What is United Airlines (UA) Name Change Policy

The moment of booking a flight is the beginning of an exciting experience, as it is the first step on a new adventure. However, in such a hurry, you can make a typing error, first and last name switched around, or perhaps you have legally changed your name since your last flight. Even such a minor mistake can be a huge burden, as it can put your trip at risk. United realizes it has a policy to counter such situations. It is notable that you cannot simply sell an already bought ticket to some other individual, but you can make an amendment to the flight ticket to correct the actual mistakes so that your name on the ticket is the same as the one on your government-issued ID. How it is done will depend on the nature of the United Airlines name change, whether a minor spelling correction or a big legal revision, such as a change to the law because of marriage. It is important to get it resolved immediately you realize, because policies and fares may be determined based on quotes of your type of fare and the approach to your flight.

How to Change Name on United Airlines Ticket?

The airline provides a variety of choices, but the most convenient is altering your name online. You can use this strategy around the clock and call the airline independently without worrying about all the contact details. You can take advantage of a lot of savings and offers while changing the name online, as the offline charges might be higher. The procedure you need to follow is as follows:

• Visit the official website of United Airlines.
• Use the booking reference number and last name to look for the journey by selecting the Manage tab at the top.
• A menu will appear in the upper right corner of the page; choose Name Change.
• For the purpose of finishing the process, a form will open with several questions.
• Fill out the form with the correct flight details and any adjustments that are required.
• Follow the on-screen directions and attach the necessary files.
• A confirmation and a new ticket will be sent to you after you submit it.

Terms And Conditions To Change Name On United Flight Ticket

The united airlines change ticket name is predetermined by the terms and conditions that aim at guaranteeing the passenger's identity. The main rule is that a ticket is a contract between a particular individual, and it can not be sold to another. The following are the conditions and terms regarding the making of a correction in terms of name in a United flight ticket:

• Minor Spelling Corrections: United will allow minor spelling corrections in the name of a passenger. This involves correcting a couple of letters, restoring a lost initial, or correcting a first and last name that are inverted. These amendments are usually done by the customer care and do not qualify as a ticket change.
• Legal Name Change: In case your name has changed legally because of marriage, divorce, or a court order, United will update your ticket. You are required to provide legal papers that show the change, e.g., a marriage certificate or divorce decree. This will ensure that your name on the ticket matches your new government ID.
• Non-Transferable Tickets: Tickets are non-transferable, which is a strict condition. The name on a ticket can not be shifted to another name because such a ticket transfer is against the fare.
• Basic Economy Fare Restrictions: One of the main limitations that needs to be mentioned is the restriction associated with Basic Economy tickets. Such tickets are usually not adjustable. Once the 24-hour risk-free cancellation lapses, you can usually never make any name change, and you would have to buy another ticket.
• Timeliness: You need to deal with name disagreements as soon as you realise. Although they can be easily corrected, when you are at the airport, you can be denied the boarding pass because your ticket name was not the same as your ID.
• Official Channels Necessary: The majority of corrections of names are impossible with the help of the airline webpage or application. This will require you to call the customer support of United or a travel agent in order to have the change done and the ticket reissued.

Key Scenarios for Name Change

It is possible that changing a flight ticket name becomes a worry for the traveler. Therefore, being properly informed about the name change is extremely essential. The following are the main situations and the way United treats them:

• United will usually give you an opportunity to correct some letters in case there is a minor spelling mistake. This is regarded as a real mistake and not as an effort to assign the ticket.
• In case you inadvertently typed in your first name in the place of your last name and vice versa, the customer care of United can normally correct it.
• When your name has been legally changed by marriage, divorce, or being subjected to a court order, you can change your ticket and your SkyMiles account to reflect the change through valid documentation. 
• In the case of SkyMiles accounts, you are allowed to add or change your middle name or initial name without documentation. This assists in making sure that your account name resembles the whole name on your ID.
• One should also bear in mind that United's name change policies are designed to correct a name, not to transfer the ticket to another individual. Any effort to do so is a breach of the booking.

What Documents are Needed for a Legal Name Change with United (UA)?

To change your legal name on a flight ticket or your SkyMiles account, you will be required to send official documents. This is necessary to substantiate that the change of name is lawful and not an attempt to transfer the ticket to some other individual. The most standard documents needed are:

• Undoubtedly, a marriage certificate is the typical document for a change of last name after marriage.
• To change the name following a divorce, the divorce decree demonstrates that you have returned to your old name.
• A court order will be necessary to change the legal name for any reason other than marriage or divorce.
• They might also need a copy of a photo ID issued by the government in some instances to indicate the new name. Always carry your government-issued ID, such as a driver's licence or a passport.
• In order to provide this documentation, it is usually most appropriate to contact United's customer service itself. They can also assist in taking you through the procedure of filing the documents and changing the name on your ticket or MileagePlus account.

Steps to Request Name Change

To make changes to the name mentioned on the flight ticket, another quick and easy way could be through a phone call. You can connect with the customer representatives of the airline and share your concerns about the name, let them know the changes you want to make, and ask them to modify the ticket. The steps you must follow to change the name on the ticket are listed below: 

• First, you will be required to dial 1-800-864-8331, the customer service phone number, to connect with the executives.
• The automated voice will instruct you on the next steps in the calling procedure.
• Pay attention to the IVR's directions regarding all of the various questions and concerns.
• To make more modifications, select the digit associated with the name change.
• The executives and the department in question will receive the call.
• Enter all the flight information and make any necessary adjustments.
• All of the issues will be heard, and they will be promptly addressed.

What are Conditions of Name Change/Correction Eligibility?

