Can you transfer a flight ticket to another person? It’s a question that has kept travelers in the dark. Airplane tickets can not be simply given to another person to use; you can not “transfer” them to someone else’s name, which is a common misconception among travelers. Therefore, this guide is here to clarify the current policies of major airlines pertaining to transferring tickets!
Are Plane Tickets Transferable?
The policies of commercial airlines pertaining to transferring flight tickets to another person differ significantly. Most airlines do not permit giving your airline ticket to someone else to use and tag them as “nontransferable” tickets. However, some might permit changing the passenger name on the ticket for applicable charges. On the other hand, some airlines might have strict policies and won’t allow any name change at all, even for minor corrections.
Therefore, it becomes important for every passenger to check the policy of their airline before making any corrections or changes to their reservation. Good for you that we have gathered related details of popular airlines, which will help you find the answer to the: Are plane tickets transferable?
Delta Airlines
The major carrier in the United States, Delta Airlines, offers flight services to destinations around the world.
- Delta does not allow passengers to transfer a flight ticket to another person.
- However, passengers are still able to make minor corrections to their names on the ticket. The corrected name should be matched to the name of the person flying.
- For the name change, the airline will charge a fee. However, paying the fee will only allow the passenger to make minor corrections, but transferring the ticket is not possible.
United Airlines
United is among the largest airlines in the world and is also the founding member of the Star Alliance, which is the world’s largest airline alliance. With this airline, you can choose to fly over to 300 destinations globally.
- Passengers can not transfer a flight ticket to another person on United Airlines.
- However, if it has only been 24 hours since the ticket purchase and your flight departs within a week, then you can cancel or change your ticket without paying any fee. It means changing name on United ticket becomes completely free.
- After canceling the ticket for free, you can purchase the same flight under someone else’s name.
Southwest Airlines
The famous low-cost airline Southwest is popular for its affordable flight fares and services. It is an airline that has inspired many competitive companies to offer reasonable flight services. This airline provides almost 4,000 weekday departures to domestic and international destinations.
- Similar to the above-mentioned airlines, Southwest also does not permit transferring a flight ticket.
- You can take advantage of canceling or changing a flight ticket within 24 hours of making the booking. This will save you from applicable charges.
- In a way, you can make changes to your reservation without paying the applicable cancellation and change fee.
- However, there are some terms and conditions. It’s better to consult the airline representatives.
Spirit Airlines
Recently, Spirit Airlines was put on the pedestal of the seventh-largest airline in North America. It is another airline that offers low fares and a no-frills experience, making air travel affordable for all passengers.
- Spirit Airlines does not generally allow its passengers to transfer a flight ticket. However, there can be some exceptions depending on the rules and conditions of different fare classes.
- Plus, you can always make corrections to your name on your ticket by paying the Spirit name change fee.
- Fare rules for premium tickets might allow the transfer of a ticket for a fee. But it is possible only in rare cases, especially in urgent conditions or when you have a medical reason.
- You must get in touch with the airline representatives for more details regarding this.
Alaska Airlines
Another budget airline on the list is Alaska Airlines! It provides passengers with pocket-friendly fares, including saver fares with Main Cabin amenities.
- Again, you can not transfer a flight ticket to another passenger on Alaska Airlines.
- But you can request minor name corrections, such as spelling errors or legal name changes.
- On some tickets, passengers may have to pay a Spirit name change fee.
- The name change is possible through the airline’s official website, mobile application, or by contacting the customer care service.
Guide to Transferring A Flight Ticket
According to the information shared on this page, transferring a flight ticket on most airlines is not possible. However, we still want to be of help in case you encounter an airline permitting the transfer of a flight ticket. In that moment, you can refer to the general guidelines shared below:
Get in touch with the Airlines.
Start by contacting the airline through the available communication channels. You can use the online chatbot system, call the customer care line, visit their city office, or email them (only when you have plenty of time ahead). After reaching out to the airline staff, comfort with the transferability of your ticket. Plus, they will also guide you through the proceeding stages.
Collect relevant information.
Before contacting the airline, make sure you have all the required information ready with you. For instance, the staff will ask about your reservation details to confirm the transferability of your ticket. This will require you to share your name, ticket confirmation number, and other details with the airline representatives. Without such information, you can not check whether you can transfer a flight ticket or not.
