Korean Air passenger name change & correction help — fast answers now: +1 (888) 217-2892 (24/7). 

Can I Change the Passenger Name on a Korean Air Ticket? Transfers, Corrections & Rules (2026 Guide)

Updated June 2026  ·  By the Airline Travel Desk Team — ticketing, name corrections & reservations specialists

Korean Air tickets are non-transferable 1-888-217-2892 — you can’t swap in a different traveler — but typos can be corrected. Questions? Call +1 (888) 217-2892 (24/7).

☎  Name question on your ticket? Call +1 (888) 217-2892 — 24/7 name & ticket help. A live agent can correct a typo to match your passport or explain your options when a different traveler needs to go.

 

Quick answer

No — you generally cannot change the passenger name on a Korean Air ticket to a different person. Korean Air tickets are non-transferable, so you can’t give, sell, or reassign a ticket to another traveler. What you can do is correct a minor error — a typo, a swapped first/last name, or a missing/incorrect middle name — so the ticket matches the same passenger’s passport. If a different person needs to travel, you typically cancel (per fare rules) and rebook in their name. For help correcting a name or weighing your options, call +1 (888) 217-2892 (24/7). Korean Air’s official line is 1-833-546-3547.

Can you transfer a Korean Air ticket to someone else?

No. Like virtually all major airlines, Korean Air issues tickets to a named passenger, and that ticket is non-transferable. You cannot:

• Give or sell your ticket to a friend, family member, or coworker
• Replace the passenger with a completely different person
• Re-use a ticket booked in one person’s name for someone else

This is for security and fare-integrity reasons (the name on the ticket must match the traveler’s passport/ID). If your plans change and a different person needs to fly, the path is usually to cancel the original ticket under its fare rules and book a new one in the correct traveler’s name.

What you CAN do: correct the name (not transfer it)

Korean Air does allow minor name corrections so a ticket matches the same passenger’s travel document. The difference comes down to whether the traveler is staying the same person:

Request	Allowed?	Examples
Name correction (same person)	Generally yes	“Jhon” → “John”; swapped first/last name; missing or wrong middle name; maiden → married name
Name change / transfer (different person)	No	Putting a friend or relative on your ticket instead of you

 

If you just need to fix a spelling error, see our companion guide on correcting a name on a Korean Air ticket — minor corrections are handled by phone (not online) and your name must match your passport exactly.

Why Korean Air tickets are non-transferable

Airlines tie each ticket to a named passenger for security screening (the ticket name must match the passport or government ID used at check-in, security, and immigration) and to protect fare rules from resale. Allowing free name transfers would let restricted, non-refundable fares be traded — which is why the no-transfer rule is near-universal across the industry, including Korean Air.

What to do if a different person needs to travel

Since you can’t transfer the ticket, consider these options:

• Cancel and rebook: cancel the original ticket per its fare rules (you may forfeit part of a non-refundable base fare but usually recover unused taxes), then book a new ticket in the correct traveler’s name.
• Use the 24-hour window: if you booked within the last 24 hours (7+ days before departure, directly with Korean Air), cancel for a full refund and rebook in the right name at no penalty.
• Check travel insurance: a covered cancellation reason may reimburse a non-refundable fare.
• Keep the value where allowed: some fares let the original passenger retain value as a travel credit for their own future travel — but a credit still can’t be used by a different person.

Need a different traveler to go? Call +1 (888) 217-2892 to compare cancel-and-rebook options (24/7).

 

How to correct a name (for the same passenger)

If the traveler is the same person and you just need to fix a spelling error:

• Catch the error early — check your e-ticket right after booking; the name must match your passport exactly.
• Gather your booking reference (PNR), ticket number, passport, and any supporting documents (e.g., a marriage certificate for a maiden/married update).
• Call +1 (888) 217-2892 (booking help) or Korean Air at 1-833-546-3547; minor corrections generally can’t be finished online on a ticketed booking.
• Confirm the corrected name on your itinerary and save the updated confirmation.

Minor corrections are often free or low-cost if caught early; some may require a reissue with a fee and/or fare difference. The exact characters allowed vary by fare and route — confirm with the agent. Booked through an OTA or travel agent? Request the correction through that company.

