When you fly, the name on your ticket must match the name on your travel document (passport or, for some domestic/Schengen trips, national ID). Finnair follows this industry standard closely. In practice, that means:
- Minor spelling mistakes (think a missing letter or swapped characters) can usually be corrected without changing the traveler. This is a name correction.
- Changing the person traveling (transferring your ticket to someone else) is a name change, and it’s only allowed on certain fare types and with a hefty fee. You must contact Finnair to do it and meet timing requirements.
Finnair also clarifies a few special cases that don’t require a correction, such as how certain letters render in airline systems (for example, ä/ö showing as a/o). If your first name field has space for only one given name, one first name is enough you don’t have to cram in every middle name for it to be valid.
Name Correction vs. Name Change (Ticket Transfer)
It helps to separate the two clearly:
1) Name Correction (same traveler, small typo fixed)
- What it is: Fixing spelling errors in the first, middle, or last name where the traveler remains the same person.
- Typical scenarios:
- You typed “Jonh” instead of “John.”
- Your passport shows “Mikael,” but your ticket says “Mikaeel.”
- Accent/diacritic letters were stripped by the system (ä → a; ö → o), which normally doesn’t require any change.
- Fees: Finnair publishes a “Name correction” service fee (example: USD 35 on the U.S. fees page). Local currency and amounts vary by point of sale.
- Availability: Finnair states name correction is possible in all ticket types as long as the traveler doesn’t change. You need to contact customer service.
2) Name Change (transfer to another person)
- What it is: Changing the ticket so a different person travels.
- Availability: Only some fare types permit this, and you must contact Finnair at least one day before departure to request it.
- Fees: Finnair publishes a “Name change in ticket types that allow it” fee (example: USD 400 short/long-haul on the U.S. fees page), separate from any fare difference.
When You Don’t Need a Name Correction
Finnair’s booking system like many airlines displays ä as a, ö as o, etc. That’s normal, and no fix is required. Also, one first name is sufficient if your passport shows multiple given names.
Examples you can ignore:
- Ticket shows “Hakala” while passport shows “Häkäla” → acceptable rendering difference.
- You have three given names, but only one appears on the ticket → acceptable if the family name matches and the first name on the ticket matches one of your given names.
Special Life-Event Changes (Marriage, Divorce, Legal Name Change)
If you’ve legally changed your name, say after marriage or divorce Finnair expects the ticket to match the passport you’ll travel with. If your passport now shows a new name, you’ll need to update the ticketed name. Finnair indicates name correction fees apply and confirms this is possible across ticket types as long as the traveler remains the same person. Contact customer service for processing.
Tip: If your trip is soon and your passport still shows your old name, you can usually travel under the old name as long as ticket and passport match exactly. If you switch to a new passport with the new name, update the ticket first.
How Much Does It Cost?
Finnair’s fee tables vary by country/point of sale. On the U.S. page (for illustration):
- Name correction: USD 35
- Name change (if permitted by your fare): USD 400 (short-haul/long-haul)
These are service fees and are separate from any fare difference if other changes accompany your request. Always check the fees page that corresponds to your purchase location or contact Finnair; amounts and currencies differ by market.
Timing: When to Request a Correction or Change
- As soon as you spot an error. Corrections are easiest before check-in opens.
- Transfers (name changes)—if allowed by your fare—must be requested at least one day before departure via customer service.
Note: If your change involves re-issuing the ticket or affects fare rules, additional costs or limitations may apply (e.g., fare difference, restrictions of your fare family). For general booking changes, Finnair notes that online changes avoid service fees, but name edits typically require contacting them.
How to Request a Name Correction with Finnair
- Gather your documents
- Your booking reference (PNR) and e-ticket number.
- A copy of your passport (the page showing your name) or ID you’ll use to travel.
- Any supporting legal documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree, legal name change order) if the change reflects a legal update.
- Choose your contact channel
- Finnair Chat / Customer Service: Finnair states that contacting customer service is the path for name corrections and changes; chat is often the fastest.
- Manage Booking: Great for flight changes and extras—but name changes/corrections generally require contacting Finnair.
- Explain the issue clearly
- State whether it’s a typo correction (same traveler) or a transfer to a new traveler (name change—only if your fare allows it).
- Provide the exact correct spelling as shown on the passport.
- Review fees before confirming
- Confirm the name correction fee or name change fee applicable in your market.
- Ask if any fare difference or ticket reissue is involved.
- Check your updated itinerary
- After Finnair processes the change, verify that your e-ticket receipt and itinerary show the correct name.
Edge Cases and Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to fix capitals, hyphens, or spaces?
Airline systems often normalize capitalization and may compress spaces or special characters. That’s usually fine. What matters is that the alphabetical characters reflect the passport name and that your surname and at least one given name match properly. For Scandinavian letters like ä/ö, the a/o rendering is acceptable and doesn’t require a correction.
The gender marker is wrong—does it matter?
Finnair notes that a mismatched gender can cause challenges, especially for non-Schengen travel. They recommend contacting customer service to correct it. While this isn’t a “name” fix, it often comes up in the same conversation.
I booked through a travel agent or an online travel site. Who fixes the name?
