American Airlines Name Change Policy

The American Airlines name change policy is very easy to understand and apply, unlike any other airline name change rules. It has a simple set of instructions that covers all important name change and correction topics.

Its name change or correction policy sorts name change requests into two groups based on the travel plans.

• Minor
• Major

They deal with similar requests, but the difference is that they are about different travel plans. We will explain each group, the rules for each, and everything about the Name change policy. Read the full information below.

Everythings American Airlines Name Change Policy

Types of Name Changes/ Corrections

The American Airlines Name Correction Policy lists the six most common reasons passengers want to change their names on tickets. First, we will go over each of these reasons in detail. Here they are:

1. Last name Corrections

The American airline's name correction policy allows for correction to the last name without any restrictions on the number of characters that can be corrected at a time.

Passengers can request any modification to the last name that involves a change in one or more characters for example Wilsan to Wilson or Jonson to Johnson, they are also allowed to request the prefix or suffix to their last names, like Johnson JR. to Johnson, under the name correction policy.

2. First name Corrections

You can change first names completely under the American Airlines Name Change Policy. This includes adding or removing letters and switching between a nickname and a full name. Take the example, like Tony to Steve or Steve to Chris. These first names are different from the original first names on tickets but the last name has to be the same in such cases.

3. Addition or removal of second or additional last name

Passengers can add or remove their second last names to match their government ID, like changing GONZALEZ to PEREZ GONZALEZ or PEREZ VALENZUELA to VALENZUELA.

4. The Complete Change in the Last Name

The American airline lets passengers change their last name completely after certain life events listed below.

• Marriage
• Divorced
• An adoption

The only requirement to apply here is to support the name change request with the right legal papers.

5. Addition or Removal of Middle Name

You don’t have to include a middle name or its short form on an American Airlines flight ticket. This means passengers can easily add or take away middle names from their tickets.

6. Correction of Inverted Names

American Airlines allows passengers to fix their names on tickets if they are mixed up. For example, if someone has written his name as ADAMS SMITH instead of SMITH ADAMS,he doesn't need to worry about changing it.

Now, let's look at the two main types of name corrections and the rules for each.

Minor Name Changes & Instructions

American Airlines is one of the top airlines in the US that uses modern technology to help customers. Whether it's a minor name correction or a major name change, the airline is known for finding fast ways to assist customers. For name changes, there are several options available for passengers to correct their names on American Airlines tickets. More information on this is below.

• Visit Our Website
• Click on my reservation on the homepage and log in using your credentials.
• Identify yourself with your PNR or Customer reference ID.
• Now go to the ‘American Airlines reservations and click change flight buttons.
• Change your name or correct it by clicking the edit button and saving it.

Note - if you don't find any change flight button, chances are your ticket is not eligible for a name change, and it should not be made within 24 hours of departure as the flight may be under airport control

Ticketing

• Reissue the old ticket for a fresh one that still includes the original fare.
• No flight or date adjustments are allowed.
• No extra funds or penalties are required.
• There is no charge for name correction.

Major Name Changes & Instructions

The six types of name changes and corrections listed above are seen as major when they involve travel routes with codeshare flights between American Airlines and other airlines in the OneWorld Alliance or American Airlines and airlines not in the OneWorld Alliance. The rules for these major name corrections are as follows.

• As per their policy, a new PNR must be generated and the ticket should reissued in case of major name correction.
• Major name corrections don’t allow changes to the original itinerary. The flights, departure, destination, and routing all should be the same.
• If passengers are not able to book new tickets in the same class and the same flights as the original after a name change or correction due to non-availability or other technical issues, they have to call sales support for assistance.
• There must be no changes to the date of birth or gender on reissued tickets. These details should be the same as the original. This means the original Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) should stay the same even after a name change.
• The American Airlines Name Change Policy says that new tickets must keep the original notes. The new booking also needs a sales waiver approval, which you can get by contacting American Airlines sales support.
• Passengers need to pay a fee to change their name on American Airlines tickets. There are no fees for canceling or other extra charges.
• The American Airlines Name Correction Policy lets you make several big name changes, but you have to pay a fee and get permission from the sales team each time.

Ticketing

• Reissue the old ticket for a fresh one that still includes the original fare.
• No flight or date adjustments are allowed.
• No extra funds or penalties are required.
• There is no charge for name correction.

The name correction policy has been updated recently. A new rule about fare changes has been added for major name corrections. In February 2022, a Special Exception Policy was introduced, allowing name changes or corrections on tickets that have been partly used. Passengers are advised to carefully read these changes in the name correction policy before booking a flight ticket.

The itinerary is the deciding factor that determines whether a name change or correction on an American Airlines ticket is minor or major. Both minor and major name corrections deal with similar types of name change and correction requests. Varying in the process.

Infant Name Correction & Instructions

American Airlines has a special rule for correcting infant names. This applies to flights on American Airlines and American Eagle, as well as flights that involve other airlines working together. When parents travel with infants, the infants’ names are not shared with the other airlines. Instead, a message is sent to let them know an infant will be traveling. This makes it easier to handle name changes for infants on these flights. Here are the rules of this process.

The American Airlines Name Correction policy mandates that in the case of infant name correction, the name of the infant must be corrected in the same PNR as an adult.

• The SSR DOCS SFPD must have the date of birth and gender information.
• No waiver code is required.
• Original automated approvals must be on all new tickets.
• If an infant ticket is changed because of a name change or correction, it must be done at the same price as the original ticket. Also, changing the name does not allow for changes to the travel routes on the original tickets.

Correction fee

• Passengers with refundable tickets are not charged any change fee for minor name corrections. And it’s free of cost.
• Passengers with refundable tickets are charged a name change processing fee of $25 for initiating major name corrections.
• The standard name change fees for domestic and international travel are $200 and $700 respectively.

Conclusion

In summary, American Airlines allows you to change your name on bookings to make it easier for travelers to correct personal information. You can usually make small changes or change your name legally, but it's important to follow their rules and make updates quickly to avoid problems with your trip. Be sure to check the rules and fees for your ticket, and contact American Airlines customer service if you need help.