How to Change Date of Birth in Delta Airlines Ticket?
Entering the correct date of birth on a Delta Airlines ticket is important because Delta collects date of birth as part of the TSA Secure Flight Passenger Data required for applicable flights. The information must correspond with the traveler's identity information and can affect the passenger's ability to travel if it is incomplete or inaccurate.
If you accidentally entered the wrong date of birth when booking a Delta flight, do not assume that you need to cancel the ticket and purchase a new one. A simple correction may be possible, but the process depends on whether the incorrect date of birth is in your SkyMiles profile, reservation, or Secure Flight Passenger Data.
Delta's current SkyMiles guidance specifically says that changing a date of birth requires identity-verification documentation, such as a driver's license or passport.
This guide explains how to correct a DOB on a Delta reservation, what documents may be required, why the correction matters, and what to do if your flight is approaching.
Why Is the Date of Birth Important on a Delta Ticket?
The date of birth is not merely optional passenger information.
Under the TSA Secure Flight program, Delta requires passengers traveling on applicable flights to provide:
Delta states that Secure Flight information is required for flights within, into, or out of the United States and for certain international point-to-point flights operated by U.S.-based airlines.
Because the information is used for aviation security screening, a mistake should be corrected rather than ignored.
What happens if the DOB is incorrect?
- An incorrect date of birth can create a mismatch between your reservation and your government-issued identification or Secure Flight information.
- Delta's contract of carriage states that it may cancel a reservation if the required Secure Flight Passenger Data is not included at least 72 hours before scheduled departure.
- This does not mean every simple DOB typo automatically results in cancellation. However, it is a good reason to correct the information as soon as you discover the mistake.
Can I Change My Date of Birth on a Delta Airlines Ticket?
Yes, a date-of-birth correction can be requested, but it is different from changing the traveler's identity.
Delta's SkyMiles support page specifically provides a process for changing the date of birth and says that supporting identity-verification documentation is required. Delta gives a driver's license or passport as examples of acceptable identity documentation.
The important distinction is:
Correcting a genuine DOB entry error is not the same as changing the passenger to another person.
If the traveler is the same person and the date of birth was entered incorrectly, contact Delta and request a correction.
How to Change Date of Birth in a Delta Airlines Ticket Online
The exact options available can depend on whether you are correcting your SkyMiles profile or the Secure Flight information attached to your reservation.
Step 1: Check your Delta reservation
- Sign in to your Delta account and open My Trips.
- Review the passenger and trip information to determine whether the problem is visible in the reservation.
- If the DOB is incorrect only in your SkyMiles profile, you may need to update your account information rather than change the ticket itself.
Step 2: Check your SkyMiles profile
Delta specifically provides an identity-verification process for changes to basic SkyMiles information, including:
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Name
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Date of birth
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Gender
For a DOB change, Delta requires identity-verification documentation such as a driver's license or passport.
Step 3: Complete Delta's Identity Verification Form
- Delta instructs customers who need to update their date of birth to log in and submit the Identity Verification Form with the requested change and supporting documentation.
- Make sure the date you request matches your legal identity document.
Step 4: Check the reservation again
- After requesting the correction, verify that the information associated with your trip is correct.
- If the incorrect DOB remains in the reservation or Secure Flight information, contact Delta directly rather than assuming the SkyMiles-profile update automatically changed the reservation.
How to Change Date of Birth on a Delta Reservation by Phone
If the DOB is incorrect on an existing ticket or you are unable to correct it through your Delta account, contacting Delta is the safer approach.
Explain that:
You are the same passenger, but the date of birth was entered incorrectly and you need the Secure Flight information corrected.
Have the following information ready:
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Passenger's full name
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Confirmation number
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Ticket number, if available
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Flight number
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Travel date
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Correct date of birth
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Passport or government-issued ID
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SkyMiles number, if applicable
A Delta representative may need to verify your identity before making or requesting the correction.
