Booking a flight and realizing that the name on your ticket is incorrect can be stressful. Southwest Airlines understands that mistakes happen and offers specific guidelines to address such situations. This comprehensive guide will walk you through Southwest Airlines‘ name change and correction policies, ensuring your travel plans proceed smoothly.
Understanding Southwest Airlines’ Name Policies
Southwest Airlines distinguishes between two primary scenarios concerning name discrepancies:
- Name Corrections: Minor adjustments to correct typographical errors or misspellings in your name.
- Name Changes: Alterations where the passenger’s name is entirely different from the original booking, such as legal name changes due to marriage or divorce.
It’s essential to understand the distinction, as the procedures and eligibility criteria differ for each.
Name Corrections: Minor Adjustments
If you notice a minor error in your name—such as a misspelling or typographical mistake—Southwest Airlines allows you to correct it under specific conditions.
Eligibility Criteria for Name Corrections
You are eligible to request a name correction if:
- Fully Unused Itineraries: Your entire flight itinerary has not been used.
- Accompanied Minors: The booking includes an accompanied minor, and there’s a need to correct the name.
- Youth Travelers: Bookings categorized under youth travelers are eligible for name corrections.
- Bookings Made Over the Phone: If you booked your flight by phone, name corrections are permissible.
- SWABIZ Bookings: Reservations made through Southwest’s business travel portal (SWABIZ) qualify for name corrections.
- EarlyBird Check-In: Bookings with EarlyBird Check-In are eligible for name adjustments.
- Cash and Points Bookings: If you used a combination of cash and Rapid Rewards points, name corrections are allowed.
- Involuntary Flight Changes: If your flight was changed by Southwest, resulting in a name discrepancy, corrections are permitted.
How to Correct a Name Online
To correct a name on your Southwest Airlines ticket:
- Visit the Southwest Website: Navigate to Southwest’s official website.
- Access ‘Manage Reservations’: Click on the ‘Manage Reservations’ tab.
- Retrieve Your Booking: Enter your six-digit booking reference and the passenger’s last name to access your reservation.
- Select ‘Change Name’: If eligible, click on the ‘Change Name’ option.
- Enter Corrected Name: Modify up to four characters in the first, middle, or last name. Note that the four-character limit is cumulative for all name fields.
- Review and Confirm: After making the changes, review your itinerary and confirm the updates.
If you encounter issues online, you can also initiate the name correction through Southwest’s mobile app or by contacting their customer service.
Name Changes: Legal Adjustments
For legal name changes resulting from marriage, divorce, or other legal proceedings, Southwest Airlines requires appropriate documentation.
Required Documentation
To process a legal name change, you will need to provide:
- Marriage Certificate: Official document verifying your marriage.
- Divorce Decree: Legal document confirming your divorce.
- Government-Issued IDs: Both old and new photo IDs to verify identity.
Ensure you have copies of these documents when contacting Southwest Airlines for assistance.
How to Request a Name Change
- Contact Customer Service: Reach out to Southwest’s customer service via phone or through their official website.
- Provide Documentation: Submit the necessary legal documents supporting your name change.
- Follow Guidance: Customer service will guide you through the process, which may include reissuing your ticket under the new name.
Fees Associated with Name Corrections and Changes
Southwest Airlines strives to keep the process of name corrections and changes straightforward and affordable.
- Name Corrections: Typically, there is no fee for correcting minor name errors if done within 24 hours of booking.
- Legal Name Changes: If a ticket needs to be reissued due to a legal name change, Southwest may charge a fee and any fare difference between the original and new ticket.
It’s advisable to contact Southwest Airlines directly to inquire about any fees applicable to your specific situation.
Important Considerations
- Non-Transferable Tickets: Southwest Airlines tickets are non-transferable. You cannot change the name to that of another person; you would need to cancel the existing ticket and book a new one.
- Time Constraints: For name corrections after checking bags, or if your flight departs within 60 minutes domestically or 90 minutes internationally, online name changes may not be available.
- Group Reservations: Name changes for group bookings may have different policies and should be coordinated with Southwest’s group travel department.
Conclusion
Ensuring that the name on your Southwest Airlines ticket matches your identification is crucial for a hassle-free travel experience. Southwest Airlines offers clear guidelines for correcting minor name errors and processing legal name changes. By understanding these policies and preparing the necessary documentation, you can address name discrepancies effectively and focus on enjoying your journey.
