United Airlines name change on tickets is permitted if you are:
- Correcting the spelling of your first or last name, prefix/title, inverted first and last names, or to/from a nickname, or inclusion/exclusion of the middle name.
- Legally changing your name due to marriage, divorce, court decree, etc. This applies to all types of tickets, as long as the passenger in whose name the ticket was issued is travelling, and not someone else.
- Simple name changes (i.e., name corrections and typographical errors) can be requested by phone or at a ticketing office, subject to valid ID proof.
- Legal name changes must be backed by proper documentation and can only be made at a United Airlines ticketing office.
- MileagePlus account holders can make name changes online or in writing, subject to the conditions below.
- Simple name changes can be made without supporting documentation online through the member’s MileagePlus account profile. Simple name changes include correcting the spelling of the first name, or last name, changing to/from a nickname, prefix/title correction, addition or deletion of a middle name/initial, or correction of inverted first and last names.
- Significant name changes (i.e., all other name changes not mentioned above) can also be uploaded online through the MileagePlus account profile as long as you attach whichever supporting document applies: your marriage license, divorce decree, court decree, or government-issued ID reflecting the current and former names.
If you’re unable to arrange any of these documents, you must mail a printed, signed, and notarized copy of the Name Affidavit to the same address.
- Unless stated on your ticket at the time of issue, all tickets are non-transferable.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that your name is stated correctly on your ticket. If you present someone else’s ticket, it will be rendered void and UA will not honor or refund such tickets.
- If your ticket is used by an unauthorized passenger with or without the consent of the passenger to whom the ticket was issued, United Airlines cannot be held liable for any delay, destruction, or damage of baggage, personal property, death, or injury relating to the unauthorized person who used the ticket.
- If your ID does not exactly match the name on your ticket, United Airlines has the right to allow or deny your boarding.
United Change Name on Ticket Info
How to change name on United Airlines ticket?
You can change the name on a United Airlines ticket online (MileagePlus only), by phone, in writing, or through a ticketing office depending on what type of name change is required—a simple name change or a significant name change—and whether you’re a MileagePlus member or not.
- If you’re not a MileagePlus member:
- Simple name changes can be made by phone, through a United ticketing office, or through the ticket-issuing authority/third party. Such changes include:
- The correction of the first/last name’s spelling
- A change to or from a passenger’s nickname
- The correction of a passenger’s title or prefix
- The addition or deletion of a middle name/initial
- The correction of inverted first and last names
- Legal/significant name changes such as a change of name after marriage, divorce, etc.:
- Must be supported by proper legal documentation
- Must be made through a United Airlines ticketing office (for a fee)
- Simple name changes can be made by phone, through a United ticketing office, or through the ticket-issuing authority/third party. Such changes include:
- If you’re a MileagePlus member, you can make:
- A simple name change online without supporting documents via your MileagePlus account profile. Simple name changes refer to:
- Correcting the spelling of a first name (Sara to Sarah)
- Correcting the spelling of a last name (Phillips to Philips)
- Changing a name from or to a nickname (Liz to Elizabeth)
- Changing or correcting a title/prefix (Mr. to Dr., Mstr. To Mr., Miss to Ms.)
- Adding or deleting an initial or middle name (John R. Ennis to John Richard Ennis)
- Correcting inverted first and last names (Philips Sara to Sara Philips)
- A significant name change (name changes not covered above) online through your MileagePlus account profile, along with a copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, court papers, or a government-issued ID mentioning your present and former names.
If you cannot present any of the above documents, you will need to mail a printed, signed, and notarized copy of United’s Name Affidavit to the following address: MileagePlus Service Center
PO Box 1394
Houston, TX 77251-1394
- A simple name change online without supporting documents via your MileagePlus account profile. Simple name changes refer to:
United Airlines Name Correction Process
How does United name correction work?
United Airlines allows simple name corrections on tickets by phone or through a ticketing office, as long as you can support the name correction with a government-issued ID (if asked). Simple name corrections can include a misspelled name (first, last, or middle) as well as corrections to name titles/prefixes and inverted first and last names.
