China Southern Airlines, a major Chinese carrier and SkyTeam member, enforces a strict name change policy to comply with aviation security regulations, requiring the name on the ticket to match the passenger’s government-issued ID or passport exactly. Tickets are non-transferable, meaning full name changes to another person are not permitted. Minor corrections for typos or legal name changes are allowed under specific conditions, often requiring cancellation and rebooking with associated fees. Below is a summary of the policy based on available information.
General Rule
China Southern Airlines prohibits full name changes to transfer a ticket to another person for all fare types, including Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class. Minor corrections for spelling errors, typically up to three characters, 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 domestic flights and three hours before international flights. The policy applies to unused tickets issued by China Southern Airlines. For codeshare or interline flights (e.g., with Delta, Air France), the operating airline’s policy may apply. Tickets booked through third-party platforms or travel agencies must be amended through the original booking source. For international flights, the name must be in Roman alphabet (A-Z) without spaces or special symbols, matching the passport exactly, especially for Chinese names where Pinyin spelling is critical.
Permitted Name Corrections
- Minor Typos: Corrections for spelling errors in the first, middle, or last name, up to three characters (e.g., correcting “Joanne” to “Joanna”).
- 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 (e.g., correcting “WANG CHUN” to “CHUN WANG”).
- Middle Name Adjustments: Adding or deleting a middle name to align with the ID or passport, though this may require cancellation and rebooking.
- Pinyin Adjustments: Correcting transliteration errors for Chinese names to match the passport’s Pinyin spelling, as Chinese characters alone are insufficient for verification.
- No Surname Cases: For passengers without a surname (e.g., Indian passports), using “LNU” (Last Name Undefined) or duplicating the given name in the surname field, as advised for booking systems.
Fees
Minor corrections of up to three characters may be free if requested within one day of booking or if the error was made by China Southern Airlines or its agents. Beyond this period, a name correction fee applies, typically in US dollars or Chinese yuan, varying by fare type, route, and timing. Legal name changes with valid documentation may require cancellation and rebooking, incurring a cancellation fee, a new ticket purchase, and a possible fare difference if the new fare is higher. For example, a typo correction has been reported to cost significant additional fees when rebooking was required. Additional service charges may apply for changes through travel agencies or airport counters. For specific fee details, contact China Southern’s customer service.
Process
- Customer Service: Contact China Southern’s customer service via phone, email, or social media (e.g., X, Facebook) with the booking reference (six-digit alphanumeric code), ID, and supporting documents (e.g., passport, marriage certificate). Response times can be slow, and reaching a representative may require persistence.
- Airport Counter: Visit a China Southern ticket counter or check-in desk (e.g., at Guangzhou Baiyun or Shanghai Pudong airports) at least three hours before departure with the ticket, government-issued ID, and relevant documents for verification.
- Third-Party Bookings: If booked through a travel agency or third-party platform (e.g., Ctrip, Expedia), changes must be requested through the original booking source, which may involve delays or additional fees, as agencies are often not authorized to make direct changes.
- 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. For Pinyin corrections, the passport’s Roman alphabet spelling is required.
- Online Limitations: Name corrections cannot be made directly through the “Booking Record” section on China Southern’s website or app. Passengers must contact customer service or visit a ticket office.
Restrictions
- No Ticket Transfers: Full name changes to another person are not permitted. A new ticket must be purchased for a different traveler.
- Codeshare/Interline Flights: Name corrections for flights operated by partner airlines (e.g., Delta, Air France), even if booked through China Southern, 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.
- Character Limit: Minor typo corrections are limited to three characters in the first, middle, or last name.
- Fare Type Restrictions: Promotional or discounted fares have stricter rules, often requiring cancellation and rebooking with significant 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.
- Space/Hyphen Issues: Names with spaces or hyphens (e.g., “EL SHAARAWY”) must be entered without spaces or with a hyphen (e.g., “ELSHAARAWY” or “EL-SHAARAWY”) due to system limitations, but boarding is typically allowed if the name matches the passport.
Free Correction Period
Minor corrections (e.g., typos up to three characters) are free if requested within one day of booking for tickets purchased directly with China Southern and for flights at least seven days away, or if the error was made by the airline or its agents. For bookings made in error, a full refund is available within one day of purchase for tickets booked directly with China Southern, allowing rebooking with the correct name. This does not apply to third-party bookings or promotional fares with stricter rules.
How to Request a Name Change
- Phone: Contact China Southern’s customer service with the booking reference, ID, and necessary documents ready. Be prepared for potential long wait times.
- Email: Email customer service with the booking reference, correction details, and supporting documents. Response times may be slow, and follow-up calls may be needed.
- Airport Counter: Visit a China Southern ticket counter or check-in desk at least three hours before departure with the ticket, ID, and supporting documents.
- Social Media: Reach out via China Southern’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, as China Southern may not have direct control.
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, especially for international flights, to avoid boarding issues.
- Timing: Request corrections at least three hours before departure, as changes are not permitted after check-in begins. For third-party bookings, allow extra time due to potential delays.
- Middle Name Concerns: For domestic flights, missing middle names may be overlooked if the first and last names match, but international travel requires an exact match. Some passengers have reported success at check-in desks (e.g., with Air China), but this is not guaranteed with China Southern.
- Third-Party Bookings: Changes through third parties are complex, as China Southern often requires the agency to handle the request, leading to delays or additional fees.
- Agent Errors: If the error was made by China Southern 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’s Roman alphabet spelling exactly, without spaces or special symbols, especially for Chinese names where Pinyin must align with the passport.
- Poor Customer Service: China Southern’s customer service can be challenging to reach, with long wait times or unresponsive systems. Using multiple channels (e.g., phone, email, social media) and persistence may be necessary.
