If you have booked an Air Canada flight and noticed that your name is misspelled, incomplete, or does not match your passport or other legal travel document, you may need an Air Canada name correction before traveling. A passenger name issue should be addressed as soon as possible because Air Canada states that the name on your ticket should match your travel identification, and passenger information cannot simply be changed through the online booking system.
The process can be different depending on whether you are correcting a spelling mistake, updating your name after marriage or divorce, or trying to replace the original passenger with another person. These situations are not necessarily treated as the same type of request.
This complete guide explains how to change your name on an Air Canada ticket, how Air Canada name correction works, what documents may be required, when to contact Air Canada, and what to do if your booking was purchased through a travel agency or online travel agency.
Can You Change Your Name on an Air Canada Ticket?
Yes, certain Air Canada ticket name corrections can be processed, but a name correction is different from transferring a ticket to another passenger.
Air Canada’s published name-correction policy covers situations such as correcting a misspelled first or last name or making the passenger's name correspond with legal travel documents. The policy also addresses legal name changes associated with circumstances such as marriage, divorce, adoption, or gender transition.
However, replacing the original traveler with a completely different person is considered a name change, rather than a simple correction, and has separate eligibility requirements.
Therefore, before requesting an Air Canada ticket name change, determine which situation applies to you.
Air Canada Name Correction vs. Name Change
Name correction: You are still the same passenger, but the name on the reservation contains an error or does not correspond with your legal travel document.
Examples include:
- A spelling mistake in your first name
- A spelling mistake in your last name
- A missing portion of your legal name
- A name that needs to match your passport
- A legal surname update following marriage
- A legal name update following divorce
- A government-approved legal name change
Name change: You want to replace the passenger listed on the ticket with another person.
These two requests can have very different rules. Air Canada’s published materials specifically distinguish correcting a passenger's name from substituting one customer for another.
How Do I Change My Name on Air Canada?
If your Air Canada booking contains an incorrect passenger name, the safest approach is to contact Air Canada or the company that issued your ticket rather than attempting to create a second booking yourself.
Air Canada says passenger information cannot be changed online and instructs customers with an error, including a misspelled passenger name, to contact Air Canada directly. For bookings made through an online travel agency or travel agent, Air Canada says the original booking source should be contacted.
Follow these steps:
1. Review Your Air Canada Booking
First, retrieve your reservation and carefully compare the passenger name with your passport or government-issued travel document.
Check:
- First name
- Last name
- Middle name, if applicable
- Spelling
- Order of names
- Legal name after marriage or divorce
- Passport information for applicable international or U.S. travel
Air Canada recommends reviewing your itinerary immediately after booking so that errors can be identified quickly.
2. Determine Whether It Is a Correction or a Name Change
Do not assume every name problem is an Air Canada “name change.”
If John Smith was accidentally entered as Jon Smith, this is generally a name correction issue.
If John Smith wants to give his ticket to Michael Smith, that is a passenger substitution and is treated differently.
This distinction is important because Air Canada’s published policies have different procedures and restrictions for corrections and name changes.
3. Contact the Correct Booking Source
If you purchased the ticket directly from Air Canada, contact Air Canada for assistance.
Air Canada states that customers who booked directly through its website, app, or contact centre can manage eligible bookings directly, while passenger information changes require direct assistance.
If you booked through:
- Expedia
- Priceline
- Another online travel agency
- A traditional travel agent
- Another airline
you may need to contact that original booking or ticketing source.
Air Canada specifically instructs customers who booked through a travel agent or online travel agency to contact the agency directly.
4. Provide Your Booking Details
Have the following information available:
- Air Canada booking reference
- Ticket number, if available
- Passenger's current name
- Correct legal name
- Flight details
- Passport or government identification information when applicable
- Supporting legal documentation if the request involves a legal name change
Providing accurate information can help the agent determine whether the request qualifies as a correction.
5. Submit Supporting Documents if Required
A simple spelling correction may not require the same documentation as a legal name change.
