Passengers who fly with Ryanair have been urged not to make one of the most expensive mistakes, which could see them pay out three-figure sums to fix. The simple error can be avoided by paying close attention to a minor detail when booking a trip with the airline.

In a rush to secure a good deal, small keypads on smartphones or a simple slip of the finger, people can easily make a mistake spelling their name when booking a Ryanair trip. But this could cost people up to £160 to fix.

As of April 2026, the fee is still charged and listed on the Ryanair website. Apart from the £100 missed flight fee, the name change fee is one of the most expensive charges Ryanair passengers can incur.

The low-cost airline has a policy for changing passenger details that offers a short grace period in the event of a mistake. But, this narrow window comes with its own set of terms and conditions.

Ryanair says: "Name changes are allowed on all bookings, with full changes possible online up to 24 hours before departure or at the airport up to two hours before, subject to a fee. Free corrections include swapping first and last names within 48 hours of booking or changing up to three characters per name once, up to 48 hours before departure."

If people don't realise the mistake until they reach the airport, it could cost up to £160. The policy was previously highlighted by Martin Lewis' MSE team in a post about the best way to avoid Ryanair's added fees.

The budget airline tends to put harsh penalties on passengers who make booking mistakes, including one that could be caused by accident. Changing a minor mispelling - such as muddled or missing letters - is free, but only if passengers do it within two days of booking the flights.

Passengers also need to have booked directly with Ryanair. After 48 hours, passengers will have to pay a £115 fee for a name change. This rises to £160 if done at the airport, MSE claimed.

The MSE team claimed there is a rather extreme way to get around the fee if it is too late to make a change without paying £115 or more. Given the relatively low cost of Ryanair flights, walking away from your holiday and booking it again might be the smartest move.

MSE said: "If you notice errors after 48 hours, it may be cheaper to make a completely new booking, rather than amend an existing one. It won't always be cheaper, but it is worth checking the cost of a new flight to see if it's less than the change fee."

Ryanair confirmed on its website that some people do not need to worry about facing the name change fee. Trips booked under a maiden name can be switched out for free.

It said: "If you booked your flight using your maiden/married name, and you update your name in the passport before the date of travel, we will make the name change on your booking for you free of charge. You'll need to have proof (copy of your marriage certificate)."