Name mismatch on a flight ticket — how to fix it in India (2026)
By Ishaani Reddy (Ishaani Reddy writes about the consumer-protection side of travel — DGCA passenger rights, OTA refund policies, hidden fees, dynamic-currency-conversion traps and the seven kinds of booking mistakes that quietly drain Indian travel budgets.) · Published · 11 min read
A name mismatch on a flight ticket can get you denied boarding — especially on international flights. The good news: minor typos (one or two characters) are generally fixable at the airline's discretion, though a fee may apply. Complete name changes are rarely permitted.
TL;DR — what to do right now
If you have spotted a name mismatch on your flight ticket, act immediately — do not wait until the airport. Minor typos of one or two characters can usually be corrected by the airline for a fee (₹500–₹3,500 typically on domestic routes, higher on international fares). Complete name swaps — booking under the wrong person's name — are almost never allowed; you will need to cancel and rebook. Call the airline's customer care or your OTA (MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, etc.) within 24 hours of spotting the error for the best chance of a fee waiver.
What counts as a 'name mismatch' on a flight ticket?
Airlines and immigration officers compare the name on your boarding pass against your government-issued photo ID (passport for international flights, Aadhaar/PAN/voter ID for domestic). A mismatch can be:
- Minor typo: 'Priya' spelled as 'Prya', or 'Sharma' as 'Sharme' — one or two characters off.
- Inverted first/last name: 'Rahul Verma' booked as 'Verma Rahul'.
- Missing middle name or initial: Passport says 'Sunita Devi Rao', ticket says 'Sunita Rao'.
- Prefix confusion: 'Ms.' vs 'Mr.' — rarely causes issues at the gate but can trigger problems in some systems.
- Complete wrong name: The ticket is under a different person's name entirely — this is the hardest to fix.
On domestic Indian flights, BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) regulations require the name on the boarding pass to match the ID carried. An officer at security or the airline check-in counter can deny you entry if the mismatch is significant. On international flights, the stakes are higher: immigration officers will check your passport and airlines face fines for carrying passengers whose documents do not match manifests.
Can airlines in India correct a name on a ticket?
Yes, but policies vary by carrier and fare type. Here is how the major Indian airlines handle name corrections as of 2026:
| Airline | Minor correction allowed? | Typical fee | Complete name change? |
|---|---|---|---|
| IndiGo | Yes (up to 3 characters) | ₹500–₹1,000 per segment | Not allowed |
| Air India | Yes | ₹500–₹2,000 per segment | Not allowed; cancel and rebook |
| SpiceJet | Yes (minor typos) | ₹500 per sector | Not allowed |
| Air India Express | Yes | ₹1,000–₹3,500 per segment | Not allowed |
| Emirates / Singapore Airlines | Yes, within 24 hours often free | USD 25–75 after 24 hrs | Not allowed |
Fees change — verify with your airline before relying on these figures. Note that super-saver / sale fares on LCCs (IndiGo 'Super Saver', SpiceJet Flash Sales) often have no name change permitted at all — not even for a fee. Check your fare rules at the time of booking.
Step-by-step: how to fix a name mismatch
- Find your booking confirmation and compare every character against your government ID. Note the exact discrepancy.
- Act within 24 hours of booking — most airlines will waive the name correction fee during this window (this mirrors the DOT 24-hour rule that Indian carriers have informally adopted). After 24 hours, fees apply.
- Contact the airline directly — call the airline's customer care, not just the OTA. The OTA (MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Goibibo, etc.) must route the request to the airline anyway; calling the airline directly is often faster.
- Email your request with proof — send a copy of your passport / Aadhaar to support the correction. Most airlines require documentary proof.
- Pay the correction fee if applicable and get a revised e-ticket / PNR confirmation in writing before you close the call.
- If the mismatch is a complete wrong name: check your cancellation policy and rebook immediately. The cost of a new ticket is often less than the stress at the airport.
