FunTime
Frequent travelers may have encountered some issues, such as misspelling a name when booking, reversing the first and last names, or needing to change flights due to itinerary adjustments, upgrade/downgrade, or even cancel flights. What should you do in these awkward situations? This issue, our editor has compiled the refund and change policies of several popular airlines. Let’s take a look!
The passenger name in pinyin can be changed by up to 3 English letters (inclusive), but please note that it can only be changed once. If the change involves more than 3 English letters, you’ll need to make a new reservation. If no seats are available, you’ll have to go on the waiting list.
If the ticket has already been issued, any changes to the booking record will require making a new reservation. If the originally booked cabin class is unavailable, you'll need to go on the waiting list. For minor differences in the English spelling of the name (up to 3 letters), the change can be processed via ticket amendment. However, if the difference exceeds 3 letters, you’ll still need to cancel the ticket and make a new reservation and issuance.
You must always make a new reservation. If the originally booked cabin class is unavailable, you'll need to go on the waiting list. If the ticket has already been issued, you’ll need to cancel it and make a new reservation and issuance.
China Airlines' online ticket amendment function is only available for tickets purchased via the China Airlines website or mobile app, and can only modify the flight date and time. If you need to change the route as well, you’ll need to visit a China Airlines branch office.
All passengers under the same booking record must be amended together. If you only want to change the itinerary for some passengers, you’ll also need to visit a branch office.
The ticket amendment system will automatically calculate the fare difference and charge a handling fee. Refunds will be returned to the account used for the original ticket purchase after the amendment is completed.
Ticket amendment handling fee: NT$0–1000 (depending on the cabin class).
If the credit card used for the amendment differs from the one used for the original ticket purchase, please present the card used for the amendment upon check-in, or complete the credit card verification procedure in advance.
If special services were selected or requested when purchasing the original ticket (such as seat selection, meal preferences, duty-free bookings, etc.), make sure to reselect them or contact China Airlines customer service after completing the flight change. Some special services may not be available if the change is made within 24 hours before departure.
If you purchased travel insurance when booking the ticket, please contact your insurance provider to amend or cancel the insurance after changing the itinerary/canceling the ticket.
Recommended reading:
Only tickets purchased through the China Airlines website are eligible for refund, and they must be completely unused from the day after purchase up to two years (based on the time zone of the departure location of the first flight segment).
Refunds made online can only be returned to the original purchaser’s credit card or account.
The following types of tickets are not eligible for online refunds and must be processed at a counter or China Airlines branch office: partially used tickets, complimentary tickets redeemed with miles, tickets that include flight segments of other airlines, and China Airlines tickets with added-value services such as parent-child sleeper cabins or high-speed rail tickets that are still valid.
For tickets purchased with a credit card, refund applications will be submitted to the financial institution within seven days. The actual refund date depends on the issuing bank's regulations.
For tickets purchased online for round-trip flights to/from the U.S., if a refund is requested within 48 hours of purchase and the scheduled flight departs more than one week after the purchase date, a full refund will be issued.
For tickets purchased online for flights departing from South Korea, if a refund is requested within seven days of purchase and at least ten days before the first flight segment’s departure, a full refund will be issued.
Ticket cancellation fee: NT$1000.
For duplicate ticket refund requests, only tickets purchased from the China Airlines website that meet all of the following criteria are accepted for a “no-fee” refund: identical travel segments, travel dates, flight numbers, cabin class codes (RBD), passenger name spellings in pinyin, titles, and names. Tickets that do not meet these requirements will incur a cancellation fee.
(Source: China Airlines official website)
Cathay Pacific’s name correction policy requires that the request must come from the same passenger. The fee is calculated based on the itinerary’s origin and destination, and applies to tickets purchased through the Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon websites or customer service centers.
(Source: Cathay Pacific official website)
Cathay Pacific allows ticket amendments for the following situations:
Changing flights (including those of other airlines), changing cabin class, changing travel dates, extending ticket validity, changing connecting/stopover points, and altering the itinerary.
If your chosen flight includes different fare types, the restrictions of the more restrictive fare will apply.
The ticket refund application period for Cathay Pacific is within two years from the ticket “issue date.” Requests beyond two years will not be accepted. Please note that economy class tickets in sub-cabin O cannot be refunded once issued.
EVA Air stipulates that passenger names cannot be changed. However, for the same passenger, the name can be modified under the following circumstances:
■ Incorrect Pinyin.
■ First name and last name reversed.
■ Incorrect title.
■ Add an English alias.
■ Ticket change fee: 0–1000 RMB.
■ Ticket refund fee: 1000 RMB.
(source by official website)
ANA does not allow name changes. The ticket change fee is 1000 RMB (example: Taiwan to Tokyo), and the ticket refund fee is 2000 RMB (example: Taiwan to Tokyo).
Japan Airlines does not allow name changes. The ticket change fee is 1000 RMB (example: Taiwan to Tokyo), and the ticket refund fee is 2000 RMB (example: Taiwan to Tokyo).
Recommended reading:
Korean Air’s ticket change fee is 50,000 KRW. For ticket refund fees, please refer to the table below:
(source by official website)
Long-haul flights: Americas, Europe, Middle East, Oceania, Africa.
Medium-haul flights: Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia, Tashkent.
Short-haul flights: Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taipei, Ulaanbaatar, Vladivostok, Irkutsk.
Hope the above information is helpful to everyone. Of course, we hope situations involving ticket changes or cancellations rarely occur—otherwise, they’re just too troublesome. Wishing you all a pleasant trip, Up!
[FunTime Travel Recommendation]Authorized reprint. Original source: [Comprehensive Guide to Airline Ticket Change & Refund Policies and Fees]