However, if the name on your ticket is completely different from your legal name—such as due to marriage, divorce, etc.—you must present a valid copy of your marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc., to facilitate the name correction.
United Airlines Name Change on Ticket Due to Marriage, Divorce, etc.
If your name has changed due to marriage, divorce, adoption, etc., and you have proper legal documentation, you must have it changed by United Airlines before departure. Ideally, you should notify United Airlines as soon as you discover the mismatch, but if you notice the error on the day of travel, you must have your legal documentation reviewed at United’s airport ticket counter.
According to the D.O.T.’s Fly-Rights page:
If you’re carrying legal documentation, it will prove to the authorities that the name on your government ID corresponds to the name appearing on your ticket, although your physical ID does not reflect it yet.
However, if the name on your physical ID does not match the name appearing on your ticket/boarding pass, you must have it corrected immediately by contacting United Airlines. If it’s a simple correction that does not require your ticket to be reissued, you may not be charged for it. However, if it’s a significant correction that requires your ticket to be reissued, you may be charged for it (the applicable change fees or the fare difference), depending on your fare type.
United Name Change Fee
How much is United Airlines name change fee?
If you’re making a simple name correction as mentioned above, you may not be charged a name change fee. However, if you’re making a legal name change due to marriage, divorce, etc., your ticket may need to be reissued and you will be charged the applicable fare difference between the old and the new fares.
United Airlines Name Change Policy for MileagePlus Members
What is United Airlines name correction policy for MileagePlus members?
Under the Transport and Security Administration (TSA) guidelines, the name appearing name on a ticket and boarding pass must exactly match the name that appears on the government-issued identification document. This is to ensure that every passenger’s name has been screened properly and the passenger to whom the ticket was issued is approved to fly.
If the name appearing on your ticket does not appear correctly, United can deny you boarding. But with that said, even if you think it’s too late, you must notify United Airlines as soon as you discover the error.
United Airlines name change policy allows you to correct your name if you have already booked your ticket. Name changes are classified into two categories: simple name changes and significant name changes.
You can make simple name changes or corrections (listed below) to your MileagePlus account without any supporting documentation:
- Minor spelling corrections to the passenger’s first name (e.g., Jane to Janet).
- Minor spelling corrections to the passenger’s last name (e.g., Phillips to Philips).
- Corrections to the passenger’s title or prefix (e.g., Miss to Ms. or Dr.).
- Corrections to inverted first and last changes (e.g., Philips Janet to Janet Philips).
- Changing from nickname to real name or vice-versa (e.g., Elizabeth to Liz).
- Addition or deletion of middle name (Janet Richard Philips to Janet R. Philips).
Significant name corrections (listed below) must be supported by proper legal documentation:
- Name changes due to divorce must be supported by a divorce decree.
- Name changes after marriage must be supported by a marriage license.
- A change of name must be supported by a legal name change document.
- Government-issued ID reflecting your former and current names.
Alternate Name Affidavit Option. If you cannot provide the documents mentioned above, United Airlines allows you to submit a Name Affidavit stating that you have changed your name, along with a copy of your government-issued ID.
To request a name change through the Alternate Name Affidavit, print, sign, and mail a notarized document to:
- MileagePlus Service Center
PO Box 1394
Houston, TX 77251-1394.
How to request a name change. To request a name, follow the steps below:
- You can make simple name corrections:
- Through your MileagePlus account profile.
- By phone through United Airlines Customer Care Center.
- For significant name corrections:
- Upload a copy of your supporting documentation to your MileagePlus account, or
- Mail your Name Affidavit as explained above
Expect up to 2 weeks for United Airlines to process a significant name correction. Note that in some cases, you may be asked to provide legal documentation to support a simple name correction request, such as for military titles, nicknames, hyphenated names, and variations, misspelled names, etc.
United Name Change Tips
- Take advantage of the 24-hour window. You have up to 24 hours to correct any error charge-free, whether it’s a single letter or the full name.
- When purchasing your ticket, be sure to add your full name (first, middle, and last) so that it matches your government-issued photo ID.