What Documents Do I Need to Correct My Date of Birth?
Delta's SkyMiles guidance says that a DOB or gender change requires a copy of identity-verification documentation, with a driver's license or passport given as examples.
Depending on the situation, have a valid government-issued identification document available.
Examples include:
The document should show your correct date of birth.
Why does Delta require identification?
- The requirement helps ensure that the request is a legitimate correction and not an attempt to alter the identity of the person traveling.
- The name on your SkyMiles account should also match the name on the legal identification you use for travel, according to Delta's current guidance.
What If I Entered the Wrong Date of Birth During Booking?
If you notice the error shortly after purchasing your ticket, address it immediately.
Do not wait until check-in or the day of departure.
If your reservation has not been ticketed
- Contact Delta or the booking agency promptly and explain that the Secure Flight passenger information contains an incorrect DOB.
If your ticket has already been issued
- Do not cancel the reservation simply because of a DOB typo unless Delta specifically instructs you to do so.
- Ask Delta to correct the passenger's Secure Flight information while keeping the same traveler and reservation.
- This is important because a DOB correction is fundamentally different from a name change or passenger substitution.
What If I Booked Through a Travel Agency?
- If your Delta ticket was purchased through a travel agency or another booking service, start by contacting the agency that issued the ticket.
- The agency may have access to the reservation record and can determine whether it can correct the Secure Flight information directly or needs Delta's assistance.
- Delta's agency guidance confirms that Secure Flight Passenger Data includes the passenger's legal name, date of birth, and gender and that this information is entered into the reservation record.
- If the agency cannot resolve the problem, ask whether the case needs to be escalated to Delta Reservations.
What If My Flight Is in Less Than 72 Hours?
- Contact Delta immediately.
- Do not rely on an assumption that a correction will happen automatically.
- Delta states that required Secure Flight Passenger Data should be present at least 72 hours before departure and warns that a reservation may be canceled if the required information is missing by that point.
If your flight is approaching:
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Confirm the correct DOB.
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Have your passport or government ID ready.
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Contact Delta or your ticketing agency.
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Explain that the DOB is incorrect.
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Request correction of the Secure Flight information.
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Ask the representative to confirm that the correction has been recorded.
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Keep the case or reference information provided to you.
Do not postpone the correction until airport check-in.
Does Changing Date of Birth Change My Flight Date?
No.
Changing the date of birth is a passenger-information correction. It is completely different from changing the date of travel.
For example:
Delta has separate rules for changing flight dates, times, and destinations. Delta's current change policy states that eligible Classic and Extra experiences on flights originating in the U.S. and Canada can generally be changed without a change fee, although fare differences may apply; Basic experiences and certain regions can have different rules.
Is a Date-of-Birth Correction the Same as a Name Correction?
No.
- These are separate passenger-data issues.
- A name correction changes an error in the traveler's name, while a DOB correction changes the date of birth associated with the passenger.
- Delta has separate procedures for name corrections and states that Secure Flight Passenger Data is part of the reservation information that must be handled appropriately when corrections are made.
- If both your name and date of birth are incorrect, tell Delta about both errors rather than submitting an incomplete correction.
Can I Change My Date of Birth in My Delta SkyMiles Account?
- Yes, Delta provides a specific process for updating the date of birth in a SkyMiles account.
- Delta says that customers who need to update their name, date of birth, or gender should use the Identity Verification Form. For DOB changes, identity documentation such as a driver's license or passport is required.
- If you can access your account, Delta recommends logging in before submitting the request.
- If you cannot access the account, Delta also provides an identity-verification process for customers who need help with account verification.
Does the DOB on My SkyMiles Account Have to Match My Passport?
- The safest approach is to ensure that your account and travel information accurately reflect your legal identity.
- Delta says that the name on a SkyMiles account needs to match the name on the legal identification used for travel. It also requires identity documentation for DOB corrections.
- For international travel, make sure your passport and reservation information are consistent before departure.
