> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thecontrail.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # United Banned AI Agents. Delta's CEO Says It's Too Early to Do the Same - URL: https://www.thecontrail.org/delta-ai-agents-booking-ed-bastian/ - Published: 2026-11-12T16:27:39.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-13T16:50:47.000Z - Description: A day after United shut out AI booking assistants, Delta's CEO took a much softer line. Here's what he said and what it means for you. - Author: Zach Benitez - Tags: News, Delta, United Delta isn't ready to shut the door on AI agents booking flights, at least not yet. A day after United said it would block personal AI assistants from booking and managing trips, Delta CEO Ed Bastian struck a much softer tone on Thursday. "It's too early for us to declare 'we're not going to work in the agentic world,'" he said, in remarks shared on X by Thrifty Traveler's Kyle Potter. Agentic is the tech industry's word for AI tools that can act for you, like logging in to a website and booking a flight on your behalf. That's a very different message from the one United sent on Wednesday. Delta vs United ยท AI assistants Where the Two Airlines Stand **United**Blocking outside AI assistants from booking, changing or checking in for you **Delta**No ban. Its CEO says it's "too early" to rule AI booking out **Both worry about**Privacy, fraud and keeping your account safe **Still fine**Using AI to research flights and compare fares **What to do**Book and check in yourself, and don't share your airline password Graphic: ContrailContrail --- ## What Bastian Said Bastian didn't say Delta is welcoming AI agents with open arms. He said the airline is "being careful," and he echoed some of the same privacy and fraud worries United raised. He also made a point of saying Delta can spot these tools: "We can identify the agents when they approach us." He played down how big this is right now, too. The volumes are "relatively low," he said, and while they're growing fast, they're "still quite modest." So Delta seems to be watching AI booking closely rather than banning it. It hasn't announced any new rules, but it hasn't said it'll let outside assistants book on delta.com either. Delta has said before that it doesn't have any partnership that lets an outside AI agent shop for or book its flights. --- ## How That Compares With United United went much further on Wednesday. It said it's blocking "unauthorized, third-party personal AI agents or assistants" on its app and website and through the travel sites that sell its tickets. It pointed to account security, purchases you didn't mean to make and government safety rules, like the check-in question about what's in your bag. I went through the details, and why I think it's a mistake, in [my piece on United's AI agent ban](https://www.thecontrail.org/united-airlines-ai-agents-ban/). What's interesting is how close the two airlines actually are on the worries. Both talk about privacy, fraud and keeping your account safe. The difference is that United decided to close the door now, while Delta is leaving it open a crack while it figures out what comes next. ## Know Before You Fly Get the airline changes that actually affect your trips, free in your inbox. Get Contrail Free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. --- ## What It Means for You If you fly Delta, nothing changes today. You can still use an AI assistant to research flights and compare fares on any airline. Handing one your SkyMiles login and letting it book for you is more of a gray area. Delta hasn't banned it, but it hasn't approved any tool to do it either, and Bastian made it clear the airline can tell when an agent shows up. If an AI booking goes wrong, getting it fixed could be a headache, so the safest move is still to book yourself and keep your password to yourself. The bigger story is where this is heading. "Too early" sounds a lot like an airline keeping its options open, and my guess is Delta ends up working with approved AI tools long before United does. If that happens, the airline that said no first might be the one that has to catch up, especially if travelers start booking wherever their assistant can actually finish the job. It's the same kind of race airlines are already running in their own apps, like [American's new standby option](https://www.thecontrail.org/american-airlines-standby-earlier-flight-app/).