American Airlines Name Change and Correction Policy: Step by Step Guide

Quick Answer Box

• American Airlines charges $0 for name corrections.
• AA or AE flight ticket name correction process follows the Minor Name Correction guidelines.
• No flight ticket can be transferred to someone else
• Name correction must be made according to TSA-required documents
• R inventory, AA codesharing, or other airline tickets will require a new PNR/Order

American Airlines follows strict government-mandated passenger name rules set by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The rules it follows are absolute compliance with secure flight data and non-transferability of tickets. The core rule requires the passenger to provide the first, middle, and last names used during booking exactly as they appear on the government-issued photo identification used at the airport security checkpoint. The second rule states that every ticket issued by American Airlines is non-transferable, meaning ownership of the contract or carriage belongs solely to the original human being for whom the ticket was bought. Let's understand it clearly:

The Secure Flight Matching Mandate for Passenger Name

This is the core rule that requires you to fill in your name as per the government-issued photo identification that will be used at the airport security checkpoint. The main requirements under this rule are:

• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has made it mandatory for airlines to cross-check all passenger data against federal watchlists before departures. When the name on the booking ticket does not match the government-issued ID exactly, the Secure Flight System does not clear the profile, which blocks the ticket and prevents the airline from issuing a boarding pass.
• The Secure Flight matching mandates require American Airlines to account for middle names, mainly because they serve as a critical secondary identifier to differentiate passengers with common first and second names.
• The strict data rules also dictate that a passenger's full legal name is permanently tied to their Secure Flight attributes. It states that any request for name correction is only permissible when it does not alter the original date of birth (DOB) and gender specified when reservations are created.

American Airlines Tickets are Non-Transferable

When American Airlines issues a ticket, it is non-transferable; therefore, ownership of the contract of carriage belongs only to the person designated while booking.

• When a ticket is issued, it holds a legal contract of carriage binding only to the individuals whose names the ticket was purchased. American Airlines does not allow any tickets to be transferred to any other person, strictly forbidding the substitution of one passenger profile for another.
• Any unauthorized attempt or a third-party agent tries to change the ownership of a reservation to a new person, fraud prevention safety measures are triggered, causing the booking to be canceled and voided because all tickets are non-transferable.
• If an eligible flight is canceled, any flight credit or trip credit will be refunded or issued back to the original passenger and cannot be redeemed by another person. This is mainly because any financial or member assets attached to a booking belong strictly to the traveler listed on the record.

To know more about refunds and credits, read: American Airlines Refund vs. Travel Credit: Which Do You Get?
 

American Airlines Name Correction Guidelines

American Airlines offers its passengers the flexibility to make minor and major name corrections for unused validated tickets. Minor name corrections apply to itineraries that consist of American Prime and American Eagle flights only and may be corrected in the same ONR. Itineraries ticketed in “R” inventory must follow Major Name Correction Guidelines.

Minor Name Corrections
This only applies to itineraries that consist of American Prime and American Eagle flights and can be corrected in the same PNR, and for itineraries that are ticketed in the “R” inventory must follow the Major Name Correction Guidelines. The Minor Name Corrections state the following rules.
 

Name Correction Rule

• Correcting the name in the same PNR/Order is available for passengers when the name qualifies for a minor name correction.
• The name can be corrected to match the TSA-required documents.
• Name corrections may not be made within 24 hours of departure as the flight may be under Airport Control.
• If the name qualifies for minor name correction, the travel agent can make corrections within the existing reservation, rather than creating a completely new booking.
• The original date of birth (DOB) and gender (M, F, U, or X) information cannot be altered. They should match the information from the initial Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD).
• For example, a ticket was booked for John Smith; it can be corrected to John Smith.
   

What Name Corrections Does American Airlines Allow:

• Misspelled name
• Married-name corrections
• Maiden-name corrections
• Divorce-name corrections
• Legal-name corrections
• Secondary last names
• Inverted first/last names
   

Major Name Corrections
Itineraries ticketed in “R” inventory, AA/codeshare flight segments, and other Airline prime flight segments require a new PNR/Order, as a name correction cannot be made due to restrictions in American Airlines and other operating carriers’ systems. Major Name correction rules are given below:

• Any correction that has to be made must be processed in a new PNR/Order.
• Never cancel the original PNR/Order until the reissue has been finalized on the new PNR/Order.
• The name correction made in the new PNR/Order must match the TSA-required documentation.
• Name corrections may not be made within 24 hours of departure because the flight might be under Airport Control.
• The itinerary must be identical in terms of dates, flights, inventory, origin, destination, and routing.
• The ticket cannot be upgraded or downgraded, even when creating a new PNR for a major name correction.
• The passenger cannot change their date of birth or gender that was entered in Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD).
• The new PNR/Order must include the SSR Docs/SFPD information, with the original DOB and gender matching the original record.
• The original ticket will be reissued with the original ticketed fare.
• No penalty will be applied, such as additional money or a name correction fee.
• When correcting the name and obtaining a new PNR, it is still a correction, not a ticket transfer.
   

