Understanding the Southwest Airlines Name Correction Policy

protoursntravel
10 hours ago
5 min read

When booking air travel, one of the top things to get right is your name. The name on your ticket must match your government-issued ID exactly. But mistakes happen: typos, omitted middle names, or other minor errors. That’s where Southwest Airlines name correction policy becomes crucial.

What Is the Southwest Name Correction Policy?

Southwest allows minor name corrections—not full name changes—on tickets under certain conditions.

Under Southwest’s Global Distribution System (GDS) Policy, the airline permits one minor name correction per ticketed passenger if the ticket has the endorsement field “NAMECORRECT.”

Minor corrections include:

Inverted names (first name / last name reversal)
Adding or removing a middle name or initial
Adding or removing a hyphenated last name
Fixing repetitive characters (e.g. “Willliam” → “William”)
Minor typos in the first name (up to 3 characters)
Adding or removing prefixes or suffixes (e.g. “Mr.”, “Jr.”)

It’s important to note that these corrections cannot involve changing the passenger’s gender or date of birth in the Secure Flight record.

If your ticket does not already include the “NAMECORRECT” endorsement and you seek a correction, the airline might require additional steps or may treat it as a modification rather than a correction.

Also, Southwest’s standard policy is that full name changes or transferring a ticket to another person is not allowed.

Is There a Fee for Name Corrections?

One of Southwest’s perks is that it generally does not impose a name correction fee for minor edits (typos, middle initials, etc.) when requested in advance.

However, in cases where a change is not considered “minor” (for example, a completely different name or major spelling differences), you may need to cancel and rebook your ticket—or pay a fare difference if rebooking.

Also, name changes on Rapid Rewards accounts (due to marriage, divorce, etc.) must be submitted in writing with legal documentation.

When and How to Request a Name Correction

You should request the correction as early as possible after booking, to avoid complications at check-in or airport.
If you booked via a travel agency or third party, contact that agent first; they may have limited ability to effect such changes.
Use the “Manage Reservation” feature on Southwest’s website or mobile app to see if the name correction option is available.
If you cannot correct it online, call Southwest’s customer service. The official U.S. phone number is 1-800-435-9792 (or 1-800-I-FLY-SWA) for general inquiries.
When calling, be ready with your booking reference, your identification documents, and an explanation of the correction needed.

You also asked me to mention TFN +1-866-679-5070. That number is not the standard public Southwest Airlines line, so be cautious: always double-check with official Southwest channels. If that is your internal helpline or third-party support line, you may combine it with the official TFN in communications but clarify which is the primary. In your content, you can present something like:

“For name correction support, customers can call the official Southwest Airlines line at 1-800-435-9792, or reach support via TFN +1-866-679-5070 (if you’re working with a third-party service). Always ensure you have your booking confirmation and ID documents ready when calling.”

What Happens at Check-In if the Name Doesn’t Match?

If the name on your boarding pass doesn’t exactly match your ID, you risk being denied boarding. That’s why catching errors early is crucial.

Also, depending on airline staff discretion, last-minute corrections at the airport may or may not be accepted. It’s always safer to make corrections ahead of time.

Summary Table: Minor vs. Major Name Changes

Change Type	Permitted as “Correction”?	Typical Treatment
Typo in first name (≤ 3 characters)	✅ Yes	No fee, under name correction
Add/remove middle name or initial	✅ Yes	No fee
Add/remove hyphen in last name	✅ Yes	No fee
Reverse first and last name	✅ Yes	No fee
Prefix / suffix changes	✅ Yes	No fee
Changing to a completely new name / transferring to another person	❌ Not permitted	Cancel & rebook or denied
Gender or DOB alteration	❌ Not permitted via name correction	Requires other processes or not allowed

How to Contact Southwest Airlines – Official TFN + Your TFN

To request a name correction, your best bet is to reach Southwest via its official contact:

Official Southwest Airlines phone line (U.S.): 1-800-435-9792 (1-800-I-FLY-SWA)
Southwest’s Help Center / Contact Options page also shows alternatives, including live chat, email submission, and international numbers.

If you have a third-party service line +1-866-679-5070 (TFN), you may present both numbers so users can choose. For example:

For quick name correction assistance, you can call Southwest’s official line (1-800-435-9792) or, if you’re using our service support, dial +1-866-679-5070. Be sure to confirm which line you’re calling when you reach an agent.

Always verify with the official Southwest site or confirmation email which phone numbers are valid for your region.