I ran into this exact issue last year when booking a quick weekend trip. I typed my name a little too fast and didn’t notice the missing letter until the confirmation email landed. That mini heart-attack feeling is real—but thankfully, it was fixable.
From my experience, Southwest is pretty flexible with minor name corrections. If it’s a small typo, missing middle initial, or spelling error, the fastest way is to contact customer support or use the app/chat if available. When I reached out, I explained it was an honest mistake and had my confirmation number ready. The agent corrected it in minutes without canceling the trip.
What doesn’t work is trying to fully change the ticket to another person. Southwest tickets aren’t transferable, so if the name change is actually a different traveler, the only real option is to cancel and rebook. The upside? Southwest’s flexible fare rules usually mean you’ll get travel credit instead of losing the money, which saved me once when plans changed last minute.
If you notice the issue right after booking, act immediately. Fixing it early is always smoother than dealing with it at the airport. I now double-check my name before hitting “confirm,” but mistakes happen to everyone.
Bottom line: small name fixes are usually quick and painless, bigger changes mean cancel and rebook. Either way, handling it directly is the best way to instantly fix or modify your flight without unnecessary stress.
