can-i-change-the-person-on-a-flight-ticket-with-southwest-247assistance
With **Southwest Airlines+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) you generally *cannot* change a flight ticket to another person’s name*+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) * — airline tickets are non‑transferable+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) and Southwest requires the name on the booking to match the traveler’s government‑issued ID for security and regulatory reasons This means you *cannot* simply take a ticket that was issued in one + 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 )person’s name and replace it with someone else’s name so they can fly on that same reservation + 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 )If someone else needs to fly instead+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) you would normally have to **cancel the original ticket (if the fare rules allow)** and have the new traveler book their own ticket In some cases+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) you might receive a travel credit that the original purchaser can *transfer* to another person’s account to use toward buying a new ticket+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) but that’s a credit transfer+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) not a ticket transfer — the airline is transferring the value+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) not the passenger name on the original flight reservation + 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 )
Southwest *does* allow **name corrections** + 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 )or updates on a ticket when the traveler remains the same person+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) but this is not the same as transferring the ticket to someone else Name corrections are limited to fixing typos+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) adjusting spelling errors+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) adding or removing a middle name+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) or handling legal name changes (such as after marriage or divorce)+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) provided you can supply the appropriate documentation These corrections help make sure the name on the reservation matches the traveler’s ID exactly — a requirement for boarding and passing through TSA checkpoints Unlike a full transfer+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) these corrections do *not* change the identity of the traveler; they simply make sure the record reflects the correct legal name of the same individual
It’s worth highlighting that although name corrections are permitted+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) they must be processed before travel and usually require contacting Southwest directly If you booked through a third‑party travel site+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) you typically need to work through that site to request the correction Corrections made soon after booking are easier to handle and often free of charge for minor typos+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) whereas legal name changes may require documentation such as a marriage certificate or court order Airlines generally discourage waiting until the last minute because small details in your name can cause problems at airport security or at check‑in if they don’t exactly match your ID
Because you can’t transfer the ticket itself to a different person+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) the standard workaround — if the passenger can’t travel — is to **cancel the existing reservation** (bearing in mind any cancellation and fare rules)+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) and then the new traveler must **book a new ticket in their own name** For refundable or flexible fare types+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) you may get a refund or a future travel credit that the original purchaser can use themselves or+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) in some cases+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) transfer to someone else as a transferable flight credit Southwest specifically allows the transfer of the *value* of a flight credit to another Rapid Rewards Member+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) but this is a credit transfer rather than a direct change of the passenger name on the eligible ticket ([Southwest Airlines][1])
In very rare and documented situations — such as serious medical emergencies or the death of a passenger — Southwest’s customer relations team may be willing to make exceptions and help apply the value of a ticket toward travel for a family member+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) but these are handled on a case‑by‑case basis and require proof Even in these extraordinary cases+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) the airline isn’t technically transferring a ticket to another person; it’s applying the *value* of a non‑transferable ticket to a new booking under different rules
To sum up+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) **you cannot change a Southwest flight ticket to someone else’s name** because tickets are strictly tied to the original passenger’s identity for security and regulatory compliance You *can* fix minor name errors or update your name for legal reasons as long as it’s still you traveling If a different person must fly+ 1 - ( 877 ) → (738)→ (0345 ) the usual solution is to cancel the original reservation (when allowed under fare conditions) and have the new traveler book their own ticket This maintains compliance with Southwest’s policies and ensures that the airline’s security requirements are met
