Here's how to change a passenger's name on a United ticket that's already been purchased. ## Key point: United allows name *corrections*, not full transfers United Airlines permits correcting a name on an existing ticket, but it does **not** allow changing the ticket to a completely different person or transferring/selling it to someone else. A "major name change" to a different traveler isn't allowed — that requires canceling and rebooking under the correct name. ([cheapflightsfares.com](https://www.cheapflightsfares.com/blog/united-airlines-name-correction-policy)) ## What corrections are allowed - **Minor spelling corrections** — fixing 1–2 letters in first, middle, or last name (must match your government ID; usually allowed once per ticket) - **Typo fixes** — missing/extra letters, formatting issues - **Adding/removing a middle name** - **Nickname → full legal name** (e.g., "Mike" → "Michael"; may require ID) - **Inverted names** — fixing reversed first/last names - **Title/gender corrections** (Mr./Ms., etc.) - **Legal name changes** (marriage, divorce, court order) — requires official documents and customer support Typically only **one correction per ticket** is allowed; additional changes may need special approval or incur fees. ([cheapflightsfares.com](https://www.cheapflightsfares.com/blog/united-airlines-name-correction-policy)) ## How to do it online (for minor corrections) 1. Go to the official United Airlines website and open **"My Trips"**. 2. Enter your **confirmation number (PNR)** and **last name**. 3. Click **Search / Find Trip** to access your booking. 4. Look for **"Edit"** or **"Modify reservation"** options. 5. Choose the option to update passenger details and correct the minor error (spelling, missing letters, formatting). Note: Online editing is mostly limited to minor corrections; some bookings may show limited editing options depending on fare type. ([cheapflightsfares.com](https://www.cheapflightsfares.com/blog/united-airlines-name-correction-policy)) ## When to contact United customer support instead Reach out to United directly if: - You don't see an option to edit the name online - It's a major correction or mismatch - It's a legal name change (marriage/divorce/court order) — you'll need to provide official documents - The booking was made through a third party United's official help page on this topic is at [united.com — Change name on ticket](https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/help/reservations/change-name-on-ticket) (note: it requires JavaScript to view, so I couldn't extract its full text directly, but it's the authoritative source for the current policy). **Bottom line:** For a typo or minor spelling fix, use **My Trips** online. For a legal name change or anything complex, call United customer service with supporting documents. A ticket can't simply be transferred to another person — that would require canceling and rebooking.