Garuda Indonesia, the national flag carrier of Indonesia and a SkyTeam Alliance member, 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. Minor corrections for typos and legal name changes are allowed under specific 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
Garuda Indonesia prohibits full name changes to transfer a ticket to another person for all fare types, including Economy, Business, and First Class, except in rare cases with specific fare conditions. Minor corrections for spelling errors (typically up to a few characters) and legal name changes (e.g., due to marriage, divorce, or adoption) are permitted for tickets booked directly through Garuda Indonesia’s 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 Garuda Indonesia (GA/126 ticket numbers). For codeshare or interline flights (e.g., with SkyTeam partners like Delta or KLM), the operating airline’s policy applies. Tickets booked through third-party platforms or travel agencies must be amended through the original booking source, which may not permit name changes, 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. Middle names are optional and not required, but discrepancies may cause issues with third-party bookings. 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, typically up to a few characters (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, removing, or correcting a middle name to align with the ID or passport. Middle names are not required per Garuda’s policy, but including them is recommended for consistency with third-party booking systems.
Fees
Minor corrections (e.g., typos, title amendments, name order errors) are free if requested within one day of booking for tickets purchased directly through Garuda Indonesia 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 US dollars or Indonesian rupiah, varying by fare type (Economy, Business, First Class), route, and timing. For promotional or non-refundable fares, the fee may be equivalent to the refund fee for that sector, while refundable fares may have lower fees. Legal name changes require supporting documentation and may incur a fee 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 made through customer service or airport counters compared to online changes. 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 Garuda Indonesia’s customer service.
Process
- Online Changes: Minor corrections can be made through the “Manage Booking” or “My Trip” section on Garuda Indonesia’s website or Fly Garuda App. Log in with the booking reference (six-digit alphanumeric code) and passenger’s last name, select the booking, and update the name. Supporting documents may be required for legal name changes.
- Customer Service: For legal name changes or corrections requiring assistance, contact Garuda Indonesia’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 Garuda Indonesia ticket counter or check-in desk (e.g., at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport) at least three hours before international flights or one hour before domestic flights with the ticket, government-issued ID, and relevant documents for verification. Airport changes incur the highest fees.
- Third-Party Bookings: If booked through a travel agency or third-party platform (e.g., Expedia, Gotogate), changes must be requested through the original booking source. Name changes may not be permitted, requiring cancellation and rebooking, which can involve significant fees.
- Documentation: Minor corrections require a government-issued ID or passport. Legal name changes require official documents like a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. The corrected name must match the travel document exactly for first and last names; middle names are optional.
Restrictions
- No Ticket Transfers: Full name changes to another person are not permitted, except in rare cases with specific fare conditions. A new ticket must be purchased, and cancellation fees may apply based on fare rules.
- Codeshare/Interline Flights: Name corrections for flights operated by partner airlines (e.g., Delta, KLM), even if booked through Garuda, 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.
- Fare Type Restrictions: Promotional or non-refundable fares (e.g., Economy Promotion) have stricter rules, often requiring cancellation and rebooking with significant fees or no refund except for airport taxes. Refundable fares offer more flexibility but may still incur fees.
- Single Correction Limit: Only one name correction 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, which can be costly.
- Other Modifications: Changes to date of birth, gender, flight date, time, or destination cannot be made alongside a name correction.
Free Correction Period
Minor corrections (e.g., typos, 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 Garuda Indonesia 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 Garuda Indonesia for flights at least seven days away, per US Department of Transportation regulations in the USA, 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” or “My Trip” section on Garuda Indonesia’s website or Fly Garuda App. Log in with the booking reference and last name, select the booking, and update the name. Free for minor corrections within one day; fees apply for other changes.
- Phone: Contact Garuda Indonesia’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 via email to [email protected], 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 Garuda Indonesia ticket counter or check-in desk at least three hours before international flights or one hour before domestic flights with the ticket, ID, and supporting documents. Highest fees apply.
- Social Media: Reach out via Garuda Indonesia’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 request. The corrected first and last names must match the passport exactly for international flights to avoid boarding issues. Middle names are optional and not required by Garuda Indonesia.
- Timing: Request corrections at least one day before departure to ensure processing, as changes are not permitted after check-in begins.
- Middle Name Concerns: Middle names are not required per Garuda’s policy, but third-party booking systems (e.g., Gotogate) may cause issues if middle names are omitted, sometimes requiring costly corrections. Including all names as per the passport is recommended when booking through third parties.
- Third-Party Bookings: These are complex, as Garuda typically does not allow name changes, requiring cancellation and rebooking, which can be costly. Booking directly with Garuda avoids complications.
- Agent Errors: If the error was made by Garuda 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 first and last names match the passport’s Roman alphabet spelling exactly, without spaces or special symbols.
- System Limitations: Older reports suggest Garuda’s system may have limitations in processing name changes, potentially requiring a new ticket in rare cases, though recent policies allow corrections through specified channels.
- SkyTeam Considerations: As a SkyTeam member, Garuda adheres to strict security standards, but minor discrepancies (e.g., missing middle names) may occasionally be resolved at check-in, though this is not guaranteed.
