Yes, although every airline's policy is different, it will almost always cost to transfer an airline ticket to another person. Sometimes, the cost of transferring a flight ticket to someone else can actually be more expensive than purchasing an entirely new ticket.

In 2026, it is generally not possible to change the passenger's name on a plane ticket to another person. Most major airlines, including Delta, American, and United, have strict "non-transferability" policies to prevent ticket scalping—the practice of buying cheap tickets early and reselling them for a profit later. If you need to "transfer" a ticket, the standard procedure is to cancel the existing booking for a refund or travel credit and then purchase a completely new ticket in the correct person's name. However, minor name changes, such as correcting a spelling error (usually up to 3 characters) or updating a name due to a legal change (marriage or divorce), are almost always permitted. For these legal changes, you must provide supporting documentation like a marriage certificate. While a few low-cost carriers in Europe occasionally allow a full name change for a high fee (often exceeding the price of the ticket), the "gold standard" for 2026 remains that the passenger named at booking is the only one who can fly.