Your Guide to Breeze Airways Policy on Cancellation Getting Your Money Back
A tiny spelling mistake or a recent marriage can turn your flight booking into a stressful pre-trip hurdle. The name on your ticket must match the name on your government-issued ID (like your passport) exactly, or you risk being denied boarding.
Unfortunately, airlines are very strict about switching names due to security and ticket transfer rules. In the world of air travel, there is a crucial difference between a Name Correction (fixing a typo for the same person) and a Name Change (transferring the ticket to a new person).
To help you navigate these complex rules, here is a breakdown of the name change and correction policies for several major carriers, including Spirit Airlines, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Air Cairo.
1. Spirit Airlines Name Change Policy: Simple Corrections, Zero Fees
Spirit Airlines, known for its focus on low-cost travel, makes one area refreshingly simple: name corrections. They generally do not charge a fee for necessary corrections, but they absolutely do not allow ticket transfers.
Name Correction (Fixing Errors)
- Policy: Spirit allows free corrections for minor misspellings or legal name updates.
- Minor Misspelling: If you simply have a typo (e.g., 'Filene' instead of 'Feline'), these minor corrections are typically made free of charge.
- Legal Name Change: If you have legally changed your name (e.g., due to marriage or divorce), you can update your ticket for free, provided you supply the official documentation.
- Required Documentation: For legal changes, you must provide a valid document such as a Marriage License, Court Order, or Divorce Decree.
- How to Initiate: You can request the change by visiting the Spirit Airlines Support page and starting a live chat, or by calling their customer service.
Name Change / Transferring a Ticket
- Can you transfer a Spirit ticket? No. Spirit Airlines strictly prohibits transferring a ticket to another person.
- The Bottom Line: If a different person needs to travel, the original ticket must be canceled (subject to their cancellation/modification fees) and a new reservation must be booked at the current available fare.
Spirit Name Change Fee Summary: Name correction fees for the same passenger are $0. If you try to transfer the ticket to a new passenger, it will be denied, and you will have to cancel and rebook.
2. Qatar Airways Name Change Policy: Highly Restrictive
Qatar Airways Name Change Policy is one of the strictest in the industry. They draw a hard line between a correction (allowed under specific conditions) and a complete change (not allowed).
Name Correction (Allowed with Limits)
- Definition: A correction is a change to the existing passenger's details due to a spelling mistake, transposed name order, or a missing part of the name.
- Limit: Minor name corrections (up to 3 characters in the first, middle, or last name combined) are generally permitted one time only.
- Qatar Name Correction Fee: Minor corrections are often processed free of charge (FOC) if reported promptly.
- Legal Name Change: Qatar Airways permits a complete name change only in cases of documented legal reasons (like marriage or divorce), provided you can verify the date of birth on both the old and new documents. A small service fee (e.g., QAR 150 for groups) may apply, but the correction itself is usually free.
Name Change / Transferring a Ticket
- Can you transfer a Qatar ticket? No. Complete replacement of the passenger's name (transferring the ticket to a different person) is strictly forbidden.
- If a Transfer is Needed: The original PNR (Passenger Name Record) must be canceled and a new reservation made at the current fare and availability.
Qatar Airways Name Change Policy Key: Focus on getting your name exactly right at booking. They do not tolerate speculative bookings.
3. Cathay Pacific Name Change Policy: No Transfers, Free Corrections
Cathay Pacific Name Change Policy is similar to Qatar's in its refusal to allow ticket transfers, but it is typically flexible with minor adjustments and legal updates for the traveling passenger.
Name Correction (Fixing Errors)
- Policy: Cathay Pacific permits various Name Corrections to ensure the ticket matches the passenger’s valid identification. These are generally free of charge for tickets booked directly with the airline.
- What is allowed?
- Spelling mistakes/typos.
- Adding, deleting, or swapping the order of a middle name.
- Title or gender amendments.
- Legal name changes (e.g., marriage, divorce), which require submission of legal documents.
- Cathay Pacific Name Correction Fee: Minor corrections are usually free for direct bookings. However, a reissue fee or administrative fee (sometimes around USD $30) may apply if the ticket was booked through a third-party travel agent.
Name Change / Transferring a Ticket
- Can you transfer a Cathay Pacific ticket? No. Cathay Pacific strictly does not allow transferring a ticket to another person.
- The Process: If you need to change the passenger entirely, you must cancel the original ticket (subject to its fare rules) and book a new one.
4. Air Cairo Name Change Policy: Must Contact for Corrections
Air Cairo is a different model, often operating on a fixed fare structure. Their online system primarily supports date and time changes, leaving most other modifications, including name corrections, to their contact center or the original travel agent.
- Name Correction: While specific details on a fixed fee are harder to find and often tied to the specific fare rule, name corrections for the same passenger (like fixing typos) are handled on a case-by-case basis.
- How to Initiate: You cannot make name corrections online. You must contact the nearest Air Cairo office or their call center.
- Transfers: Like most international carriers, Air Cairo does not allow tickets to be transferred to another person.
Expert Travel Assistance
Navigating the difference between a "correction" and a "change" across multiple airlines can be confusing, especially when documentation and fees are involved.
Before you make any move on a booked ticket, it is highly recommended to seek professional advice. The travel experts at ToursNTravelPro can help you:
- Confirm your ticket's exact eligibility for a name correction.
- Determine the applicable Cathay Pacific name change fee or Qatar name change policy based on your specific fare.
- Submit the required documentation to process a legal name update seamlessly.
Contact ToursNTravelPro +1-866-679-5070 today for quick, accurate assistance with any of your international flight name changes.