Only Two Airlines Have Nonbinary Options

A mother in Arizona called out Delta Air Lines after she was unable to purchase a ticket for her adult nonbinary child due to the company’s limited gender options in the booking process.

Dawn Henry, 52, posted her experience on Twitter, revealing how the airline only has binary gender options which prevented her from buying a surprise holiday trip home for her unnamed child. Henry noted that while Delta says nonbinary folks are allowed to fly, its reservation system makes it impossible to buy a ticket for those with a nonbinary gender marker.

Delta was one of several major U.S. carriers who promised years ago to be more inclusive for nonbinary customers. Currently only American and United offer additional gender options for passengers booking flights.

“I am committed to fixing this, not just for my child, but for everyone who holds legal ID with an X gender marker,” Henry told NBC News in a Twitter message. “My hope is that pressure on the airlines (not just Delta, but the others that have not updated their systems) will get this done.”

This piece originally ran in Out Traveler print magazine. The Spring 2022 issue is now available on newsstands.