Air Canada’s published name-correction policy says supporting documentation can be required for legal name changes. It identifies documentation such as a passport and, depending on the situation, a divorce decree/certificate, government-issued legal name-change filing, or marriage certificate.
Do not send sensitive documents to an unofficial email address or third party. Follow the instructions provided by Air Canada or your authorized ticketing agency.
6. Confirm the Updated Ticket
After the correction is processed, review the revised itinerary or ticket carefully.
Make sure the passenger name is correct before traveling. Air Canada advises travelers that the name on their identification should match the name appearing on the ticket.
Air Canada Name Correction Within 24 Hours
If you discover a name error shortly after booking, contact Air Canada immediately.
Air Canada’s published online-booking FAQ states that customers who notice an error after booking, such as a misspelled passenger name, should contact Air Canada within 24 hours of completing the booking to avoid complications. It also explains that if a correction results in a higher fare, the customer may have the option to pay the difference or receive a refund of the ticket price, depending on the applicable circumstances.
The exact procedure can depend on how the ticket was issued and the type of booking involved.
Air Canada Name Correction After 24 Hours
A name error does not necessarily mean that you must purchase an entirely new ticket.
Air Canada has published procedures for correcting eligible passenger names outside the initial 24-hour period. Its published name-correction policy states that, for certain Air Canada-only itineraries, a complimentary correction can be requested through the Contact Centre, subject to the applicable procedure and timing requirements.
Because airline policies can change, travelers should confirm the current process with Air Canada before paying for a new ticket.
Air Canada Legal Name Change
An Air Canada legal name change is different from correcting a typographical error.
A legal name change may occur because of:
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Adoption
- A government-approved legal name change
- Gender transition
Air Canada’s published name-correction policy specifically recognizes legal-document-based name corrections and states that supporting documentation may be required. For the legal-name-change process described in that policy, documents can include a passport and relevant legal evidence such as a marriage certificate, divorce documentation, or government-issued legal name-change filing.
If your legal name has changed, contact Air Canada as early as possible rather than waiting until airport check-in.
Air Canada Ticket Name Change Fee
There is no single fee that applies to every Air Canada name-related request.
The amount, if any, can depend on:
- Whether the request is a correction or passenger substitution
- Ticket stock
- Fare type
- Itinerary
- Whether Air Canada or another airline issued the ticket
- Whether other airlines are included in the itinerary
- Whether the booking was made directly or through an agency
- Whether the request is related to a legal name change
Air Canada has published specific name-correction procedures that include a CA/US $50 plus tax correction fee in certain cases involving other-airline segments, while eligible Air Canada-only correction procedures can differ. Because the published policy is subject to change, travelers should confirm the applicable charge before authorizing a reissue.
Do not assume that an online article's advertised “Air Canada name change fee” automatically applies to your reservation.
Can I Update My Air Canada Ticket Name Online?
Generally, passenger name information cannot be changed through the normal online Manage Booking process.
Air Canada states that passenger information cannot be changed online and instructs customers to contact Air Canada directly for passenger-information changes.
You can still use Air Canada’s Manage Bookings system to retrieve your reservation and access other available booking functions, but a passenger-name correction may require assistance.
Air Canada Booking Name Correction for Travel Agencies
If your Air Canada ticket was issued through a travel agency or GDS, the process can be different from a direct consumer booking.
Air Canada’s published agent policy contains procedures for Air Canada-only PNRs and bookings involving other airlines. In some agency scenarios, name corrections have timing requirements close to departure.
Therefore, if an agency issued your ticket, give the agency your booking reference and ticket number and ask them to coordinate the correction with Air Canada.
What Happens If the Name on My Air Canada Ticket Does Not Match My Passport?
Do not ignore the discrepancy.
Air Canada states that the full name should appear on the ticket as shown on the passport for applicable Secure Flight travel, and its travel guidance emphasizes that the name on identification should match the ticket.
If you discover a discrepancy, contact the appropriate booking source before arriving at the airport.
This is particularly important for international travel and itineraries involving the United States, where passenger information is subject to additional security and identification requirements.
Can Air Canada Change a Middle Name?
