Travel plans can get stressful, especially when errors appear on your flight ticket. One of the most common issues travelers face is having a wrong or misspelled name on a flight reservation. WestJet Airlines recognizes this and has established a clear and passenger-friendly name change and correction policy. Whether you’re correcting a minor typo or making a legal name update, this in-depth guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the WestJet name change policy in 2025.
📌 Overview of WestJet’s Name Change Policy
WestJet does not allow complete transfer of tickets to another person.
The name on the ticket must exactly match the name on your government-issued ID.
There are different rules for:
Minor spelling corrections
Legal name changes (e.g., marriage, divorce)
Group bookings
Name changes or corrections must be made before the first flight segment is flown.
🛫 Minor Name Corrections
WestJet understands that passengers can make small errors during the booking process. The airline allows simple name corrections under specific conditions.
✅ What Qualifies as a Minor Correction?
Up to three characters corrected in either the first, middle, or last name.
Correction to reflect the correct spelling of the same traveler’s name.
Example: “Jhon” corrected to “John”, or “Michel” corrected to “Michael”.
Adding or removing middle names or initials that do not change the identity of the traveler.
🕒 Time Limits
Corrections should be made at least 24 hours before flight departure.
Recommended to correct the name as soon as the error is noticed.
💵 Fee for Minor Corrections
No fee is typically charged for minor spelling errors.
If the correction is made within 24 hours of booking, it’s always free.
📄 Legal Name Changes
Sometimes passengers undergo legal name changes, and WestJet provides a way to update tickets accordingly.
🔁 Common Reasons for Legal Name Change
Marriage or divorce
Court-approved name change
Adoption
Transition-related name change
📑 Required Documentation
To support your legal name change request, you’ll need to provide:
Marriage certificate
Divorce decree
Government-issued ID with the new name
Court-ordered name change documents
Any supporting legal paperwork clearly showing both the old and new names
⏳ Deadline for Legal Changes
Requests must be made at least 24 hours before departure.
Recommended to initiate the process as early as possible to allow time for processing.
💰 Legal Name Change Fees
Domestic Flights (within Canada): CAD 100 – 118
International Flights (excluding Europe): CAD 100 – 118
Flights between Canada and Europe: CAD 150 – 177
Fee depends on your fare class and route.
🆓 24-Hour Risk-Free Name Change Window
📌 WestJet’s 24-Hour Flexibility Policy
If you made a mistake during booking, you can make changes within 24 hours of purchase at no extra cost.
Applies only if the flight departure is more than 24 hours away at the time of change.
🎯 Best Practices
Always review your booking confirmation email immediately after purchase.
Use the 24-hour window to catch and fix any errors early.
👥 Group Booking Name Change Policy
When traveling in a group, it’s not uncommon for members to drop out or swap places. WestJet offers some flexibility here.
🧑🤝🧑 Group Bookings Definition
Group bookings include 10 or more passengers under one reservation.
🔄 Name Change Flexibility
Free name changes allowed up to 24 hours before the group’s flight.
Within 24 hours of departure, name change fee applies:
CAD 75 – 86.25 per passenger (based on flight details)
🧾 Required Documents for Group Changes
Group leader authorization
Proof of identity for new passenger
Any legal documents, if applicable
🚫 Restrictions and Limitations
WestJet has firm rules to avoid misuse or fraud.
🚷 Non-Transferable Tickets
Tickets cannot be transferred to another person under a different identity.
Only corrective changes are allowed, not replacements.
🚨 Codeshare Flights
If your flight includes segments operated by partner airlines (codeshare), WestJet may not be able to process name changes.