Ethiopian Airlines, a Star Alliance member and Ethiopia’s national carrier, enforces a 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 generally not permitted, except in specific cases with documentation. Minor corrections for typos and legal name changes are allowed under certain conditions, typically with a fee, and must be requested at least one day before departure. Below is a summary of the policy based on available information.
General Rule
Ethiopian Airlines prohibits full name changes to transfer a ticket to another person for all fare types, including Economy, Cloud Nine (Business Class), and promotional fares, except in cases involving legal name changes with justifiable documentation. Minor corrections for spelling errors (up to three characters) and legal name changes (e.g., due to marriage, divorce, or adoption) are permitted for tickets booked directly through Ethiopian Airlines’ website, mobile app, or customer service, provided changes are requested at least one day before departure and before check-in begins, typically one hour before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. The policy applies to unused tickets for flights operated by Ethiopian Airlines (ET/071 code). For codeshare or interline flights (e.g., with Lufthansa, United Airlines), the operating airline’s policy applies. Tickets booked through third-party platforms or travel agencies are not eligible for name changes and 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. After any name change, passengers must re-check in and update their boarding pass.
Permitted Name Corrections
- Minor Typos: Corrections for spelling errors in the first, middle, or last name, up to three 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 (e.g., correcting “SMITH JOHN” to “JOHN SMITH”).
- Middle Name Adjustments: Adding a second given name if only the first was entered during booking, provided it matches the ID or passport.
Fees
Minor corrections (up to three characters) or name order errors are free if requested within one day of booking for tickets purchased directly through Ethiopian Airlines and for flights at least seven days away, or if the error was made by the airline or its agents. Beyond this period, a name correction fee applies, typically in US dollars, varying by fare type, route, and timing. For domestic routes, the fee is generally lower, while international routes may incur higher fees. Legal name changes require supporting documentation and may incur a fee, often moderate, unless processed within the free correction period. If a correction requires rebooking into a higher fare class, a fare difference may apply, along with applicable taxes. Additional service charges may apply for changes through airport counters or customer service. Tickets purchased through travel agencies are not eligible for name changes, requiring cancellation and rebooking, which may incur cancellation fees and fare differences. For specific fee details, contact Ethiopian Airlines’ customer service.
Process
- Online Changes: Name changes cannot be made directly online through the “Manage Booking” section on Ethiopian Airlines’ website or mobile app. Instead, passengers must contact customer service to initiate the process.
- Contact Centre: Contact Ethiopian Airlines’ customer service via phone, email, live chat, WhatsApp, or social media (e.g., X, Facebook) with the booking reference (six-digit alphanumeric code), ID, and supporting documents (e.g., passport, marriage certificate). A form on the website can be filled out to request a name change, and a representative will respond after review.
- Airport Counter: Visit an Ethiopian Airlines ticket counter or check-in desk (e.g., at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport) at least three hours before departure with the ticket, government-issued ID, and relevant documents for verification.
- Third-Party Bookings: Tickets booked through travel agencies or third-party platforms (e.g., Expedia, Travoalone) are not eligible for name changes. Passengers must contact the original booking source for cancellation and rebooking, which may involve additional fees or delays.
- 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. The corrected name must match the travel document exactly.
Restrictions
- No Ticket Transfers: Full name changes to another person are not permitted, except in cases of legal name changes with documentation (e.g., marriage or divorce). A new ticket must be purchased for a different traveler.
- Codeshare/Interline Flights: Name corrections for flights operated by partner airlines (e.g., Lufthansa, United Airlines), even if booked through Ethiopian Airlines, are subject to the operating airline’s policy.
- Post-Check-in Changes: Corrections are not permitted after check-in begins, typically one hour 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 restricted fares have stricter rules, often requiring cancellation and rebooking with significant fees or no refund except for airport taxes.
- Single Correction Limit: Only one name correction is permitted per ticket. Additional changes require cancellation and rebooking.
- Third-Party Bookings: Tickets purchased through travel agencies are not eligible for name changes, requiring cancellation and rebooking.
- Other Modifications: Changes to date of birth or gender cannot be made alongside a name correction.
Free Correction Period
Minor corrections (e.g., typos up to three characters, name order errors, middle name additions) and legal name changes with valid documentation are free if requested within one day of booking for tickets purchased directly through Ethiopian Airlines 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 through Ethiopian Airlines (for tickets originating in the USA, per US DOT regulations), allowing rebooking with the correct name. This does not apply to third-party bookings or promotional fares after the 24-hour period.
How to Request a Name Change
- Phone: Contact Ethiopian Airlines’ customer service with the booking reference, ID, and necessary documents ready.
- Email: Submit a name change request form via the website or email the Contact Centre, providing the booking reference, correction details, and supporting documents.
- Live Chat/WhatsApp: Use live chat or WhatsApp on the website or app, providing the booking reference and correction details.
- Airport Counter: Visit an Ethiopian Airlines ticket counter or check-in desk at least three hours before departure with the ticket, ID, and supporting documents.
- Social Media: Reach out via Ethiopian Airlines’ 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 for cancellation and rebooking, as name changes are not permitted.
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 one day before departure to avoid complications, as changes are not permitted after check-in begins.
- 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. Adding a middle name may be permitted if it matches the ID, with documentation for legal changes.
- Third-Party Bookings: These are not eligible for name changes, requiring cancellation and rebooking, which can be costly and complex.
- Agent Errors: If the error was made by Ethiopian Airlines 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. It’s normal for names to appear joined (e.g., “William/AlexBruce”) on tickets, per industry practice.
- Star Alliance Considerations: As a Star Alliance member, Ethiopian Airlines adheres to strict security standards, but minor discrepancies (e.g., name order) may occasionally be resolved at check-in, though this is not guaranteed.
- Payment Security: Avoid sending credit card information via email, as requested in some cases, due to security risks. Use secure payment methods through the website, app, or in-person at ticket counters.