What Is Secure Flight Passenger Data?
Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) is information collected by airlines for the TSA's Secure Flight program.
Delta identifies the required SFPD as:
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Full name
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Date of birth
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Gender
A redress number may also be provided when applicable.
The information is used for security screening and watch-list matching.
Because DOB is a required component, passengers should treat an incorrect birth date as a genuine reservation issue rather than a harmless typo.
Can a Child's Date of Birth Be Corrected on a Delta Ticket?
- Yes, if the date of birth was entered incorrectly, it should be corrected.
- DOB is particularly important for children and infants because age can affect the applicable passenger type and travel requirements.
- Delta's reservation guidance shows that the passenger's date of birth is used in connection with infant and unaccompanied-minor requirements. For example, Delta notes that its unaccompanied-minor process depends partly on the child's age as reflected by the Secure Flight information.
- If a child's DOB was entered incorrectly, contact Delta promptly rather than waiting until airport check-in.
What If the Incorrect DOB Makes My Child Appear to Be an Infant?
- Contact Delta immediately.
- Age can affect whether a passenger qualifies as an infant, child, or adult under applicable ticketing and travel rules.
- Delta's published infant information states that infants under two can have different ticketing requirements, while children age two or older generally require a purchased ticket.
- Therefore, a DOB mistake that changes the apparent age of the traveler should be treated as a priority.
What If the DOB Error Changes the Passenger's Age Category?
The correction may have implications beyond security screening.
For example, a DOB error could make the passenger appear:
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Younger than they actually are
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Older than they actually are
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Under two years old
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Within an age range relevant to an unaccompanied-minor service
Do not attempt to solve such an issue by purchasing a second ticket before speaking with Delta. First explain the error and ask the airline how the existing reservation should be corrected.
Can I Correct the Date of Birth After Check-In?
- If you discover an error after check-in, contact Delta as soon as possible.
- A DOB correction should not be treated like an ordinary optional profile change when the flight is imminent because the information is part of Secure Flight Passenger Data.
- If necessary, Delta may need to update the reservation and ensure that the corrected information is properly transmitted.
- Do not wait until boarding if you already know the information is wrong.
What Should I Do at the Airport If the DOB Is Wrong?
If you arrive at the airport and discover that the DOB on your reservation is incorrect:
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Go to the Delta check-in counter.
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Explain that your date of birth was entered incorrectly.
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Provide your passport or government-issued ID.
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Ask the Delta representative to verify the Secure Flight information.
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Follow any instructions provided.
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Allow extra time for the correction.
If you are traveling internationally, arrive especially early because document verification and reservation corrections can require additional processing.
Does a DOB Correction Cost Money?
- A straightforward correction of a genuine date-of-birth error is different from changing your itinerary.
- Do not assume that you need to pay a flight-change fee simply because the DOB needs to be corrected.
- However, if correcting the passenger information reveals a separate ticketing problem—for example, an incorrect passenger type or other reservation issue—the applicable fare and ticketing rules may affect the outcome.
- The safest approach is to ask Delta to review the specific reservation before making any voluntary changes or purchasing a replacement ticket.
What Should I Do If Delta Says I Need a New Ticket?
First, ask why a new ticket is necessary.
A simple DOB typo should not automatically be treated as a request to replace the traveler.
Ask the representative to clarify whether:
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The ticket can be corrected.
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The Secure Flight information can be updated.
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The passenger's ticket type is affected.
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The reservation contains another error.
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The ticket was issued by a third party.
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Another airline operates part of the itinerary.
If a new ticket genuinely is required, ask Delta or the issuing agency about the options for the original ticket before purchasing anything else.
Common Mistakes When Correcting a Delta DOB
Waiting until the airport
- Correct the information as soon as you notice it.
Assuming the SkyMiles profile automatically changes the ticket
- A profile correction and a reservation correction are not necessarily the same action.