A middle-name issue should be evaluated based on the circumstances of the ticket and itinerary.
Air Canada’s published name-correction policy says that correction of a middle name is not required under that particular policy, while first- and last-name corrections and legal-document matching are specifically addressed.
If your middle name is missing or appears differently, contact Air Canada before making assumptions about whether the ticket must be reissued.
Can I Change an Air Canada Ticket to Another Person?
A transfer to another traveler is not the same as correcting a spelling mistake.
Air Canada’s published name-change policy for eligible tickets describes a name change as substituting the original traveler with another customer and imposes eligibility restrictions. The published policy excludes several categories, including international markets, certain ticket types, partially used tickets, and itineraries involving other airlines.
Consequently, you should not expect a standard Air Canada ticket to be freely transferable to another person.
What If I Booked Air Canada Through Expedia or Another Travel Agency?
Contact the company that issued the booking first.
Air Canada explicitly says that bookings made through an online travel agency, such as Expedia or Priceline, should be handled through the agency directly.
The agency may need to coordinate with Air Canada depending on the ticket's issuing carrier and itinerary.
Air Canada Passenger Name Correction Checklist
Before contacting Air Canada, prepare:
- Booking reference
- Ticket number
- Passenger's current name
- Correct legal name
- Passport or government identification, when relevant
- Marriage certificate, divorce documentation, or legal-name-change documentation if applicable
- Complete itinerary
- Details of the original booking source
Having this information ready can make the correction process more efficient.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Canada Name Change
How do I change my name on Air Canada?
For a passenger-name error, contact Air Canada or the original ticketing agency. Air Canada states that passenger information cannot be changed through the standard online booking system.
Can I correct a spelling mistake on an Air Canada ticket?
Yes, eligible spelling mistakes can be handled as name corrections. Air Canada has published procedures specifically for correcting misspelled first and last names.
Can I change my name on an Air Canada ticket after marriage?
A legal name update after marriage may qualify as a name correction when supported by appropriate legal documentation. Air Canada identifies marriage as one circumstance covered by its legal name-correction procedures.
Does Air Canada allow a legal name change?
Air Canada has procedures for correcting a passenger's name to reflect legal travel documents. Supporting documentation may be required for circumstances such as marriage, divorce, adoption, or gender transition.
Can I change the passenger on an Air Canada ticket?
A passenger substitution is different from a name correction and is permitted only in certain circumstances under Air Canada's applicable name-change rules.
Can I update my Air Canada ticket name online?
Air Canada states that passenger information cannot be changed online. Customers should contact Air Canada or, where applicable, their original booking source.
What documents are needed for an Air Canada legal name change?
Depending on the circumstances, Air Canada may request a passport plus documentation such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree/certificate, or government-issued legal name-change filing.
Is there an Air Canada name correction fee?
The fee depends on the ticket and circumstances. Air Canada's published policy includes a CA/US $50 plus tax correction fee in certain cases involving other-airline segments, while other eligible corrections can follow different procedures. Always confirm the current fee before proceeding.
Can I change my Air Canada name at the airport?
Do not wait until airport departure if you discover a name problem. Air Canada's published name-change materials specifically restrict certain name-change processing at the airport, so contacting the airline or ticketing agency before travel is the safer approach.
What if my Air Canada ticket name is different from my passport?
Contact Air Canada or the original ticketing agency as soon as you identify the discrepancy. Air Canada advises that the name on identification should match the name on the ticket.
Final Thoughts: Correct Your Air Canada Ticket Name Before Traveling
The key to resolving an Air Canada name change problem is identifying whether you need a correction or an actual passenger substitution. A typo, missing information, or legal name update for the same traveler is generally a name-correction issue, while replacing one traveler with another is a different request with additional restrictions.
Air Canada does not provide a standard online option for changing passenger information, so travelers should contact Air Canada or the original ticketing agency. If the booking involves another airline, an online travel agency, or a legal name change, additional procedures may apply.
Most importantly, do not wait until the day of departure. Review your itinerary immediately after booking, compare the passenger name with your passport or applicable identification, and request any necessary correction as early as possible.