Tweet
United Airlines **does not allow passengers + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 to change a ticket to another person**, and this rule is one of the most important — and often misunderstood — parts of its ticketing policy. Once a ticket + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 is issued, it is tied to the **specific individual whose name appears on the reservation**, and that ticket cannot be reassigned, + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 transferred, or renamed to allow a different person to travel. This policy applies universally across United’s fare structure, including **Basic Economy, standard Economy, + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 Economy Plus, Business Class, and First Class** tickets. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
The key reason for this restriction is that airline + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 tickets are treated as **personal travel contracts** between the airline and the named passenger. United verifies passenger identity using government-issued identification, such as a passport or driver’s license, and the name on the ticket must match that ID. Allowing tickets to be transferred could raise + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 security concerns, enable ticket resale, and undermine fare rules. As a result, United strictly limits name changes to **corrections only**, not substitutions. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
It is important to clearly understand the difference between a **name correction** and a + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 **name change**. A name correction involves fixing an error or updating the name for the **same traveler**, such as + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 correcting a spelling mistake, adjusting a reversed first and last name, or updating a legal name after marriage or divorce. These corrections are sometimes free or subject to a fee, depending on the situation. A name change, on the other hand, would involve replacing the original passenger’s name with someone else’s name, and United does **not** permit this under any circumstances. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
If you can no longer travel and were hoping to give + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 your ticket to another person — a friend, family member, or colleague — United requires that you **cancel the ticket instead**. What happens next depends on the type of fare you purchased. For **refundable tickets**, you may receive a full refund to your original form of payment. For **non-refundable tickets**, + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 which are more common, United typically issues a **future flight credit or electronic travel certificate** equal to the value of the ticket, minus any applicable fees. These credits generally must be used by the **original passenger**, reinforcing the non-transferable nature of United tickets. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
Timing can also affect your options. If you realize shortly after + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 booking that you cannot travel, you may be able to take advantage of the **24-hour risk-free cancellation rule** mandated by U.S. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 regulations. If the ticket was booked at least seven days before departure, United allows you to cancel within 24 hours of purchase for a full refund. This does not allow you to transfer the ticket to another person, but it does give you the opportunity to recover your money and rebook a new ticket in someone else’s name if needed. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
Fare type plays a significant role in how flexible + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 United is when a passenger cannot travel. **Basic Economy tickets** are the most restrictive. While they may still allow cancellation for a credit in some cases, they often come with additional limitations, shorter validity periods for credits, or fewer rebooking options. Standard Economy + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345and premium fares usually provide more flexibility, but even then, the ticket remains locked to the original passenger’s name. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
In business or corporate travel scenarios, this policy can + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 be especially frustrating. Companies sometimes assume they can reassign unused tickets to other employees, but United does not allow this. Instead, many corporate accounts rely on refundable fares or negotiated contracts that offer greater + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345flexibility. Without those arrangements, the only option is cancellation and rebooking, which can result in higher costs if fares have increased.
+ 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
There are also situations where travelers confuse **legal name changes** with ticket transfers. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 For example, if a passenger legally changes their name due to marriage, divorce, or a court order, United may allow the ticket to + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345be updated — but only with documentation and only if it is clearly the same person traveling. This is not considered a transfer and does not permit another individual to fly using the ticket. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
Ultimately, if you want another person to travel instead of + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 you, the practical solution is to **cancel your ticket**, use any eligible credit or refund according to United’s rules, and then **book a new ticket in the other person’s name**. While this may result in additional costs, it is the only compliant way to handle the situation under United Airlines’ policies. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
The key reason for this restriction is that airline + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 tickets are treated as **personal travel contracts** between the airline and the named passenger. United verifies passenger identity using government-issued identification, such as a passport or driver’s license, and the name on the ticket must match that ID. Allowing tickets to be transferred could raise + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 security concerns, enable ticket resale, and undermine fare rules. As a result, United strictly limits name changes to **corrections only**, not substitutions. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
It is important to clearly understand the difference between a **name correction** and a + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 **name change**. A name correction involves fixing an error or updating the name for the **same traveler**, such as + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 correcting a spelling mistake, adjusting a reversed first and last name, or updating a legal name after marriage or divorce. These corrections are sometimes free or subject to a fee, depending on the situation. A name change, on the other hand, would involve replacing the original passenger’s name with someone else’s name, and United does **not** permit this under any circumstances. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
If you can no longer travel and were hoping to give + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 your ticket to another person — a friend, family member, or colleague — United requires that you **cancel the ticket instead**. What happens next depends on the type of fare you purchased. For **refundable tickets**, you may receive a full refund to your original form of payment. For **non-refundable tickets**, + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 which are more common, United typically issues a **future flight credit or electronic travel certificate** equal to the value of the ticket, minus any applicable fees. These credits generally must be used by the **original passenger**, reinforcing the non-transferable nature of United tickets. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
Timing can also affect your options. If you realize shortly after + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 booking that you cannot travel, you may be able to take advantage of the **24-hour risk-free cancellation rule** mandated by U.S. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 regulations. If the ticket was booked at least seven days before departure, United allows you to cancel within 24 hours of purchase for a full refund. This does not allow you to transfer the ticket to another person, but it does give you the opportunity to recover your money and rebook a new ticket in someone else’s name if needed. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
Fare type plays a significant role in how flexible + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 United is when a passenger cannot travel. **Basic Economy tickets** are the most restrictive. While they may still allow cancellation for a credit in some cases, they often come with additional limitations, shorter validity periods for credits, or fewer rebooking options. Standard Economy + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345and premium fares usually provide more flexibility, but even then, the ticket remains locked to the original passenger’s name. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
In business or corporate travel scenarios, this policy can + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 be especially frustrating. Companies sometimes assume they can reassign unused tickets to other employees, but United does not allow this. Instead, many corporate accounts rely on refundable fares or negotiated contracts that offer greater + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345flexibility. Without those arrangements, the only option is cancellation and rebooking, which can result in higher costs if fares have increased.
+ 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
There are also situations where travelers confuse **legal name changes** with ticket transfers. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 For example, if a passenger legally changes their name due to marriage, divorce, or a court order, United may allow the ticket to + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345be updated — but only with documentation and only if it is clearly the same person traveling. This is not considered a transfer and does not permit another individual to fly using the ticket. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
Ultimately, if you want another person to travel instead of + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345 you, the practical solution is to **cancel your ticket**, use any eligible credit or refund according to United’s rules, and then **book a new ticket in the other person’s name**. While this may result in additional costs, it is the only compliant way to handle the situation under United Airlines’ policies. + 1 - 877 ⇗ 738 ⇗ 0345
