Is there a fee to update the passenger’s name on Finnair?

Two different problems: correction vs change

First, it helps to be precise about what you mean by “update the passenger’s name.” Airlines (including Finnair) generally treat two separate cases differently:

• Name correction (minor): Fixing a spelling error, a missing or misplaced letter, or adapting characters (e.g., accented letters displayed differently). These are treated as corrections when the person travelling remains the same. Finnair explicitly says that small differences caused by character conversion (e.g., ä → a) usually don’t require changes.
• Name change (major): Replacing the passenger on the ticket (i.e., a different person) or a full legal name change (for example after marriage when the passport itself has been reissued). These are treated as a name change and typically carry larger fees and stricter rules. Finnair notes name change is possible only for ticket types that allow it and often involves a higher charge.

Understanding which of these applies to your situation decides whether you’ll face a small service charge, a larger name-change fee, or only fare differences and taxes.

 

2. Typical fees you might see (what the policy shows)

Finnair publishes service-fee tables that vary by market and route, and the exact amounts can differ depending on the country of purchase and the flight region. Two commonly cited figures appear on Finnair’s service-fees page and related material:

• Name correction (minor spelling fixes): often a modest service fee (examples on localized Finnair pages list around USD 25–35 for name corrections).
• Name change (when ticket rules permit it): a much larger fee is commonly shown (Finnair’s site lists examples such as USD 400 for full name changes in ticket types that allow it).

Important caveats:

• These amounts are service fees only — if the new flight or new name triggers a fare difference, taxes, or other penalties, you must also pay those. Finnair’s service-fee pages
• Fees vary by departure country and region. The same correction in one market may have a different published amount in another; always check the Finnair page for the country where the ticket was bought.

 

3. When a name change will cost more (or be disallowed)

There are several situations that tend to produce the higher charge or make the change impossible:

• Changing the traveller entirely. Most airlines — including Finnair — do not allow you to transfer a ticket to a completely different person except on ticket types that explicitly permit it, and then a name-change fee plus fare difference applies. If your ticket class explicitly allows changing the person travelling, do it via customer service and expect to pay a fee.
• Full legal name change that requires reissue. If the name in your passport is different because of marriage, court order, or other legal changes and you now have a new passport, Finnair requires the ticket to be updated; name correction fees apply and you may need to show supporting documents.
• Ticket type restrictions. Many of Finnair’s low-fare or “Light” ticket classes explicitly list “No” for name changes; only Classic/Flex types allow changes — and those usually come with fees. Check the ticket-type table for your booked fare (Finnair’s ticket types page lists which classes permit name changes).
• Changes made by phone/agent. If you need to contact Finnair customer service to have the change made (rather than making an allowed online adjustment), a service fee may apply for agent-assisted changes, even for otherwise minor corrections. Finnair states there’s no service fee to change flights online in Manage booking, but contacting customer service can attract a fee.

 

4. How to correct small typos — often cheaper and faster

If your issue is simply a misspelling or a missing middle name, you usually have two practical options:

1. Check Manage Booking first: Log into Finnair’s “Manage booking” with your reservation code. If the booking allows online edits and the change is minor, you may be able to correct it without a service fee. Finnair’s “change your flights” guidance emphasizes that there’s no service fee when you change online.
2. Contact customer service for a name correction: If the web form doesn’t offer the specific correction you need (or if you prefer a human), contact Finnair’s customer service. Finnair explicitly says customer service can help correct names for a service fee — but the fee for small corrections is typically much less than a full name-change fee. Keep records of the agent interaction.

What counts as “minor”? Finnair notes that the booking system automatically handles many accent/character conversions: accented letters, hyphens, apostrophes and certain diacritics are often normalized automatically and do not necessarily require any correction. For example, Hämäläinen, Haemaelaeinen and Hamalainen are treated equivalently in their system.

 

5. How to request a full name change (if permitted) — and the costs

If your ticket class allows changing the name (i.e., replacing the passenger or changing to a new legal name that requires reissuing the ticket), follow these steps and expect higher charges:

1. Check fare rules immediately. Look at the fare conditions of your ticket in Manage booking or the confirmation email. If the ticket type says “Name change  Yes (for a fee)”, you can proceed; if it says “No”, you cannot transfer the ticket to another person.
2. Contact Finnair customer service. Name-change requests are usually processed by agents. Finnair’s pages advise contacting customer service and warn that name changes must be made at least one day before departure for some options.
3. Pay the service fee + fare difference and taxes. A sample figure for full name change in Finnair’s service tables is in the hundreds (e.g., USD 400 in some market pages), and you will also pay any fare difference if the replacement ticket is more expensive, plus applicable taxes and airport fees. The service-fee page clarifies the service fee is in addition to these amounts.
4. Provide identity/legal documents if requested. For legal name changes (marriage, divorce), be ready to show documentation like a marriage certificate and new passport. For transferring to a different person (if allowed), expect stricter checks.

