The concept of transferring is odd with the modern airline business model for security reasons. According to the current environment, a flight ticket is personal and cannot be transferable. On top of it, the name on the ticket must exactly match the name on the government issued identification. If you want further details about transferring a ticket then we are here to let you know the detailed information below.
Can You transfer flight ticket in 2025?
- No, they are generally non-transferable and the policy is strict for almost all airlines whether full service or budget carriers.
- Henceforth, are airline
- A flight ticket is a non-transferable contract. So, it is also not practical for the passengers to get affordable tickets earlier and sell them at a higher amount when demand is high.
- IAfter 9/11, the security requirements are at peak requiring airlines to cross check the passenger names against government watchlists. If travellers need to swap tickets, then they would undermine this security layer.
- But if there are minor name corrections then nearly all airlines allow them. You can fix minor spelling errors, transposing names or updating a name due to recent legal change. But they still do not allow airline ticket transfer to a different person.
Why Is the Demand to Transfer a Ticket?
- While passengers have genuine cause to transfer flight ticket, the general guidelines of airlines often prioritize safeguarding from fraud and maintaining morality.
- If passengers find themselves in unusual circumstances where they cannot fly, there is always a window open to go for the cancellations, credits or refunds. But, not a free transfer flight ticket or name swap.
- Business substitution can also take place when a company needs to send a different employee. The airline asks the companies to cancel the original ticket and use the remaining credit to book a new flight for the substitute traveller.
- There is another situation that the ticket was purchased as a gift or accidentally booked in the wrong name. If the name changes to a full substitution, the ticket is generally cancelled and a new ticket must be purchased.
How do Top Airlines Handle Transfer Requests?
So, are plane tickets transferable? While no major airline permits a direct, free or simple transfer to another person, their policies on name corrections and cancellation flexibility is different widely.
Delta Airlines-
- To transfer airline ticket to another person is prohibited and the airline only allows major spelling corrections up to 3 characters and legal name changes.
- All these require documentation for the original passenger only and no substitution of a traveller. Henceforth, delta transfer ticket to another person is not possible.
United Airlines-
So, can you transfer a plane ticket to someone else united? Generally, no as the policy of this airline only focuses on corrections to the name not substitution of a new passenger.
Allegiant-
- It also prohibits transfer airline ticket to another person. It only allows minor spelling fixes or recent last name updates.
- Full name changes or allegiant transfer ticket to another person are also not permitted.
Air Canada-
- This airline also does not allow the air Canada ticket transfer to another person. It only allows complimentary corrections for minor misspellings.
- Full name changes all substitutions may be permitted on specific and higher fares for travel within Canada.
- These changes are depending on a fee which is around $60 to $125.
Air France-
- Air France is also very strict about air france transfer ticket to another person.
- It only permits minor corrections to align the name on the ticket with the ID of the passenger. It strictly prohibits full ticket transfers.
American Airlines-
- The American airlines transfer ticket to another person is also prohibited and it only allows minor name changes of up to 3 characters only.
- If you need a significant change then you must generally cancel the original ticket and book a new one.
Spirit Airlines-
- No transferring of tickets to a different individual is allowed and it also allows minor misspellings and legal name changes.
- Such changes can be done with the help of documents and they are free of charge. Hope can you transfer spirit airline tickets to another person? This query is resolved now.
JetBlue-
Substitution is not allowed and strictly prohibited here as well. It also allows minor name corrections like spelling errors for the original passenger. So, the answer to can you transfer a jetblue ticket to another person is also no.
Emirates-
- The emirates transfer ticket to another person is prohibited and they allow name corrections for genuine mistakes or legal changes for a fee.
- This fee can be around £10 to £20 per person.
Hawaiian-
The Hawaiian airlines transfer ticket to another person is prohibited here as well and it follows standard industry rules and allows only name corrections to fix typing errors or legal changes but no transfer to a new individual.
What are the Steps of Transferring Tickets?
- Since a true transfer is not permitted, the following steps are used for rare exceptions like a high tier Air Canada fare or when processing a name correction for the original traveller. Check below how do you book a flight for someone else?
- Before contacting the airline, review the original ticket rules and if the ticket is basic economy or highly restricted promotional fare, there is almost zero chance of any change being permitted.
- For a required name correction, you need together legal documents for the next step.
- After this, call the customer service of the airline or use the online chat. This process cannot be handled through self-service online tools.
- Clearly state your request whether it is a correction needed, or you are looking for a substitution by asking can you transfer a plane ticket to someone else?
- If the change is approved then you need to be prepared to pay the fee. An administrative fee for a name change will be charged and a fare difference will also be charged as a original low fare class may no longer available under the new difference.
- The re-issuance at the current prices will ask you to pay a higher price and then the airline will issue a re-ticketed itinerary with the correct name and a new ticket number.
What are the Alternative Options to Transferring Tickets?
- If a direct transfer is denied which is the most likely outcome, then there are some alternatives available after getting an answer to can you transfer a plane ticket to someone else?
- You can cancel the original ticket and receive the value back as a future travel credit with the best alternative. It will deduct any applicable cancellation fee.
- Most major airlines allow travel credits to be used by anyone, not just the original passenger, when booking a new flight.
- If the booking was made within the last 24 hours and your flight is at least 7 days away then you will be allowed to go for the cancellation without any penalty for a full refund.
- In some business scenarios, a refundable ticket is held by the original traveller, the second traveller may be able to check the flight status and ask to be placed on same day standby under the original name. But it is a greatly twisted and risky scenario which is hardly successful across various traveller identities.
FAQs
No, you cannot practically and legally change people after booking a flight ticket because a ticket is a contract tied.
