Finnair, the national carrier of Finland and a Oneworld Alliance member, has a customer-friendly 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. Minor corrections for typos and legal name changes are permitted, and for certain fare types, full name changes to another person are allowed, subject to fees and conditions. Changes must be requested at least one day before departure. Below is a summary of the policy based on available information.
General Rule
Finnair allows minor name corrections (up to three characters), legal name changes, and full name changes for certain fare types (e.g., Classic, Flex) for tickets booked directly through Finnair’s website, mobile app, or customer service. Changes must be 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 Finnair (AY/105 ticket numbers). For codeshare or interline flights (e.g., with American Airlines, British Airways), the operating airline’s policy applies. Tickets booked through third-party platforms or travel agencies must be amended through the original booking source, and name changes may not be permitted, requiring cancellation and rebooking. For international flights, the name must be in Roman alphabet (A-Z) without spaces or special symbols, matching the passport exactly, though characters like ‘ä’ or ‘ö’ are converted to ‘a’ or ‘o’ and do not require correction. Only one first name is required, even if the passport lists multiple given names. After any name change, passengers must re-check in and update their boarding pass.
Permitted Name Corrections and Changes
- Minor Typos: Corrections for spelling errors in the first, middle, or last name, up to three characters across the entire name (e.g., correcting “Jonh” to “John”).
- Title Amendments: Updating titles (e.g., changing “Mr” to “Ms”).
- 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 or removing a middle name to align with the ID or passport, as only one first name is required.
- Full Name Changes: Transferring the ticket to another person for eligible fare types (e.g., Classic, Flex), subject to a fee and fare difference if applicable.
Fees
Minor corrections (up to three characters) and title amendments are free if requested within one day of booking for tickets purchased directly through Finnair and for flights at least one day away, or if the error was made by the airline or its agents. Beyond this period, a name correction fee applies, typically in euros, varying by fare type (Economy Light, Classic, Flex, Business), route, and timing. Legal name changes require supporting documentation and may incur a fee unless processed within the free correction period. Full name changes to transfer a ticket to another person incur a name change fee per passenger per flight, with additional costs if the current fare is higher than the original fare. No refund is provided if the new fare is lower, except for Flex tickets, which may refund the difference. Fees are lower for online changes compared to changes through customer service or airport counters. Additional service charges may apply for changes through travel agencies or airport counters. For third-party bookings, name changes are typically not allowed, requiring cancellation and rebooking, which may incur significant fees or no refund except for airport taxes. For specific fee details, contact Finnair’s customer service.
Process
- Online Changes: Minor corrections (up to three characters) and title amendments can be made through the “Manage Booking” section on Finnair’s website or mobile app. Log in with the booking reference (six-digit alphanumeric code) or e-ticket number and passenger’s last name, select the booking, and update the name. Full name changes for eligible fares (e.g., Classic, Flex) may also be processed online if seats are available.
- Customer Service: For legal name changes, full name changes, or corrections requiring assistance, contact Finnair’s customer service via phone, email, live chat, WhatsApp, or social media (e.g., X, Facebook) with the booking reference, ID, and supporting documents (e.g., passport, marriage certificate). Changes via customer service may incur higher fees than online changes.
- Airport Counter: Visit a Finnair ticket counter or check-in desk (e.g., at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport) at least three hours before departure with the ticket, government-issued ID, and relevant documents for verification. Airport changes incur the highest fees and are not recommended due to time constraints.
- Third-Party Bookings: If booked through a travel agency or third-party platform (e.g., Expedia, Kayak), changes must be requested through the original booking source. Finnair typically does not allow name changes for these bookings, requiring cancellation and rebooking.
- Documentation: Minor corrections require a government-issued ID or passport. Legal name changes and full name changes require official documents like a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. The new traveler’s ID is required for full name changes.
Restrictions
- Limited Ticket Transfers: Full name changes to another person are only permitted for certain fare types (e.g., Classic, Flex) and are subject to a fee. Award tickets (using Finnair Plus Avios) and upgraded tickets are not eligible for name changes.
- Codeshare/Interline Flights: Name corrections or changes for flights operated by partner airlines (e.g., American Airlines, British Airways), even if booked through Finnair, 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 across the entire name, not per name field (first, middle, or last).
- Fare Type Restrictions: Economy Light and other non-refundable fares have stricter rules, often prohibiting full name changes or requiring cancellation and rebooking. Classic and Flex fares offer more flexibility.
- Single Correction Limit: Only one name correction or change is permitted per ticket. Additional changes require cancellation and rebooking.
- Third-Party Bookings: These are typically not eligible for name changes, requiring cancellation and rebooking.
- Special Characters: Characters like ‘ä’ or ‘ö’ are automatically converted to ‘a’ or ‘o’ and do not require correction.
- Other Modifications: Changes to date of birth, gender, flight date, time, or destination cannot be made alongside a name correction or change.
Free Correction Period
Minor corrections (e.g., typos up to three characters, title amendments, name order errors) and legal name changes with valid documentation are free if requested within one day of booking for tickets purchased directly through Finnair and for flights at least one day 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 Finnair, allowing rebooking with the correct name. This does not apply to third-party bookings or non-refundable fares after the 24-hour period.
How to Request a Name Change
- Online: Use the “Manage Booking” section on Finnair’s website or mobile app. Log in with the booking reference or e-ticket number and last name, select the booking, and update the name. Free for minor corrections within one day; fees apply for other changes.
- Phone: Contact Finnair’s customer service with the booking reference, ID, and necessary documents ready. Fees may apply, and costs are higher than online changes.
- 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 a Finnair ticket counter or check-in desk at least three hours before departure with the ticket, ID, and supporting documents. Highest fees apply.
- Social Media: Reach out via Finnair’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. Name changes are typically not allowed, requiring cancellation and rebooking.
Practical Notes
- Verification: Always provide a government-issued ID or legal documents to support the correction or change request. The corrected name must match the passport exactly, especially for international flights, to avoid boarding issues.
- Timing: Request changes at least one day before departure to ensure processing, as changes are not permitted after check-in begins.
- Middle Name Concerns: Finnair requires only one first name, so missing middle names are generally not an issue, even for international flights, as long as the first and last names match the passport. Adding a middle name may be treated as a minor correction (within three characters) or a legal name change with documentation.
- Third-Party Bookings: These are complex, as Finnair typically does not allow name changes, requiring cancellation and rebooking, which can be costly.
- Agent Errors: If the error was made by Finnair 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. Characters like ‘ä’ or ‘ö’ are converted to ‘a’ or ‘o’ and do not require correction.
- Flex Ticket Advantage: Classic and Flex tickets offer greater flexibility for name changes, with lower or no fees compared to Economy Light fares.
- Boarding Pass Update: After any name change, re-check in online or at the airport and update the boarding pass to reflect the new details.
- Oneworld Alliance Considerations: As a Oneworld member, Finnair adheres to strict security standards, but its name change policy is more flexible than some partner airlines for certain fare types.