Entering the passport expiration date instead of the birth date
- Carefully distinguish the two fields when entering travel information.
Using an approximate date
- Use the exact date shown on your legal identity document.
Canceling the ticket immediately
- Do not cancel a valid reservation simply because of a DOB typo without first asking Delta how to correct it.
Ignoring the error because the name is correct
- DOB is part of Secure Flight Passenger Data and should be accurate.
Forgetting about children and infants
- An incorrect DOB can affect age-related travel requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions on Delta Airlines DOB Change
Can I change my date of birth on a Delta Airlines ticket?
- Yes, a genuine DOB error can be corrected, but you may need Delta's assistance. Delta's SkyMiles support guidance requires identity-verification documentation for DOB changes, such as a driver's license or passport.
How do I correct my date of birth on a Delta reservation?
- Check your Delta reservation first. If the correction cannot be made through your account, contact Delta and explain that the same passenger has an incorrect DOB in the reservation. Have your confirmation number and government-issued identification available.
What documents does Delta require for a DOB correction?
- Delta states that a date-of-birth change requires identity-verification documentation, giving a driver's license or passport as examples.
Is date of birth required on a Delta ticket?
- Date of birth is required as part of Secure Flight Passenger Data for applicable travel. Delta identifies full name, DOB, and gender as required information.
Can I change my DOB through my Delta SkyMiles account?
- Delta provides an Identity Verification Form for changes to basic SkyMiles information, including date of birth. Supporting identity documentation is required for a DOB change.
Will Delta charge me to correct a wrong date of birth?
- A DOB correction is different from voluntarily changing your itinerary. However, the consequences can depend on the reservation and passenger type, so ask Delta to review your specific case before making any ticket changes.
What if my flight is tomorrow and my DOB is wrong?
- Contact Delta immediately and have your government-issued identification available. Do not wait until boarding. Delta states that required Secure Flight Passenger Data should be included at least 72 hours before departure.
Can I change my child's DOB on a Delta ticket?
- Yes, if the DOB was entered incorrectly, contact Delta for a correction. This is particularly important if the incorrect DOB affects whether the child is treated as an infant, child, or another passenger category.
Does changing my DOB change my flight date?
- No. A date-of-birth correction changes passenger information; it does not change the date of travel.
Can a travel agent correct my Delta ticket's DOB?
- If the ticket was issued through a travel agency, contact the agency first. Depending on the ticket and reservation, the agency may be able to update the information or may need to contact Delta.
What happens if my Delta DOB does not match my passport?
- You should have the reservation corrected so that your travel information accurately reflects your legal identity. Contact Delta before traveling, particularly for international trips.
Can Delta cancel my reservation if my Secure Flight information is incomplete?
- Delta states that it may cancel a reservation if required Secure Flight Passenger Data is not included at least 72 hours before departure.
Date Change of Birth on a Delta Airlines Ticket Help
If you entered the wrong date of birth on a Delta Airlines ticket, correct it as soon as possible rather than waiting for check-in or airport security.
The first step is to determine whether the error exists in your SkyMiles profile, your reservation, or the Secure Flight Passenger Data associated with the booking. Delta's current SkyMiles support process specifically requires identity-verification documentation for DOB changes and provides an Identity Verification Form for submitting the request.
For an existing reservation, contact Delta or the agency that issued the ticket if the information cannot be corrected through your account. Have your confirmation number and valid government-issued identification ready.
The DOB is important because it forms part of the Secure Flight Passenger Data that Delta collects for applicable travel. If your flight is within the next few days, make the correction a priority because Delta states that required Secure Flight information should be available at least 72 hours before departure.
Most importantly, do not cancel or repurchase a ticket simply because of a DOB typo without first asking Delta how the existing reservation can be corrected. A genuine passenger-information correction is different from changing the traveler or changing the itinerary. For better information you can get help from our Expert by calling the number given on website. Or you can contact Delta Airlines in various ways here: Delta Airlines Help
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