- Set up your MileagePlus (frequent flyer) account with United Airlines and add the correct passenger information to your profile. When you purchase a ticket again with United and add your frequent flyer number, your passenger information will be automatically added to your reservation.
- If you already have a MileagePlus account, make sure that your profile information is correct.
Frequently Asked Questions on United Airlines Name Change Policy
If you’re planning a trip with United Airlines and need to change or correct the name on your ticket, you may have some questions about the airline’s name change policy. Below are a few frequently asked questions to help you navigate the process.
No, United Airlines does not allow you to change your name on a ticket online—you must contact United Airlines Customer Service by phone or visit a ticketing office near you.
You can make simple name changes (i.e., corrections) by phone through United’s customer service. If you’re making a significant/legal name correction due to divorce, marriage, etc., you can do it by contacting customer service and presenting supporting legal documentation. If you’re a MileagePlus member, you can do it online by updating your profile and uploading your supporting legal documentation.
United Airlines allows passengers to make name corrections to their tickets within 24 hours of booking without incurring any fees for flights departing at least 7 days later. However, if the correction is made after the 24-hour grace period, there may be a fee associated with the change unless it is a simple name correction involving spelling/typographical errors (normally free).
It is important to note that name changes amounting to a change of passenger are not allowed on United Airlines tickets unless they are legal name changes due to marriage, divorce, adoption, etc. This means the corrections must be limited to minor spelling errors or typos.
You can change a misspelled name on a United Airlines ticket by contacting United’s customer service by phone or visiting a ticketing office near you.
If you need to change the name on your United Airlines reservation, it is best to contact the airline’s customer service directly. You can do this by calling their toll-free number or by using their online chat feature.
A simple change of name on a reservation involving minor spelling mistakes and typos is typically free of charge. However, a significant name change (due to marriage, divorce, etc.) requiring the re-issuance of a ticket is subject to the fare difference between the old and the ticket prices. To ensure a hassle-free process, be sure to have all relevant information ready when you contact customer service, including your reservation number and any supporting documentation that may be required.
Yes, you’re allowed to change the name on a United Airlines ticket under certain conditions—such as due to spelling mistakes and typos (simple name changes/corrections) and significant name changes (such as a legal name change due to marriage, divorce, etc.).
However, you cannot make a name change resulting in a change of passenger.
If you need to correct the name on a United Airlines ticket, there are a few steps you can take. First, contact United Airlines customer service as soon as possible to explain the situation and request a name correction. Depending on the circumstances, they may be able to make the change for you over the phone or you may be able to do it through the website (i.e., your profile page) if you’re a MileagePlus member.
If there is a significant difference between the old and the new name, you will be required to provide documentation such as a passport, driver’s license, and legal papers (marriage/divorce papers) to verify your identity.
It is important to note that some name changes may incur an additional fee/fare difference, so be sure to check with United Airlines about any potential costs before proceeding with the correction.
As soon as you notice an error, you must contact your source of purchase—by phone, at a ticketing office, or at the airport (i.e., United Airlines ticket desk). Don’t worry if your middle initial has been left out—you need to make sure that your first and last names appear correctly.
No, you cannot change your name on a United Airlines ticket after checking in for your flight. All changes and corrections must be made before check-in—the sooner the better.
Yes, you can change the name on a ticket purchased through a travel agent by contacting the agent directly.
Yes, you must request a name change or correction with United Airlines before checking in for your flight but the sooner you do it the better. You should contact United’s customer service as soon as you realize the need for a name change.
Yes, United Airlines permits name changes after marriage or divorce. If you have changed your name recently due to any of these events, you can request a name change on your ticket as long as you can present legal documentation as proof of the name change.
No, the United name change policy does not permit the transfer of tickets to another passenger. Name changes are allowed only for the passenger booked on the ticket originally.
A simple change of passenger name not requiring the re-issuance of a ticket is free on United. Significant name changes due to marriage, divorce, etc., that require the re-issuance of a ticket may be subject to the applicable fare difference.