Can I book the same flight as someone else?

Yes. Any seat still for sale on that flight can be bought by anyone. You need the airline, flight number and departure date, then book the same flight in a separate reservation. Your fare may differ from theirs because prices change over time.

How do I know which flight someone is on?

Ask for a screenshot of their confirmation. The airline code and flight number (for example DL 264 or UA 918), the departure date and the two airport codes are all you need. Ignore their name and booking reference — you cannot and should not use those.

Can we sit together if we booked separately?

Usually yes, but it is not automatic. Call the airline and ask them to link or cross-reference the two reservations, then pick adjacent seats on the seat map. If seats are not assignable in advance, ask at check-in or at the gate.

Can I book a flight for someone else?

Yes. Airlines let you buy a ticket in another person's name — you just enter their full name exactly as it appears on their passport or ID, plus their date of birth. The payment card does not need to match the passenger.

How to book the same Delta flight as someone else

To book the same Delta flight as someone else, search their route and date, filter to Delta, and match the flight number (DL plus one to four digits) and departure time. Once you have your own ticket, call Delta on 1-800-221-1212 with both confirmation numbers and ask them to link the reservations — Delta agents can associate separate records so you are treated as one party for seating and irregular operations.

Finding the flight

Get the flight number and departure date from their confirmation — for example Delta flight number plus the date. A screenshot is enough.
Search the same route and date on delta.com or on Google Flights, and filter the results to Delta.
Match the scheduled departure time, then expand the itinerary and check that the flight number is identical. Same number, same date, same aircraft.
Book your own ticket. It will be a separate reservation from theirs.

Delta specifics

Linking bookings. Delta does not offer this online — it is a phone call. Have both six-character confirmation numbers ready and ask the agent to seat you together while the records are open.
Seat selection. Main Cabin fares include free advance seat selection. Comfort+ and Preferred seats cost extra or come with status. Delta One and First have their own seat maps.
Basic Economy. Delta Basic Economy assigns seats after check-in and does not let you choose in advance. Two Basic Economy tickets on the same flight will very likely not be adjacent. Pay up to Main Cabin if you want a say.
Same-Day Confirmed. If you booked a different Delta flight that day, you can request Same-Day Confirmed to move onto theirs, subject to seat availability, within 24 hours of departure. It is free for Medallion members and a flat fee otherwise; Basic Economy is excluded.
Delta Connection and joint ventures. Flight numbers above 3000 are usually operated by regional partners. Transatlantic tickets sold as Delta may be operated by Air France, KLM or Virgin Atlantic, with a different number on the same aircraft — match by route and time.

Pitfalls

Delta's fare for the same seat changes daily, so do not be surprised by a higher price than the one your friend paid. If the confirmation you were sent shows a connection, remember each leg is a separate flight to match — see how to read a confirmation screenshot.

The faster way

SameFly does the matching for you: drop in a screenshot of their confirmation and it reads the airline, flight number, route and date, then sends you straight to that exact flight. It is free, no account is needed, and the image is never stored.

Drop a screenshot of your flight confirmation

Drag & drop, click to browse, or paste with ⌘/Ctrl + V

PNG, JPG or PDF

Common questions

Can I book the same flight as someone else?: Yes. Any seat still for sale on that flight can be bought by anyone. You need the airline, flight number and departure date, then book the same flight in a separate reservation. Your fare may differ from theirs because prices change over time.
How do I know which flight someone is on?: Ask for a screenshot of their confirmation. The airline code and flight number (for example DL 264 or UA 918), the departure date and the two airport codes are all you need. Ignore their name and booking reference — you cannot and should not use those.
Can we sit together if we booked separately?: Usually yes, but it is not automatic. Call the airline and ask them to link or cross-reference the two reservations, then pick adjacent seats on the seat map. If seats are not assignable in advance, ask at check-in or at the gate.
Can I book a flight for someone else?: Yes. Airlines let you buy a ticket in another person's name — you just enter their full name exactly as it appears on their passport or ID, plus their date of birth. The payment card does not need to match the passenger.