What is “R” Inventory?

R inventory is a specific reservation or booking inventory class used in the American Airlines reservation system. When an R inventory flight ticket needs a name correction, it will be done under Major Name Correction; the same goes for AA Codeshare Flight and Other Airline Prime Flight Segments. The name correction rules for R inventory are given below:

• R inventory is a specific reservation or booking inventory class used in the American reservation system.
• Any reservation ticketed in R inventory that needs name correction will follow the Major Name Correction guidelines.
• Attempting a name correction on R inventory can cause SABRE programming to cancel the entire reservation.
• When R inventory name correction is not done on an existing PNR/Order, the agent will have to create a new PNR/Order and follow the Major Name Correction process.        
   

Infant Name Correction

Infants under 2 years of age traveling on parents' lap are tied to an adult's profile rather than holding an independent flight ticket. They are exempt from many of the strict systemic limitations that apply to adult passengers. The name correction rules are as follows:

• Same-PNR Modification is allowed where an infant's name can always be corrected directly within the same original Passenger Name Record (PNR). This applies to both international and domestic itineraries.
• American Airlines allows agents or travel agencies to freely make name corrections to an infant name field even for itineraries that contain “R” inventory, other airline prime flights, or codeshare segments.
• The official policy also states that you must never divide the PNR to isolate the infant when performing a correction. The infant must stay electronically associated with the traveling adult passenger profile at all times.

For details on international flight changes, read: American Airlines International Flight Change Policy

Infant Occupying a Seat
When an Infant is occupying a Seat containing AA/AE prime flight only, the name correction will be done as per the Minor Name Correction Policy, where the correct name is filled in the original PNR/Order, SSR DOCS/SFPD is re-entered, and the ticket is reissued with a waiver code NC03AGCY. Itineraries containing R inventory AA/Codesharing or other airline prime flights follow the Major Correction process, with an additional requirement: include the new PNR/Order for both the infant and the adult associated with the infant. 
 

Want to Correct Name for an American Airlines flight? Follow this step-by-step process.

American Airlines offers many trip-management functions online, but correcting a name isn't a standard self-service option on its official website. The airline allows travel agents to correct names only through SalesLink. The exact process and things to do to correct your name on an American Airlines flight ticket are given below:

• When you have booked your flights directly with American Airlines, you can contact AA reservations for assistance with the name correction. American Airlines lists Reservations as the contact channel for ticket-related assistance.
• For tickets booked through a travel agency/OTA, you will have to contact the agency that issued the ticket to make changes to your name.
• Passengers must not create a new ticket themselves simply because the name is wrong.
• Do not cancel the original reservation yourself when a Major Name correction is required; American specifically instructs agents not to cancel the original PNR/Order until the reissue on the new PNR/Order has been finalized.

The step-by-step process for a name correction is:
 

Step 1: Check and confirm whether the name needs to be corrected

• First, ensure that you are correcting the same passenger's name, not transferring the ticket to somebody else.
• Corrections such as misspellings, married/maiden/divorce names, legal names, secondary last names, and inverted names are allowed.

Step 2: Now check the itinerary and the ticket

• American Airlines' name correction policy applies to wholly unused, 001-validated tickets.
• Determine whether the correction is Minor or Major.

Step 3: Contact the appropriate party who issued the tickets

• When American Airlines issues your ticket, contact AA reservations.
• If a travel agency issued your ticket, contact that exact booking source.

Step 4: Now provide the correct government-documented name

• Any corrections must match the passenger's applicable government travel document.
• The name in the PNR/ticket/boarding pass must use the first and last name exactly as per the government ID used for travel.
• For TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI reservations, names should exactly match the name submitted for the applicable program.

Step 5: Lastly, American Airlines or the agent determines Minor or Major Name Corrections

• For tickets containing R inventory or applicable codeshare/other-airline segments, it will require a Major Name Correction.
• If the itinerary is wholly American/American Eagle, it will come under the Minor Name Correction procedure.