If you booked via an OTA and the airline refuses to help directly, escalate with the OTA — they are liable under DGCA guidelines for errors in the booking process they facilitated.
What happens if you show up at the airport with a name mismatch?
On domestic flights, the outcome depends on the check-in agent's discretion and the severity of the mismatch. A one-letter typo on an Aadhaar-verified PNR may be overlooked. A first/last name inversion on a different PAN card will almost certainly cause a boarding refusal. You will then have to rebook at the airport — usually at a last-minute walk-up fare, which is substantially more expensive.
On international flights, do not gamble. Airlines are responsible for verifying that passenger names match travel documents before boarding. A mismatch at check-in means you will not be allowed to board and there is typically no refund on non-refundable international fares. Advance purchase international tickets can cost ₹30,000–₹1,50,000 — far more than the ₹1,000–₹3,500 correction fee.
Can travel insurance cover a name error?
Standard travel insurance policies in India do not cover losses arising from a name mismatch — it is considered a passenger/booker error. Some premium policies with 'trip cancellation for any reason' riders (common with cards like HDFC Infinia or Axis Magnus) may reimburse a portion of a cancelled trip, but the exclusions often list 'documentation errors by the insured' explicitly. Read the fine print before assuming coverage. If you are denied boarding due to a name error, you are effectively on your own for the cost of a new ticket.
How to avoid a name mismatch when booking
Prevention is always cheaper than the fix:
- Copy-paste your name from your passport / Aadhaar into the booking form rather than typing it by hand. Check title, given name and surname separately.
- On international bookings, use your name exactly as it appears in your passport — if your passport says 'KUMAR RAJESH' in all caps, enter 'Rajesh Kumar' in the standard first-name / last-name fields.
- If your passport has a single-word name (common for many South Indian travellers), book accordingly and note that some airlines may require a special entry. Airlines like IndiGo and Air India have a 'FNU' (First Name Unknown) convention for single-name passengers.
- Double-check the booking confirmation email before you close the browser tab — especially when booking for a group or family.
- If someone else books for you, send them a photo of your passport ID page.
Bottom line
A name mismatch on a flight ticket is fixable in most cases — if you act fast. Call the airline within 24 hours of booking, have your ID ready and expect a small fee for the correction. On international flights especially, no risk is worth it: fix the ticket or cancel and rebook. Never assume the check-in agent will overlook it.
Browse and compare flight options on FlightGPT. For booking-related issues or refund questions, visit our blog for more consumer protection guides. Also see: Fake flight booking scams in India and Overbooked flight in India: your options.
Fees and features change — verify on the official site before you rely on them.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be denied boarding for a one-letter typo on my flight ticket?
On domestic flights, a single-letter typo is often overlooked at the check-in counter if your ID is otherwise clear. On international flights, airlines are stricter — even a minor mismatch can lead to boarding denial. Fix any typo before you get to the airport.
How much does it cost to correct a name on an IndiGo or Air India ticket?
IndiGo typically charges ₹500–₹1,000 per segment for a minor name correction. Air India charges ₹500–₹2,000 per segment. If you request the correction within 24 hours of booking, many airlines waive the fee. Sale fares may not allow any changes at all.
Can I transfer my flight ticket to someone else if I booked under the wrong name?
No. Indian airlines (and most international carriers) do not allow ticket transfers to a different person. If you booked under a completely wrong name, you must cancel and rebook — subject to the cancellation penalties of your fare class.
What if I booked through MakeMyTrip or EaseMyTrip and there is a name error?
Contact the OTA immediately. OTAs are required under DGCA guidelines to pass name correction requests to the airline. The fee is usually the airline's standard charge plus a possible OTA service fee. If the error was made by the OTA, escalate a formal complaint for a fee waiver.
My passport has a single name — how should I book flights?
Use your single name in the last-name/surname field and either leave the first name blank or use 'FNU' (First Name Unknown) as instructed by the airline. Call the airline before booking to confirm their preferred format, especially for international travel.