When booking a flight, most travelers don’t give much thought to listing their correct birthdate. After all, it’s just a date, right? However, providing the right birthdate when purchasing an airline ticket can actually make a difference in some cases.
Here are some quick answers on how your birthdate matters when buying a plane ticket:
- Age-related discounts – Some airlines offer discounted fares for seniors and children under a certain age. You’ll need to provide a valid birthdate to get those discounts.
- Unaccompanied minor requirements – Children under a certain age (usually 14-15) need special arrangements when flying alone. The airline needs the birthdate to verify age.
- Legal ID requirements – Your birthdate helps verify your identity when providing a government-issued ID at check-in.
- TSA screening – Children 12 and under can keep shoes on through security. Travelers 75 and older can leave laptops in bags.
- Travel requirements – Certain international destinations may have age-related visa, permit, or vaccination requirements based on birthdate.
How airlines use passengers’ birthdates
For airlines, a passenger’s birthdate serves several important functions beyond determining age for discounts and requirements. Here are some of the key ways carriers rely on accurate birthdate data:
- Passenger identification – Birthdate helps confirm identity in airline reservation records and is printed on boarding passes.
- Customer profiles – Date of birth allows airlines to store detailed passenger profiles with personal information, preferences, special service requests, dietary needs, mileage program data, etc.
- Identification in case of emergency – Accurate birthdate helps airlines identify passengers who are hurt or worse during travel.
- Internal reporting – Airlines analyze passenger demographics like age brackets for internal business intelligence and marketing purposes.
- Regulatory requirements – Carriers must verify passenger identities and ages to comply with TSA and other regulations.
Unlike some information airlines collect, birthdate serves an operational purpose beyond just marketing. That’s why providing your correct date of birth matters when booking a flight.
What if I enter the wrong birthdate?
Because birthdate does play several roles, entering the incorrect date of birth when purchasing an airline ticket can lead to the following issues:
- Inability to access age-based discounts
- Denied boarding due to age restrictions
- Language barriers around wrong assumed age
- Limitations for unaccompanied minors
- Delays at airport security
- Challenges verifying ID
- Misidentification in a crisis
While it may seem harmless, putting the wrong birthdate simply to get age-related perks can backfire. Airlines do verify DOB at check-in by matching it against government-issued ID used for travel. If the dates don’t match, you may be denied boarding until the matter is cleared up.
Examples where birthdate matters
To highlight when providing correct birthdates really makes a difference, here are some real-world examples of birthdates impacting air travel:
Senior fares and discounts
Many airlines like Southwest, American, Delta, and United offer discounted fares to travelers 65 and older. However, to access senior prices, you must supply accurate birthdate information showing you meet the age threshold. Putting an incorrect birthdate to get lower prices could lead to denied boarding at the airport.
Child and infant policies
Children under 2 may fly free as lap infants on many airlines. However, providing proof of age via birthdate is required. Additionally, unaccompanied minor procedures apply to children 5-14 depending on the carrier. Again, correct birthdate information is key. Entering an adult’s birthdate for a child could impact these rules.
International age requirements
Some countries have minimum age requirements for visitors that are enforced by airlines. For example, visitors to the Maldives must be at least 1 year old. Travelers to the UAE cannot be over 70. Airlines verify age based on birthdate to comply with these restrictions.
Government IDs and security
Your date of birth will be matched against government-issued ID at airport security and check-in. A mismatch could lead to extra screening, delays, or denied boarding. TSA also uses DOB as a data point when scanning IDs like drivers licenses to verify identity.
Drinking age verification
Birthdate helps airlines determine the legal drinking age for passengers. Entering an incorrect DOB could allow younger flyers to purchase alcohol onboard against regulations.
Tips for entering birthdate when booking flights
To avoid any hassles around incorrect birthdate, follow these tips when purchasing airline tickets:
- Have your government-issued ID handy – This ensures you enter the birthdate exactly as it appears on your identification used for travel.
- Double check for accuracy – Review your entire ticket booking before submitting to catch any incorrect birthdate entries.
- Match birthdate across travelers – Verify all passenger birthdates if booking for others, especially children.
- Use your legal name – Make sure the name on your ticket matches your ID. Nicknames can cause a birthdate discrepancy.
- Speak up about mistakes – If you notice an airline has the wrong birthdate, get it corrected as early as possible.
What if I prefer not to share my birthdate?
Some travelers may not feel comfortable providing their date of birth when booking a flight. However, most airlines require an accurate birthdate to successfully complete reservations. Here are some options if you wish to limit birthdate use:
- Book over the phone – You may be able to provide DOB directly to an agent instead of online forms.
- Use mileage programs – Enrollment typically includes DOB so you can book award tickets without reentering.
- Ask to have it removed – Request the airline delete DOB from your customer profile if possible.
- Limit extras – Decline upgrades, seats, and perks that often rely on accurate birthdates.
- Look into alternate IDs – In some cases, a passport number can substitute for birthdate.
But keep in mind, airlines are within rights to require and verify birthdates for tickets. Most carriers will be unable to book travelers unwilling to provide DOB due to legal obligations around age verification for safety and security.
Should I lie about my age to get discounts?
While tempting to alter your birthdate to access cheaper senior fares and other age-based perks, doing so is ill-advised. Airlines thoroughly verify date of birth during travel, so you will likely get caught with mismatching information. Here are potential consequences of putting an incorrect birthdate when booking:
- Denied boarding – Airline will not let you fly due to mismatch between ticket and ID.
- Cancellation of reservations – Ticket is voided if true age is revealed.
- Removal from frequent flyer program – Lying about DOB can get you kicked out of mileage plans.
- Future scrutiny of bookings – Airlines may flag you for providing fraudulent info.
- Legal issues – Using false info to access age-based fares may violate laws.
The best approach is always to provide your accurate legal date of birth when purchasing airline tickets. The small discount is not worth risking significant travel delays or problems at the airport. Be comfortable with your real age!
Conclusion
While birthdate may seem like routine booking information, it can truly impact your travel experience in multiple ways. Entering your correct date of birth when purchasing airline tickets helps verify your identity, enables applicable age-related discounts and policies, allows for a smooth airport experience, and gives carriers vital data they require for operations and compliance.
So do yourself a favor – take a few extra seconds when booking flights to carefully enter your legal birthdate exactly as it appears on your government ID. Your future jet-setting self will thank you!