SAA name change
 

Hi everyone,
I've got a booking with a typo on the first letter of the surname. I called the customer services line and was told that I'd have to cancel and re book, is this the case? I thought a change of 2 or 3 letters was permitted to cover typos? The booking was made online on the SAA website.

Thanks!

Hello Goodison... The information you were given is correct. Once a ticket has been issued, there is no way for an airline to change (even just one letter) the name, so the only option is to book a new ticket using the correct name and apply for a refund of the original ticket.

Just as an FYI, the name-match rule is actually not an airline policy, but rather a mandate by the TSA. The airline may allow you to check in even with a spelling error, however the TSA will not allow you to fly if your name does not match your passport exactly.

Hope this helps.

SAAUSA

Welcome to FT! Any TSA rules would not apply outside the USA.

Up to three 3 wrong letters should be acceptable according to IATA rules, here's an older thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...akes-name.html

Hi everyone,

I have an e-ticket that was issued by SAA for flights that I booked using my Voyager rewards miles on their website. When I received the booking confirmation I saw that only my surname and initials are on the ticket and not my full name.

The flights are direct between Johannesburg and London - is there a chance that they won't allow me to board/check in for the flight?

Apparently SAA cannot change the initials to the name on the booking without cancelling and reissuing the ticket (which is not an option as this was bought with miles and the promo is non-refundable)

I checked the terms and conditions applying to the fare and it only specifies that no date, route or class changes can be made.

"Journey Blitz Awards are non-reversible and non-refundable, no changes which include date, class and route changes will be permitted."

Can anyone say whether this would be a problem when I want to board the flight?