Your name must match your passport exactly

For international travel, including flights through Korean Air’s hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the ticket name must match the traveler’s passport. Even small mismatches can cause problems at check-in, security, or immigration, and the airline or immigration authorities can deny boarding. For U.S. travel, make sure the date of birth, gender, and any Known Traveler/Redress number are correct too, as these are used for security screening.

SKYPASS award tickets and passenger names

SKYPASS award tickets follow the same rules — and are actually stricter on who can travel. A minor name correction to match the same passenger’s passport is allowed (call to process), but the ticket can’t be transferred to a different person, and award travel is limited to eligible travelers: the SKYPASS member and their registered family members. If you want a different eligible family member to travel, that’s typically a new award booking, not a name swap.

Korean Air–Asiana merger: passenger names in 2026

Korean Air and Asiana are integrating, with full integration targeted for December 17, 2026. The non-transferable rule applies on both carriers. During the transition, handle name corrections through the airline that issued your ticket (Korean Air for KE tickets, Asiana for OZ tickets) until systems are fully integrated. Korean Air remains a SkyTeam member hubbed at Incheon (ICN), and policies may align under the Korean Air brand over time.

Tips to avoid passenger-name problems

• Book in the exact name on the traveler’s passport — you can’t hand the ticket to someone else later.
• Don’t book “placeholder” names hoping to swap travelers — it won’t work and can void the ticket.
• Enter given name and surname in the correct fields, and include middle names if your passport has them.
• Review your confirmation immediately, and fix any typo within 24 hours when possible.
• If you might need flexibility on who travels, consider that even refundable fares can’t be transferred — only refunded and rebooked.

Frequently asked questions (People Also Ask)

Can I change the passenger name on a Korean Air ticket?

No — you can’t change the ticket to a different person, because Korean Air tickets are non-transferable. You can correct a typo for the same passenger to match their passport. For help, call +1 (888) 217-2892.

Can I transfer my Korean Air ticket to a friend or family member?

No — tickets are non-transferable and can’t be given or sold to someone else. If a different person needs to travel, cancel (per fare rules) and rebook in their name.

What’s the difference between a name correction and a name change?

A name correction fixes a typo for the same passenger (allowed). A name change/transfer puts a different person on the ticket (not allowed).

Can I fix a misspelled name for the same passenger?

Yes — minor corrections (typos, swapped names, missing middle name) to match your passport are allowed. Call +1 (888) 217-2892 or Korean Air at 1-833-546-3547; this usually can’t be done online on a ticketed booking.

What if a different person needs to use my ticket?

You can’t transfer it. Cancel the original per its fare rules and rebook in the new traveler’s name. Within 24 hours of booking (7+ days out, booked directly), you can cancel for a full refund and rebook.

Is there a fee to correct a name?

Minor corrections are often free or low-cost if caught early; some may require a reissue with a fee and/or fare difference. Confirm when you call.

Can I change the name on a SKYPASS award ticket?

You can correct a typo for the same eligible traveler, but you can’t transfer the award to a different person. Award travel is limited to the member and registered family members.

Does the name on my ticket have to match my passport?

Yes — exactly. Mismatches can cause denied boarding or immigration issues, especially on international flights.

Can I change a passenger name online?

Generally no — name corrections aren’t completed through Manage Booking on a ticketed booking, and transfers aren’t allowed at all. Call Korean Air or visit a ticket office for corrections.

What is Korean Air’s official US customer service number?

Korean Air’s official US number is 1-833-546-3547 for flight status, refunds, baggage, and check-in.

People also search for

Korean Air name change policy  ·  Korean Air change passenger name  ·  Korean Air ticket transfer  ·  Korean Air name correction  ·  Korean Air ticket correction  ·  change name Korean Air ticket  ·  Korean Air non-transferable ticket  ·  Korean Air name change fee  ·  Korean Air award ticket name change  ·  Korean Air name spelling error  ·  Korean Air cancel and rebook  ·  Korean Air customer service number

☎  Name correction or rebooking help — call +1 (888) 217-2892 (24/7). For flight status, refunds, baggage, and check-in, Korean Air’s official line is 1-833-546-3547.

 

Disclosure: +1 (888) 217-2892 is an independent travel-booking and reservations help desk that assists travelers by phone; it is not Korean Air’s official corporate number. Korean Air’s official U.S. customer-service number is 1-833-546-3547. Korean Air tickets are non-transferable; name correction rules, fees, and policies vary by fare type, route, and circumstances and can change — confirm current terms with the agent or at koreanair.com.