A misspelled name on an airline ticket feels small until you’re at an airport counter or a TSA checkpoint and are suddenly told you can’t board. Travelers rightly worry: can I fix it? Is there a fee? Can I transfer my ticket to someone else? In this article I explain Silver Airways’ name-correction policy, what options customers had while the airline was operating, and critically what you must do now if you hold a Silver Airways ticket, because Silver Airways ceased flight operations in June 2025. I’ll cover the rules that used to apply, industry context (so you’ll know how other carriers handle the same issue), step-by-step practical advice, likely fees you might expect, and how to pursue refunds now that the airline is no longer flying.
Short answer up front
- As of June 11, 2025, Silver Airways ceased operations and is no longer an operating carrier. If you currently hold a Silver Airways ticket you cannot correct or transfer it through the airline because the carrier is not processing bookings.
- When it operated, Silver Airways allowed limited name corrections (typos, small spelling fixes, reversing first/last names, or replacing a commonly used nickname with a legal name) but did not permit transferring a ticket to another person. That’s consistent with industry practice. (With the carrier shut down, those former policies are moot.)
Below I explain all of that in detail and give a practical checklist for travelers affected by the shutdown.
Why names on tickets matter
Airlines must verify that the person traveling is the person named on the reservation. Security screening (TSA in the U.S. and analogous agencies elsewhere) compares the name on the ticket to the name on your government-issued photo ID or passport. Even small discrepancies can trigger additional screening, delays, or denial of boarding. For that reason, airlines enforce rules about what they will and won’t change on a ticket.
Industry reasons for strict rules:
- Security and identity verification — tickets are matched to government ID at checkpoints.
- Fraud prevention and resale control — allowing ticket transfers would make fraud and unauthorized resale easier.
- Revenue management — tickets tied to a named passenger protect fare integrity and prevent circumventing fare rules.
Because of those concerns, most carriers treat minor corrections (spelling fixes) differently from a full name change or transfer to another person.
Silver Airways’ status: the critical development (June 2025)
It’s essential to start here: on June 11, 2025, Silver Airways publicly announced it was ceasing all flight operations following an unsuccessful effort to restructure during bankruptcy. The airline told customers not to go to the airport, and instructed that credit-card purchases should be refunded through the card issuer or travel agency. News organizations and consumer travel sites covered the abrupt shutdown and its fallout. If you booked a flight with Silver and still have a reservation, you will need to pursue a refund through your payment provider or the travel agency you used — there is no functioning Silver Airways reservations or ticketing process to apply name corrections or transfers.
What Silver Airways’ name-correction policy was (while it operated)
Understanding the airline’s former policy is useful if you’re comparing carriers or trying to decide how to proceed with a refund or a disputed charge. When Silver Airways was operating, their approach followed common industry practice:
Allowed (typical) corrections
- Minor spelling errors — one or two letters missing or transposed (e.g., “Jhon” → “John”).
- Reordered names — first and last name entered backwards.
- Use of nicknames — changing a nickname to the passenger’s legal first name (e.g., “Ben” → “Benjamin”), provided ID matched.
- Middle name/initial differences adding or removing a middle name or initial to match ID.
These corrections are considered adjustments to the ticketed passenger identity and are usually allowed because they do not change who the traveler is; they simply align the ticket with legal ID details.
Not allowed
- Transfers of the ticket to another person giving or selling a ticket to someone else was not permitted. A booking is issued to an identified passenger and cannot be reassigned (industry-wide norm).
- Major name changes that would convert the booking from one legal person to another (e.g., “Sara Lee” → “Michael Brown”).
Timing and fees (typical practice)
- 24-hour window: Many airlines — including regional carriers — allow free corrections or cancellations within 24 hours of purchase if the ticket was booked directly. Silver generally followed this consumer-friendly rule in practice.
- After 24 hours: Minor corrections often carried a modest service fee (commonly $25–$50 for regional carriers); legal name changes (e.g., marriage) might require documentation and higher processing fees. Exact fees varied by fare class and how the ticket was purchased (direct vs. third-party). Note: with Silver’s shutdown these fee structures are no longer actionable.
Practical step-by-step when Silver Airways was operating
Here’s the practical flow customers could expect when a name fix was needed (kept here because it’s the same basic flow with most carriers):
- Check the booking immediately. As soon as you receive the confirmation email, compare the ticket name to your passport or driver’s license.
- Act within 24 hours if possible. Corrections made quickly are often free or less expensive.
- Use Manage Booking or call reservations. Minor corrections could sometimes be handled online; other times you needed to speak with an agent.
- Provide documentation if required. Legal name changes require supporting paperwork (marriage certificate, court order, updated passport).
- Receive updated e-ticket. Confirm the corrected name on the new itinerary.
- Bring matching ID to the airport. Security and check-in require the ID to match the ticket.
Again: this is the standard process for most carriers and was normally what Silver followed while it was active. But with the carrier no longer operating, this route is closed.
If you hold a Silver Airways ticket now (what to do)
Because Silver Airways ceased operations, the way forward is outside the airline:
- Do not go to the airport expecting to fly on Silver; the company told customers not to go.
- If you paid by credit card, contact your card issuer immediately. Card companies can often initiate chargebacks or disputes. Keep booking references and proof of payment.
- If you booked through a third-party agent or travel website, contact that seller. They may have their own refund policy or be able to help with a claim.
- Document everything. Save emails, cancellation notices, screenshots of the airline statement, and any communication you received.
- If you have travel insurance, open a claim. Policies often cover airline failure or bankruptcy check your policy wording.
- Consider filing a DOT consumer complaint if you feel your refund rights are being ignored; the DOT has an Office of Aviation Consumer Protection and complaint tools.
News outlets reported the shutdown and advised customers to seek refunds through payment channels; keep that coverage handy if you need to escalate.
How similar airlines handle name corrections (quick comparison)
If you need to rebook with a different carrier, here’s a quick sense of other U.S. policies:
- Delta / American / United: Allow minor corrections but not full transfers; fees depend on fare rules.
- Southwest: More flexible on corrections, but still non-transferable.
- Low-cost carriers (Spirit, Frontier): More restrictive and often apply higher fees for corrections.
The bottom line: nobody offers open “transfer to another person” options — that remains almost universally prohibited.
Tips to prevent name problems in future bookings
- Always type your full legal name exactly as it appears on your ID. No nicknames.
- Check autofill carefully browser or payment autofill can insert wrong or outdated names.
- Verify confirmations right away. The fastest fixes are the easiest and cheapest.
- Prefer booking with a card that offers strong purchase protections. That helps if a carrier later fails.
- Consider refundable fares or travel insurance if your plans are uncertain.
Final thoughts
If you asked “What is the name correction policy for Silver Airways?” the crucial update is that Silver Airways ceased all operations on June 11, 2025, so the airline is no longer processing name corrections or transfers. While the carrier was active, it followed standard industry practice: permitted minor name corrections (typos, reversing names, nicknames → legal names) and disallowed transfers of tickets to another person. With the shutdown, anyone who purchased a Silver Airways ticket must pursue refunds through their credit card issuer or booking agent and should keep meticulous records of payments and communications.
If you’d like, I can:
- Draft a short email template you can send to your credit card company or travel agent to request a refund.
- Help rewrite your booking confirmation into a clean claims packet (with formatted evidence) to speed up a chargeback or insurance claim.
Which would be most helpful right now?