Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong’s flag carrier and a Oneworld alliance member, has a name change policy that complies with aviation security regulations, requiring the name on the ticket to match the passenger’s government-issued ID or passport. Tickets are non-transferable, meaning full name changes to another person are generally not permitted. Minor corrections for typos or legal name changes are allowed under specific conditions, often with a fee. Below is a summary of the policy based on available information.
General Rule
Cathay Pacific prohibits full name changes to transfer a ticket to another person for all fare types, including Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class, except in exceptional legal circumstances. Minor corrections for spelling errors or legal name changes (e.g., due to marriage, divorce, or adoption) are permitted, provided changes are requested before check-in begins, typically two hours before departure for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. The policy applies to unused tickets purchased directly through Cathay Pacific. For itineraries involving codeshare or partner airlines (e.g., American Airlines, Qatar Airways), the operating airline’s policy may apply. Tickets booked through third-party platforms or travel agencies must be amended through the original booking source. Middle name discrepancies are often overlooked for domestic flights if the first and last names match, but international travel requires an exact match with the passport.
Permitted Name Corrections
- Minor Typos: Corrections for spelling errors in the first, middle, or last name, typically limited to one or two characters (e.g., correcting “Jonh” to “John”).
- Legal Name Changes: Updates due to marriage, divorce, adoption, or other legal reasons, supported by official documents (e.g., marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order).
- Name Order Errors: Fixing swapped first and last names to match the ID or passport.
- Middle Name Additions: Adding or deleting a middle name to align with the ID or passport.
- Gender Corrections: Correcting gender if incorrectly recorded on the ticket, with supporting documentation.
Fees
Minor corrections, such as fixing typos of one or two characters or adding a middle name, may be free if requested promptly and the error was made by Cathay Pacific or its agents. Otherwise, a name change fee applies, typically in US dollars, varying by fare type, route, and timing. Legal name changes with valid documentation may be free in some cases, but often require ticket reissuance, incurring a fee and a possible fare difference if the new ticket falls into a higher fare class. No refund is provided for booking service charges. Additional service charges may apply for changes through travel agencies or airport counters. For specific fee details, contact Cathay Pacific’s Customer Care.
Process
- Customer Service: Contact Cathay Pacific’s Customer Care via phone, email, live chat, or social media (e.g., X, Facebook) with the booking reference (six-digit alphanumeric code), ID, and supporting documents (e.g., marriage certificate for legal name changes). Name changes cannot be processed directly through the “Manage Booking” section online.
- Airport Counter: Visit a Cathay Pacific ticket counter or check-in desk (e.g., at Hong Kong International Airport) with the ticket, government-issued ID, and relevant documents for verification.
- Third-Party Bookings: If booked through a travel agency or third-party platform, changes must be requested through the original booking source, which may involve additional fees or delays. Cathay Pacific cannot process name changes for third-party bookings directly.
- Documentation: Minor corrections require a government-issued ID or passport. Legal name changes need official documents like a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order, with the date of birth verified for consistency.
Restrictions
- No Ticket Transfers: Full name changes to another person are not permitted, except in rare legal circumstances approved by the airline. A new ticket must be purchased for a different traveler.
- Codeshare/Partner Flights: Name corrections for flights operated by partner airlines (e.g., American Airlines, Qatar Airways), even if booked through Cathay Pacific, are subject to the operating airline’s policy.
- Post-Check-in Changes: Corrections are not permitted after check-in begins, typically two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
- Fare Type Restrictions: Discounted or promotional tickets may have stricter rules, requiring cancellation and rebooking with applicable fees.
- Single Correction Limit: Only one name correction is permitted per ticket. Additional changes require a new booking.
- Other Modifications: Changes to date of birth or gender cannot be made alongside a name correction unless supported by documentation.
Free Correction Period
Minor corrections may be free if requested promptly (e.g., within one day of booking) and the error was made by Cathay Pacific or its agents. Legal name changes with valid documentation may also be free at the airline’s discretion. For bookings made in error, a full refund is available within twenty-four hours of purchase for tickets booked directly with Cathay Pacific (via website, mobile app, or Customer Care) and for flights at least seven days away, allowing rebooking with the correct name. This does not apply to third-party bookings or discounted tickets with stricter fare rules.
How to Request a Name Change
- Phone: Contact Cathay Pacific’s Customer Care with the booking reference, ID, and necessary documents ready.
- Email: Email Customer Care with the booking reference, details of the correction, and supporting documents (e.g., passport, marriage certificate).
- Live Chat: Use the live chat service on the Cathay Pacific website, providing the booking reference and correction details.
- Airport Counter: Visit a Cathay Pacific ticket counter or check-in desk with the ticket, ID, and supporting documents.
- Social Media: Reach out via Cathay Pacific’s social media channels (e.g., X, Facebook) for assistance, providing the booking reference and documents.
- Third-Party Bookings: Contact the travel agency or platform where the ticket was booked to initiate the correction process.
Practical Notes
- Verification: Always provide a government-issued ID or legal documents to support the correction request. The corrected name must match the passport exactly to comply with aviation security rules.
- Timing: Request corrections as early as possible, ideally well before check-in, to avoid complications, especially for international flights where name mismatches can lead to denied boarding.
- Middle Name Concerns: Missing middle names are generally acceptable for domestic flights if the first and last names match, but international travel requires an exact match. Confirm with Cathay Pacific to avoid issues.
- Third-Party Bookings: Changes through third parties are complex, as Cathay Pacific cannot process these directly, potentially causing delays or additional fees.
- Agent Errors: If the error was made by Cathay Pacific or an agent, emphasize this when requesting a correction, as it may qualify for a free change.
- Check Passport Format: For international travel, ensure the name matches the passport exactly to avoid boarding issues.
- Legal Documentation: For legal name changes, carry the marriage certificate or other documents to the airport as backup, even after the ticket is corrected.