Step 6: Enter the corrected passenger name

• For a Minor name correction, the corrected name will be entered in the existing PNR/Order.
• Major name corrections require creating a new PNR/Order.

Step 7: Re-enter the Secure Flight Passenger Data

• For minor corrections, the agent will re-enter the required SSR DOCS/Secure Flight Passenger Data with the corrected name.
• For major name corrections, the agent will enter the required SSR DOCS/SFPD in the new PNR/Order.

Step 8: Now the agent will verify your itinerary

• For Minor Corrections, the agent will keep the existing itinerary unchanged, as no changes to flights are allowed.
• For Major Name Corrections, the agent will ensure that the itinerary in the new PNR/Order has the same dates, flights, inventory, origin, destinations, and routing.

Step 9: Waiver Code Application

• Enter the required waiver code in the Endorsement Box on the replaced ticket.
• If the ticket contains instant upgrades, waiver code NC03AGCY/IU will be applied for Minor Corrections and MAJORNC/IU for Major Corrections.

Step 10: Protect the Original PNR/Order - Major Name Corrections

• The agent must not cancel the original PNR/Order until the reissue has been finalized on the new PNR/Order.
• For tickets with Minor Corrections, this step is not required.

Step 11: Reissue the Original Ticket

• For Minor Corrections, the agent will reissue the original ticket for a new ticket using the original ticketed fare. No changes to flights or dates are permitted.
• For Major Name Corrections, the agent will reissue the original ticket for a new ticket using the original ticketed fare after completing the new PNR/order. No changes to flights or dates are permitted.

Step 12: Complete the Ticketing With No Additional Fee

• No additional monies, penalty, or name correction fee is charged for both minor and major name corrections.

Step 13: Lastly, Finalize and Verify the Corrected Ticket

• For tickets under Minor Corrections, the agent finalizes the reissue in the existing PNR/Order and verifies the corrected name, SFPD/DOCS, and ticket details.
• Tickets under Major Name Corrections are reissued in the new PNR/Order; the agent verifies the corrected name, SFPD/DOCS, and identical itinerary and only then proceeds with the original PNR/Order according to the applicable procedure.
   

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the name on my American Airlines ticket?

Yes, but American allows name corrections for the same passenger; you cannot use the name-correction process to transfer a ticket to another person.

What is the difference between a name change and name correction on American Airlines?

A name correction fixes the existing passenger's name to match the applicable government travel document, but you cannot change the ticket to a different passenger.

How do I correct a misspelled name on an American Airlines ticket?

Contact the appropriate American Airlines Reservations or booking agency and request a name correction; the agent verifies eligibility and processes the correction under American's Minor or Major Name Correction procedure.

Does American Airlines charge a fee for name correction?

For a qualifying name correction under American's guidelines, no Name Correction fee, penalty fee, or additional money applies.

What is the difference between Minor and Major Name Correction?

A Minor Name Correction is generally processed in the existing PNR/Order. In contrast, a Major Name Correction requires a new PNR/Order for qualifying itineraries such as those containing R inventory, AA*/codeshare segments, or applicable Other Airline Prime segments.

When does American Airlines require a new PNR for a name correction?

A new PNR/Order is required when the itinerary falls under American's Major Name Correction procedure, including applicable itineraries containing R inventory, AA/codeshare segments, or Other Airline Prime flight segments on an American fare*.

Can I change name on Basic Economy flight ticket?

Basic Economy flight tickets restrict all types of changes. You can directly call the American Airlines agent for minor name corrections.

Can I change my American Airlines ticket to another person's name?

No. American's name-correction procedure is for correcting the name of the same passenger; it cannot be used to transfer a ticket to another person.

What if my middle name is missing from my American Airlines ticket?

A missing middle name does not automatically mean the ticket must be changed. American's guidance focuses on ensuring the passenger's name is entered correctly and that the required passenger information matches the applicable travel document; if a correction is needed, it should be handled through the applicable name-correction procedure.

Can I correct my married, maiden, or divorced name on an American Airlines ticket?

Yes, American's name-correction guidelines specifically include married/maiden/divorce names among the types of name corrections that may be processed, provided the request meets the applicable name-correction requirements.

Cheapflightsfares is an independent agency and is not affiliated with American Airlines. The given policies are subject to change. It is always advisable to verify current policies published by American Airlines on their official website.