Ryanair passengers risk £160 charge for a simple mistake - everything explained

Passengers should be cautious of a common error when flying with Ryanair, as it may incur a hefty charge. Usually, fixing this mistake online costs £115/€115, but the fee can increase to £160/€160 if the reservation was made via a travel agent.

The charge, referred to as the 'name change fee,' applies to people who must modify their reservation title. This is especially relevant for those changing flights to another person, as you can adjust the details online up to the day before departure.

According to the Mirror, Ryanair's policies state: "Full name changes can be made online up to 24 hours before scheduled departure, or by contacting us or at the airport up to two hours before scheduled departure subject to a fee, see our table of fees. The fee will be higher if you contact us and changes will be made through our Customer Service Team."

You won't incur the charge if you've made a reservation using a maiden or married name that has since been updated on your passport prior to your flight. Additionally, passengers can change their first and last names once without any fee within 48 hours after booking.

Ryanair also allows customers to correct up to 'three characters per name' at no cost, as long as the change is made 48 hours before the scheduled flight. The airline does not require the inclusion of middle names or double-barrelled surnames during the booking process.

Travellers who have completed check-in for their flight must reach out to Ryanair to be 'unchecked' from their flight, enabling them to make modifications through the Ryanair app or website.

It's essential to note that Ryanair isn't the sole airline levying fees for name changes. Another is easyJet, which allows passengers to correct 'three characters per name' for free online but charges between £60 and £65 for further alterations.

"Title changes and Spelling mistakes, limited to three characters per name, can be done online either via our website or mobile app free of charge," its website explains. "Please ensure the passenger's full name matches the ID they will be using to travel, including middle names."

In contrast, Jet2 charges £40 (or the equivalent in local currency) for each name change on a one-way flight within a booking. If additional changes are made, an administrative fee will apply, along with any price difference between your original fare and the current fare.

Despite this, its online guidance adds: "You can correct genuine spelling errors without charge. For spelling errors of up to three letters, you can visit Manage My Booking or contact us.

"If you've made a genuine spelling error of four letters or more, you can contact us by phone or email. Please note that free-of-charge changes to names will only be considered for genuine errors and not for a change of person."

On the flipside, advice for British Airways customers reads: "If you have changed your name for any reason, including marriage, divorce or by deed poll, the names on your ticket and passport must match in order for you to travel.

"All your other required travel documents must also be in the same name as your flight ticket, including visas and ESTAs. If you need to change your name on an existing ticket to match the name on your passport, you can use our live chat service to talk to one of our agents or contact us.

"There's no charge for this type of change, however if the taxes, fees and carrier charges on your ticket have changed since you made the original booking, you'll need to pay the difference. You may also need to provide us with proof of your identity to make this change."

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