Overview
Kulula Airlines, a South African low-cost carrier that ceased operations in June 2022, did not permit full name changes to transfer tickets to another person, as tickets were non-transferable. Minor name corrections for spelling errors were allowed at no cost, but strict conditions applied. This policy reflects historical practices, as the airline is no longer operational.
Eligibility for Name Corrections
- Minor Spelling Errors: Corrections for typos in the first or last name were permitted free of charge, provided the name matched the passenger’s government-issued identification, such as a passport or ID.
- Legal Name Changes: Limited information suggests legal name changes (e.g., due to marriage or divorce) might have been allowed with supporting documentation, but this required contacting the airline directly.
- Non-Transferable Tickets: Full name changes to transfer a ticket to another person were not allowed on domestic or international flights. Passengers had to cancel and rebook, subject to fees and availability.
- Infant Tickets: Adding an infant to a booking or correcting an infant’s name was permitted by contacting the Contact Centre, typically at no cost.
Process for Name Corrections
Name corrections could only be made through specific channels, as online changes were not available for this purpose:
- Customer Support: Contact Kulula’s Contact Centre via phone with the booking reference code and valid identification. Passengers needed to provide details and documentation to correct spelling errors or other discrepancies.
- Airport Counter: Visit a Kulula ticket counter at the airport with valid ID to request minor corrections, typically processed before check-in.
- Third-Party Bookings: For tickets booked through travel agencies or third-party platforms, changes had to be requested through the original booking channel, which could involve additional fees or restrictions.
Fees and Conditions
- Minor name corrections were free, provided they were requested promptly and matched the passenger’s ID or passport.
- Significant changes, such as legal name updates, might have required cancellation and rebooking, incurring cancellation fees and fare differences if the new fare was higher. No refunds were issued if the new fare was lower.
- Corrections were not permitted after check-in or for partially used tickets. Only one correction per booking was allowed.
- Name changes for bookings made with Discovery Vitality or other partner programs were subject to additional restrictions and had to be processed through specific channels.
- For group bookings, name changes were limited to a small percentage of the group and only on return flights, subject to fees and availability.
Important Notes
- Passengers were required to ensure the name on the ticket matched their ID or passport exactly to avoid boarding issues, particularly for international flights.
- Kulula ceased operations in June 2022 and entered liquidation, so no new bookings or changes are possible. Passengers with unused tickets were advised to contact [email protected] for potential refunds or Travelbank credits, subject to liquidation proceedings.
- Corrections needed to be requested well in advance to allow processing, as last-minute changes were not guaranteed.
- For third-party bookings, coordination with the agency was critical, as Kulula did not process changes directly for such tickets.
- Passengers were advised to review booking confirmations immediately to verify the correct spelling of names and other details.