Be ready to pay any applicable fee.
Ticket transferability comes with a cost. This implies that even if you encounter an airline that permits giving your ticket to someone else, it might as well have a strict policy for that. You may have to pay additional charges for this service. The representatives will make sure to inform you about any applicable fees during the call or face-to-face meeting.
Go over with the provided information.
Make sure you check and recheck the information provided to the airline representatives. This will also include the name of the new passenger and related documents that you are asked to submit for verification. Any mistakes in between can disrupt the whole procedure, and you might have to start from the beginning again. So, ensure to avoid any last-minute issues.
Lastly, get the confirmation from the airline.
When the whole procedure of transferring a flight ticket is done and dusted, make sure to ask for confirmation from the airline. The airline may send you a confirmation email on the registered email address or through another communication channel. You have to obtain the confirmation or reference number for future purposes.
Other Options To Transfers A Flight Ticket
Most airlines strictly prohibit transferring a flight ticket. But if you are eager to make changes due to emergencies, you might try the shared alternatives!
Canceling a ticket
If transferring a flight ticket is not an option, you can always choose to cancel the ticket. Almost every airline has a cancellation time window, which allows you to cancel a ticket and receive a partial or full refund. In cases of a 24-hour cancellation policy, you can even dodge the fee if you cancel within a day of purchasing the ticket and there’s still a week to the departure date. This will help you book a new ticket under the name of the passenger to whom you wanted to transfer the ticket.
Rescheduling your flight ticket to another date
Some airlines might also allow you to change the date of the ticket for a small fraction of the fee. This option can come in handy when the new passenger is willing to travel on a different date. So, you can use this option and change the date of their flight. Moreover, there are some airlines that do not even charge a change fee, such as JetBlue, Frontier, and Southwest Airlines.
Making changes to your name on the ticket
Last but not least, you can make changes to your name on the ticket. Some airlines, as mentioned above, permit minor changes or corrections to the ticket holder’s name. You will have to pay applicable charges according to the selected airline.
At Last!
Time to give a definitive answer to the question: Can you transfer plane tickets to another person? No! Passengers can not give their tickets to another person according to most airlines’ policies. However, this does not mean there are any alternatives. There are other ways through which you can achieve your ultimate goals. In this case, you can opt to cancel your flight and purchase a new ticket for the concerned passenger or reschedule the departure date if the new passenger is willing to travel on a later date.
In most cases, you will have to pay minimal change and cancellation fees. But if you are lucky enough and choose the airline smartly, you can dodge the additional charges. Many popular airlines have a specific cancellation and ticket change window, where the applicable fees are waived.
All this comes down to having a deep understanding of the airline policies and guidelines. Planning an air journey can be hectic, and not knowing what to do during emergency situations can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Therefore, when booking a flight ticket, make sure to check the attached terms and conditions, especially the ticket refundability and transferability, and you are good to go!
Wanna Know More?
No! Passengers can not transfer their flight to their toddler. The airline policies do not permit it, be it your children or another member of the family.
In most cases, the plane tickets are not transferable. However, some low-cost airlines, such as Spirit Airlines, may provide ticket transferability, and it may levy additional charges.
You can not simply transfer a flight ticket to another person. Many airlines do not permit this, but you can cancel a flight for a partial or full refund and use the amount to get a new ticket for the passenger.
If you want to book same flight as someone else, you will need their airline, flight number, and travel dates. Search these details on the airline’s website and select the same option for yourself.
Typically, it is not possible to transfer an airline ticket, but if you cancel the ticket within 24 hours of purchase, your cancellation will be free and lead to a full refund.
Generally, you can not switch names on a plane ticket. The airline permits adding a middle name or making minor corrections, such as spelling errors, on the name of the passenger.
Changing the name on United ticket becomes completely free if you make the changes within 24 hours of purchasing the ticket. Make sure to connect with the airline representatives regarding the same.
You can transfer a flight ticket by contacting the airline representatives. They will guide you through the process and inform you about the required documents, if any.
No. Passengers flying on Delta Airlines can not transfer their purchased ticket to someone else.