If you booked via a travel agency, your agent may need to submit the correction request to Finnair. Some agency tools (like Finnair’s FAST) don’t yet support name corrections directly, so agents are instructed to contact Finnair. If you booked with a third-party website, start there first; they may handle the liaison.
Can I add a missing middle name?
If your passport shows multiple given names, Finnair indicates that one first name is enough on the ticket. If your first and last names match the passport, you shouldn’t need to add additional given names.
Can I swap first and last names if they were entered in the wrong fields?
That’s typically more than a minor typo. Depending on how the ticket was issued, Finnair may need to reissue the ticket or treat it as a different kind of correction. Contact customer service with your passport details; be prepared for service fees and potential fare implications.
Will I pay a service fee if I change flights online?
Finnair states there’s no service fee when you change your flights in Manage booking online, but name corrections/changes usually require contacting customer service and thus attract the published name correction or name change fees.
Is there a deadline for corrections on the day of travel?
Airlines can be stricter as departure nears. While Finnair doesn’t publish a universal “cut-off” for simple corrections, don’t wait contact them as soon as you notice the issue. If your fare allows transfer to another traveler, Finnair requires at least one day’s notice.
Practical Examples
- Example 1: Small typo in last name
You booked “LAPPIEN” but passport shows “LAPPIAN.” That’s a typo. Contact Finnair to process a name correction (service fee applies; amount varies by market for instance, USD 35 on the U.S. fees page). The traveler remains the same person. - Example 2: You legally changed your surname
You got married, your passport now shows “Korhonen” instead of “Virtanen.” Your ticket still says “Virtanen.” Ask Finnair to correct the ticket to match the passport; name correction fees apply and are possible across ticket types when the traveler stays the same. - Example 3: You can no longer travel and want to transfer your ticket
Your friend will go instead of you. That’s a name change (ticket transfer). Only certain Finnair fares allow it, and you must contact customer service no later than one day before departure. Be prepared for a name change fee (e.g., USD 400 on the U.S. fees page) and any fare differences. - Example 4: Your first name has diacritics
Your passport shows “Järvi,” but the ticket displays “Jarvi.” That’s an expected rendering; no correction needed.
Step-by-Step: Getting a Name Correction Done Smoothly
- Check the exact passport spelling
Open your passport and note the Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) line and the visual line: use the visual spelling shown on the data page as the reference. - Decide if it’s a correction or a change
- If it’s the same traveler with a typo → correction.
- If it’s a new traveler taking the trip → name change (only on eligible fares; fees are higher).
- Contact Finnair
- Use chat or call customer service with your booking details. Finnair indicates chat is often the fastest.
- Provide proof
- Passport scan/photo (for the travel document you’ll use).
- Legal name change document if applicable (marriage certificate, court order).
- Confirm costs and rules
- Ask for the name correction or name change fee (in your point-of-sale currency).
- Verify whether a ticket reissue and/or fare difference applies for your case.
- Review the reissued ticket
- Make sure the updated e-ticket reflects the correct spelling.
- Keep confirmation emails and receipts handy for airport check-in.
Tips to Avoid Name Problems in the First Place
- Copy your name from your passport when booking—letter for letter.
- Don’t worry about umlauts/diacritics (ä/ö) showing as a/o; that’s expected in airline systems.
- Use one first name if the form doesn’t accommodate multiple given names; it’s enough for Finnair.
- Double-check before paying. Many third-party sites pass your name exactly as you type it.
- If you’re looking for someone else, ask them to send a photo of their passport name page.
- Booked via an agency? Keep the agent in the loop; some agency tools don’t support name edits directly and must coordinate with Finnair.
- If you’re changing flights online, remember that name updates are a different category—expect to contact Finnair and pay the published service fee.
Key Takeaways at a Glance
- Tickets must match passports. Minor typos can be fixed; umlaut rendering differences (ä→a, ö→o) are fine. One first name is enough.
- Name correction (same traveler) is allowed across ticket types and carries a service fee (amount varies by market; example: USD 35 on the U.S. fees page).
- Name change (different traveler) is only allowed on some fares, must be requested ≥1 day before departure, and carries a higher fee (example: USD 400 on the U.S. fees page).
- Contact Finnair (chat or phone) to process name fixes; Manage booking is mainly for flight changes/extras, not ticketed name edits.
Final Word
Finnair’s policy draws a clean line: typo corrections for the same passenger are generally straightforward (with a modest service fee), while transferring the ticket to someone else (a true name change) is restricted to certain fare types and costs more. The earlier you act, the smoother it goes. Before you travel, cross-check your passport spelling against your e-ticketif anything looks off, contact Finnair right away so you’re boarding and border formalities are stress-free.
Sources
- Finnair FAQ: spelling, umlauts/diacritics, and first-name guidance.
- Finnair FAQ: legal name change after marriage/divorce correction is possible across ticket types; contact customer service.
- Finnair FAQ: changing the person traveling only if ticket type allows; request no later than one day before departure.
- Finnair Service Fees (U.S. page example): name correction fee and name change fee.
- Finnair “Change your flights” and “Manage booking”: service fee waived for online flight changes (not name edits); contact customer service for name requests.
- Finnair articles and agent resources: gender marker guidance and agency tooling note. If you’d like, I can tailor this into a press-ready web article with an FAQ box, schema markup, and a comparison table for “correction vs. change” by region and fare family.