EasyTicket If the English name on your passport doesn’t match your booking, don’t wait until you reach the airport—ask the point of purchase immediately whether it can be corrected. A simple typo for the same passenger may be fixable, but changing the name on a ticket to another person is generally difficult.
Distinguish Ticket Name Corrections from Rebooking First
If it’s a typo in the same passenger’s name
As of September 2026, Korean Air allows 1 correction of up to 3 English letters and waives the reissue fee when it confirms the passenger is the same person. T’way Air treats spelling differences with the same pronunciation as eligible, while Jeju Air and Air Busan accept spelling errors when a valid ID confirms the passenger’s identity.
If you’re changing it to another person
Giving a ticket to a family member or travel companion isn’t a typo correction; it’s a name change. Official rules don’t allow transfers to another person, so you may need to refund the existing ticket and make a new booking.
| Situation | Initial assessment | How to handle |
|---|---|---|
Entered JIHYUN as JIHYEON | Typo for the same passenger | Request a correction based on the airline’s rules |
| Entered the surname and given name in reverse order | Same passenger | Ask the airline to correct the order |
| The person who made the booking and the passport holder are different | Change to another person | Consider refunding and rebooking |
| The itinerary includes a codeshare flight | Multiple rules | Check both the marketing and operating airlines |
Even after finding a mismatch in the passport name, don’t cancel the ticket first. Before you lose your seat and fare, the safest sequence is to check whether a correction is possible and what the total cost will be.
How to Request a Correction Right After Finding the Error
Contact the point of purchase first
If you bought the ticket on an airline’s website, contact that airline’s service center or airport office. If you bought it through a travel agency or booking platform, contact the seller. Korean Air, Jeju Air, and T’way Air all advise passengers who bought through a travel agency to handle the request through the point of purchase.
Prepare these 4 things before contacting support
- Passport photo page
- Booking reference and e-ticket
- Incorrectly entered name and correct name
- Whether the itinerary includes a codeshare flight or a segment operated by another airline
After laying out the airlines’ rules side by side, sharing both the spelling before and after the error makes it easier to check the criteria they use.
Compare the Cost of Having a Ticket Reissued
Correction Rules and Fees by Airline
| Airline | Public correction criteria | Fee for payments made in Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Korean Air | Same passenger, up to 3 letters, 1 correction | Reissue fee waived |
| T’way Air | Spelling difference with the same pronunciation | KRW 10,000 per person, one-way international |
| Jeju Air | Same passenger verified with a valid ID | KRW 20,000 per person |
| Air Busan | Spelling error with the same pronunciation and same passenger | KRW 10,000 per person per international segment |
The T’way Air amount applies to tickets issued on or after June 16, 2025, and Jeju Air’s amount is the current guidance in effect since September 5, 2024. (Source: T’way Air)
Calculate Rebooking Costs Separately
If the change falls outside the correction limits, compare the refund penalty and the new ticket fare together. A ticket reissue may simply be the process of correcting an existing booking and issuing a new e-ticket, so it doesn’t always mean canceling and buying a new ticket.
Watch for Reversed Names and Codeshare Flights
Reversed order and middle names can also be handled
T’way Air says reversing the surname and given name and adding or changing a middle name are eligible for a fee waiver. Jeju Air also waives fees for reversed surname-and-given-name order, an incorrect gender entry, and adding a foreign passenger’s full middle name. Don’t assume the change will be applied automatically—make sure to submit a correction request.
Check the operating carrier’s rules for codeshares too
Korean Air states that name or spelling changes may be impossible when another airline is included in the itinerary. If 2 airlines are connected on one ticket, the key is to confirm approval from both the marketing airline and the actual operating airline. (Source: Korean Air)
Checklist After the Correction Is Complete
Open the new e-ticket again
Don’t stop at being told that the name correction is complete. On the reissued e-ticket, compare the surname-and-given-name spelling and order with your passport one character at a time. If you have a round trip or connecting itinerary, check that the change appears on every segment.
Don’t put it off until the airport
Asiana Airlines says that if the name on an international reservation differs from the passport, boarding or entry may be refused at the departure or arrival point. It’s safer to secure the e-ticket with the corrected name before you travel than to explain the mismatch on the day of departure.
FAQ: Correcting an Airline Ticket Name
Do I have to rebook immediately if my Korean Air typo is 4 letters?
The published exception covers up to 3 letters. Don’t assume 4 letters are automatically accepted; first confirm with the service center whether you can be recognized as the same passenger and whether it can be processed.
Does T’way Air correct same-pronunciation names for free?
No. For international flights, the fee is KRW 10,000 per person, one way, based on payment in Korea, while reversing the surname and given name or adding or changing a middle name is included among the fee-waiver reasons.
Where should I request it if a travel-agency ticket also includes a codeshare flight?
Submit the request to the travel agency you paid first, then check whether the operating airline allows it as well. Because passport-name mismatch rules vary by airline, avoid canceling on your own before you receive an answer.
If you’re unsure whether it’s a ticket name change or a simple typo, prepare your passport, e-ticket, and the spelling before and after the error first. Submitting the request to the point of purchase today and checking the corrected ticket again can reduce problems on departure day.