Can I Change My Name on an American Airlines Flight?

Booking travel arrangements sometimes becomes tricky, particularly when ensuring all passenger information is accurately entered. Whether due to a typo, marriage, or other legal name changes, being listed with the wrong name on your ticket can be a source of unnecessary anxiety before departure. American Airlines recognizes these circumstances and has special policies to cover name corrections on tickets. This guide demystifies American Airlines’ name change policy to ensure you get through the process effortlessly.

The Difference Between Name Corrections and Name Changes as per American Airlines Name Change Policy 

American Airlines distinguishes between a name correction and a name change. A name correction enables you to correct spelling errors or change married/maiden/divorce names to reflect your government-issued ID. A full name change (transferring a ticket from one individual to another) is never allowed.

The name of the passenger should be exactly as on his/her government ID, including at least the first name and last name. If the customer has TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, the name should be exactly as it was given on their application.

Types of Name Corrections In American Airlines

American Airlines makes a difference between two levels of name correction for completely unused tickets issued under American Airlines’ validation (001):

Minor Name Corrections

Minor name corrections are used where the itinerary has only American Prime and American Eagle flights. Corrections can be within the same Passenger Name Record (PNR)/Order, rendering the process a simple one.

For tickets that only have American Airlines and American Eagle flights, the correction process has to allow that the original date of birth and gender data in the original Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) cannot be changed. Corrections cannot be done within 24 hours from departure because the flight could be under Airport Control.

To finalize a minor name correction, you must change the passenger name in the reservation to be consistent with the TSA-required documents, re-enter the proper Secure Flight Passenger Data (keeping the original date of birth and gender), include the waiver code “NC03AGCY” in the endorsement box of the new ticket, and reissue the original ticket with the original ticketed fare.

The plus side is that small name fixes do not involve extra fees or penalties, and no flight or date changes can be made under this process.

Major Name Corrections

Extensive name corrections are necessary for itineraries involving “R” inventory, AA*/codeshare flights, or other airline segments. “R” inventory prohibits name corrections in certain markets, and when a name correction is done, SABRE programming can cancel the whole reservation, which will have to be booked in a new PNR.

For such more complicated itineraries, a more detailed process is necessary. A new PNR/Order has to be created for the corrected name, and the original PNR/Order is not to be canceled until reissue in the new PNR/Order is completed. The new itinerary should be identical to the original booking (same dates, flights, inventory, origin, destination, and routing), and the original date of birth and gender data should be retained.

To perform a major name correction, make a new reservation with the accurate passenger name, book the same itinerary as in the initial reservation, input the Secure Flight Passenger Data with the same date of birth and sex as the initial reservation, insert the waiver code “MAJORNC” in the endorsement box, reissue the ticket on the original fare, and cancel the initial reservation once the new ticket has been issued successfully.

Similar to minor corrections, major name corrections are also not charged extra fees or penalties once done properly.

Infant Name Correction Guidelines

American Airlines has certain procedures to correct infant names. Names can be corrected in the same PNR/Order for Lap Infants as the accompanying adult; no waiver code is necessary, and if the infant has a ticket, it needs to be reissued using the original fare.

For Infants Holding a Seat, minor corrections proceed with standard minor correction process with waiver code “NC03AGCY”. Major corrections involve making a new PNR/Order with the infant and the adult accompanying it. Both infants’ and adults’ tickets have to be reissued even when only the infant’s name has been corrected.

Multiple Name Corrections in American Airlines

Multiple name corrections are allowed, provided that the original date of birth and gender are not changed. For each subsequent correction, use either the Minor or Major Name Correction procedures as suitable for your itinerary.

Mixed Airline Bookings With American Airlines

If you have AA and other airline split tickets in the same PNR, you must correct your name in the new PNR with the AA flights only and then use the Minor Name correction procedure.  You will have to reach out to the other carrier for their Name Correction procedures.

Cabin Availability Challenges

If the originally reserved cabin is not available for correction of a major name, upgrades or downgrades are not allowed during the name correction. In these instances, it is advisable to change the SFPD (at least 72 hours prior to departure) to the same as the customer’s ID and instruct the customer to arrive early at check-in with more than one form of identification.

Gender Designation Changes

If a passenger must change their gender from M/F to U (Undisclosed), you will need to call the Agency Support Desk for help. This is a unique situation that needs extra assistance.

American Airlines SalesLink Self-Service Option

American Airlines has a self-service option in SalesLink for processing name corrections. To access this feature, log into SalesLink, choose “Service” as Request type, choose “Name Correction” from the Service Type dropdown menu, enter the AA PNR/Order details, choose the passenger who needs to be corrected in the Name Correction, confirm the passenger type, choose the ticket to be reissued, choose a reason for correction, confirm segment details are accurate, and click on Submit.

After sending it, the PNR/Order will be recorded with the authorization either in the remarks section or the OSI/SSR section of the PNR/Order, depending on your GDS.

Final Thoughts

American Airlines’ name change policy is convenient for customers who must have their names on tickets corrected, whether it is for misspellings or changes of name by law. With the knowledge of how minor and significant name corrections are differentiated and what procedures should be followed, customers can address name inconsistencies with ease without having to pay extra fees.

Keep in mind that everything must keep the original gender and date of birth details, and the new name should reflect the one found on the government-issued identification document that will be presented at the airport. If you are unsure which procedure best applies to your case, reaching out to American Airlines’ Agency Support Desk can offer one-on-one advice to ensure your name correction is carried out properly.

If you plan carefully and are well-versed in such policies, then you can rectify name changes with minimal anxiety and go about your travel arrangements without a hitch.

Frequently Asked Questions