Before making changes to the name on the ticket, the passengers need to be eligible for it. This eligibility comes with several important guidelines and points to remember that will make them eligible for a name change, such as: 

• The passenger must have booked the flight ticket directly from the official website of United Airlines, as the tickets booked via travel agents are not eligible for name changes. 
• The passenger must request the change one way before the flight departure time. The last-minute name change will not be permitted. 
• The passenger will only be eligible to make the corrections if they have all the documents needed for such practice. 
• On some routes, the airline does not provide any modifications, so connecting with customer representatives and asking about the eligibility will be the best thing. 

What are the Name Change Policies of United Airlines?

The policies of United Airlines to change or correct a name on a ticket are rigid, mainly due to the fact that a ticket is a non-transferable contract with a particular person. The united airlines name change policy exists to correct real mistakes and changes of name in law, and not to sell a ticket to a different passenger.

First or Middle Name Correction in United

United typically permits minor spelling errors in your first or middle name, and the inclusion of a missing middle name or first name. A customer service representative manages this under the ?same person? correction. No charge is usually charged on this kind of fix unless it is an effort to transfer the ticket.

Last Name Addition or Correction in United

United will allow a correction in case there is a minor typo in your last name, an extra letter, or a misspelling. Nevertheless, to make a more fundamental change, the airline will have to ensure that it is a real mistake. This can be best addressed by calling the customer care line of United so that the ticket can be updated.

First and Last Names are Inverted on the United Ticket

This is one of the frequent and easily rectifiable problems. Should you have entered your first and last name in the reversed fields when making a booking, so that they appear on the ticket inverted, a United representative can often correct it, without any difficulties or charges.

United Name Change After Marriage

Should you change your name legally, such as in case of a marriage, the new name will be added to your ticket as well as your MileagePlus account to be used by United. In order to do so, you will need to submit a copy of any official legal document, i.e., a marriage certificate, court order, or divorce decree. This will make the name on your ticket and in your loyalty account match your new government-issued ID.

Name Change for MileagePlus Policy

Your legal name should always be the name in your MileagePlus account. When you change your name, you should change it on your profile to keep earning and redeeming miles. United will require you to provide supporting documentation for a legal change of name. These documents can be frequently uploaded to your online profile account to be reviewed and processed.

United Airlines Name Change/Correction Fee Breakdown (2025)

Modifying or amending a name on a United Airlines ticket usually does not attract a separate, fixed fee, but the procedure and the possible expense involved are dependent on the nature of the change and the ticket. The policy of United is designed on the premise that the ticket must have the same name as the government-issued ID of the passenger carried, and prohibits the transfer of tickets. The 2025 fee situation is as follows:

• Free Minor Corrections: In most cases, United provides minor spelling corrections without charge. This covers correcting a typo in your first name or surname, mixing up your first and surname, or the omission of a middle name or initial. These are referred to as same person corrections, and as per the company policy, the airline can allow them provided that this is not an effort by the person to transfer the ticket.
• Legal Name Change: In case your name has been changed legally as a result of a marriage, a divorce, or a court order, United will change your ticket to reflect the new name. No fee is charged for this kind of change, and you should submit official documents like a marriage certificate or court order that proves the change of legal name.
• Basic Economy Tickets: Basic Economy Tickets are typically not changeable or refundable, as many other fares are. Once the risk-free cancellation time of 24 hours is over, it is not possible to modify the name on the ticket anymore. The only thing you could do would be to cancel the ticket and purchase another ticket, which would lead to the loss of the value of the ticket.
• Administrative Fees: An administrative fee can also be charged, though there is no standard United Airlines name change fee; a ticket occasionally requires being reissued on some international routes or codeshare services. This may not be the case with a mere correction, but it can occur.

When Travel Agents May Make Name Corrections

The travel agents also have the authority to correct the name in the tickets of United Airlines, but it is limited to some scenarios and restricted by the rules of this airline.

• Minor Spelling Corrections: Minor spelling mistakes, such as several misspelled words or reversed first and last names, should be fixed directly by a travel agent at their Global Distribution System (GDS). This is normally done by re-issuing the ticket with the correct name added, and a special waiver code is frequently used to prevent an airline debit memo.
• Legal Name Change: When the change of name is on a legal basis, the travel agent is required to make an official request to the United agency support. They are required to submit the legal documentation of the passenger, and United will consider the request and approve the name change.
• Fare and Ticket Type: The Fare regulations of the ticket also determine whether the agent is able to correct a name. In travel agents where the fares are considered fixed, as in Basic Economy, once the 24-hour grace period has elapsed, no further corrections can be made. 
• Reissuing the Ticket: The fundamental role of the agent is to make sure that the ticket is reissued in the right name. Lack of this may lead to the passenger not being allowed to board or the agency being fined.

How to Request A United Name Change on Your MileagePlus Account?

Being an active member of the MileagePlus Loyalty Program offers you several benefits and advantages that eventually add more comfort to your journey experience. When it comes to the name change, making these modifications will be an easy task without any inconvenience. The steps you will be required to make the correction to your name are listed below: 

• Visit the official website of United Airlines. 
• Click on the MileagePlus at the top of the page. 
• A number of options will appear, and you have to select My Account. 
• Enter the email address or the MileagePlus number and click on the continue button to open the account. 
• Get to the Menu, pick Recent Bookings, and pick the recent flight. 
• You can also review the benefits the membership of the program will provide in the name change. 
• A form will appear, and you have to fill it out with accurate details.
• Mention the changes you want to make to the ticket and attach the required documents. 
• Follow the instructions appearing on the page and pay the charges to complete the process. 
• The new ticket with the changes you have made will be sent via email, or you can download it from your MileagePlus account.