 

6. Examples of numbers you may see (illustrative)

Because Finnair’s published fees differ by country and over time, here are representative examples found on Finnair pages and reputable travel sites (useful for budgeting, but always check the Finnair page for the country where you booked):

• Name correction: around USD 25–35 (service fee) for small spelling fixes — this is what some Finnair regional pages and third-party guides indicate.
• Name change (ticket reissue / change of passenger): around USD 400 in example tables for markets where that figure is used (again, this is an illustrative number; your actual fee will depend on the route and where the ticket was purchased).

Remember: the service fee might be shown in EUR in European markets, or in local currency elsewhere, and currency equivalents can vary.

 

7. Documentation and timing — what to have ready

• Passport copy: The name on the ticket must match the passport. If you got a new passport with a new name, have the new passport ready. Finnair’s pages point out the importance of matching travel documents.
• Proof for legal changes: Marriage certificate, deed poll, or other official documents if the name change is legal.
• Booking reference & e-ticket: Keep your PNR and e-ticket number; you’ll be asked for them when you contact customer service.
• Timing: Some changes (especially person-changes) may need to be made at least 24 hours before departure. For award tickets and some special ticket types, separate rules and fees may apply.

 

8. Tips to avoid or minimize fees

• Book the right ticket type: If you anticipate possible name changes, choose a ticket class that allows changes (Classic/Flex) even if it costs a bit more upfront — it can save you money later. Finnair’s ticket-type page shows which classes allow name changes.
• Use Manage Booking online: If possible, make permitted edits yourself online — Finnair says there’s no service fee for online changes in the Manage booking tool. This is often the fastest and cheapest route.
• Act quickly: If you notice a typo soon after booking, correct it fast. Agents are often more lenient and fees are simpler to apply when you act early. Finnair recommends contacting customer service for corrections and has chat and local contact options.
• Know the difference between accepted character variants: Accented characters being replaced by plain letters often aren’t a problem; Finnair’s systems treat many variants as equivalent, so you may not need any change.

 

9. Special cases: award tickets and tickets bought through third parties

• Award tickets (Finnair Plus): There may be separate change fees for award bookings (Finnair’s service-fee table shows specific change/refund fees for Finnair Plus reservations). Expect set fees (e.g., €50 for certain changes) plus any taxes.
• Third-party bookings (travel agents, OTAs): If you bought the ticket through an agent or an online travel agency, that seller’s own change policy and fees may apply in addition to Finnair’s rules. Always check with the point of purchase; sometimes you must go through the seller to make the change.

 

10. What to do right now (action checklist)

1. Identify the exact issue: Typo vs legal name change vs different person.
2. Log into Manage booking: See what edits are possible online — this may save any service fee.
3. Check your fare rules: Look at the ticket type (Light/Classic/Flex) to see if name changes are allowed.
4. If online options are insufficient, contact Finnair: Use chat or the local customer service number for your region — Finnair lists regional contact details on its site. Expect to pay a service fee for agent-assisted corrections.
5. Be ready to pay: Have your new passport or proofs ready if it’s a legal change; be prepared for fare differences.

 

11. Final thoughts — plan ahead and verify

Airline policies and published service fees can and do change across countries and over time. Finnair’s official pages are the authoritative source for your specific booking — check the Finnair page for the country where you made the purchase and the exact service-fee table relevant to your market. The most important practical point: minor spelling fixes are usually cheap and sometimes free if done online; full name changes or passenger swaps are expensive and tightly controlled.

 

Selected official resources (where I sourced the claims)

• Finnair FAQ: “What should I do if my name on the ticket doesn’t match my passport?” — explains minor corrections and character handling.
• Finnair service fees page — gives example amounts for name correction and name change, and notes fees vary by country.
• Finnair FAQ: “What do I do if I want to change the person travelling?” — confirms name change fee applies and rules about ticket types.
• Finnair “Change your flights” / Manage booking pages — explains that online changes may be fee-free but agent changes can carry service fees.
• Finnair ticket types page — shows which ticket classes allow name changes