Booking air travel should be straightforward but a tiny typo in your name can steer you into a major headache. Misspell your name on a ticket and you may face boarding denials, identity mismatches with TSA, or even a ticket you can’t use. Naturally, travelers wonder: does Silver Airways charge a fee to correct names? Are there exceptions? What’s the process like?
In this detailed article, I’ll Walk you through:
- Silver Airways’ current operational status and how that affects name changes
- What their name-correction policy was when they were still flying
- Typical fee structures and conditions for name corrections
- Applicable documentation and process for fixing names
- Industry context how other airlines handle this
- Practical guidance for customers now stranded with Silver Airways bookings
- Tips to avoid name-related issues in future bookings
Let’s get started.
- Silver Airways Has Ceased Operations—What That Means
First, and most importantly: Silver Airways is no longer operating flights. On June 11, 2025, the airline officially halted all services after a failed restructuring effort amid bankruptcy proceedings. They publicly advised customers not to go to the airport, and instructed that credit-card purchases should be refunded through your card issuer or booking agency.
What this means:
- There is no functional Silver Airways reservation system to request name corrections anymore.
- The airline’s past name-update policies, while informative, are now moot in practice.
- If you have a ticket or ticket number, your only actual recourse is to pursue a refund through the bank or travel agent not the airline.
- What Was Silver Airways’ Name-Correction Policy When Operating?
When the airline was active, their policy aligned broadly with standard industry practice: small fixes were allowed under certain circumstances, but full transfers weren’t.
Allowed:
- Minor spelling corrections (typos, missing letters, transposed characters)
- Reordering of first/last name
- Nickname → legal name changes (e.g., “Ben” → “Benjamin”) for consistency with government ID
- Adding/removing middle name or initial
These were considered acceptable “corrections” so long as they didn’t change the identity of the traveler.
Not Allowed:
- Full ticket transfers to another person (e.g., “Jane Smith” to “John Smith”)
- Any change that made the passenger effectively a different individual
A consumer help page confirms that Silver did allow small edits or name corrections, but did not permit complete switches unless your ticket was refundable or you canceled and rebooked
A dedicated policy summary from Travelouts further states:
- Minor spelling fixes were allowed for a $50 fee per ticket
- Name changes were permitted up to 2 hours before flight for a $50 fee
- Corrections required matching a government-issued ID and supporting documents (e.g., for marriage/divorce)
- Basic economy fare classes might restrict name changes
- Refundable fares offered more flexibility
These procedures fit industry norms. While Silver no longer operates, this still gives a clear picture of what they used to do.
- Typical Fees for Name Corrections with Silver Airways
The most frequently asked question: Was there a fee? Yes, and here’s what that looked like:
- Minor spelling corrections: approximately $50 per ticket
- Name changes (e.g., legal name changes with documentation): also, typically $50, if within the allowed window
- Timing: Allowed up to 2 hours before flight (as long as the passenger was the same person and ID matched)
- Ticket class matters: Basic economy fares might not allow any corrections; refundable fares were more flexible
Plus, according to a general customer-support article, Silver advised that making name corrections within 24 hours of booking helped avoid extra surcharges.
So, in short: yes, typically a $50 fee applied, though acting fast might have helped reduce or avoid it.
- Process & Documentation for Name Corrections
If Silver Airways had still been flying, here’s how the name correction process likely worked:
- Identify the error quickly, especially within a 24-hour grace window.
- Contact Silver Airways customer service, preferably via phone or online “Manage Booking.”
- Provide the confirmation/PNR, details of the needed correction, and identify your fare class.
- Submit documentation, if needed:
- Valid government ID
- Marriage certificate, divorce decree, court order for legal name changes
- Pay the fee (typically $50).
- Receive an updated ticket with the corrected name.
- Ensure the ticket matches your ID exactly when checking in.
If you had a refundable fare or made the correction within 24 hours, the fee might have been waived or reduced
- Industry Comparison: How Other Airlines Handle Name Corrections
Silver’s $50 fee and policy were in line with industry norms. For context:
- Major U.S. airlines (Delta, American, United) allow minor corrections for free or low cost, but full transfers are never allowed.
- Low-cost carriers often charge between $50–$100 for corrections, especially outside of a 24-hour window.
- European carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, and Vueling typically charge £60–£115 for full name changes, while allowing up to 3-character typo corrections for free within limited timeframes.
Silver’s flat $50 approach was simple and competitive though only meaningful when the airline was still flying.
- What to Do Now: If You Have a Silver Airways Ticket
With Silver Airways defunct, here’s what you should do, even though name corrections are impossible now:
- Do not attempt to travel on Silver Airways. Their shutdown was abrupt and total. They specifically asked customers not to go to the airport.
- Seek a refund right away:
- If you paid via credit card, contact your card issuer to initiate a chargeback or refund request.
- If booked through a travel agent or third-party site, reach out to them directly.
- Document everything: confirmation emails, proof of payment, screenshots of the airline’s shutdown notice.
- If you had travel insurance, file a claim airline insolvency is often covered.
- Consider lodging a consumer complaint through the Department of Transportation or local consumer protection agencies if you’re being denied a valid refund.
Silver’s abrupt collapse is covered by multiple aviation news sources and consumer sites; these can be useful if you need to escalate your claim.
- Tips for Avoiding Name Correction Issues in Future Bookings
To avoid a similar situation, here’s some advice:
- Always enter your full legal name exactly as on your official ID no nicknames.
- Double-check details before purchasing, and act immediately if you spot an error.
- Book with a credit card that offers strong purchase protection.
- Prefer refundable fares or add travel insurance, especially if you anticipate name changes (e.g., due to marriage).
- Save all booking documentation and take screenshots during every step.
- Know your airline’s policy some are more lenient than others.
- Final Thoughts
To recap:
- Is there a fee to update the passenger’s name on Silver Airways?
- Yes, typically $50 per ticket when operating and acting early could reduce or waive fees.
- Allowed for minor corrections and legal name updates but not transfers.
- Basic economy fares may have had more restrictions.
- But now…
- Silver Airways no longer operates as of June 11, 2025.
- All flights have been canceled, and name corrections are impossible because the airline can’t process them.
- Your only path forward is refund via your payment method or booking agent.
Though the airline’s policy history now serves more as travel-planning context, knowing how these rules typically work can help you navigate similar issues with other carriers.
If you’d like, I can now craft “refund request” email templates either for your credit card issuer or the travel site you booked with to streamline your process. Just let me know!