What is Contact Tracing? 

The Delta CareStandard℠ focuses on creating a safer travel experience for everyone. As part of that effort, we’re asking our customers to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by participating in contact tracing. Contact tracing is voluntary unless specified by a specific flight, country, city or region. 

Contact tracing is a process already being used in many countries and communities around the world to identify and alert those who have come into close contact with the COVID-19 virus to help reduce exposure and increase awareness. 

You will be asked to provide your address while in the United States (U.S.) and a phone number. This information, in addition to contact information you provided during ticket purchase or at check-in, will be shared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) via U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) utilizing established channels for the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS).*

If after your flight, there is a suspected case identified on board, the CDC will work directly with local health departments to contact you and provide follow-up instructions for testing and/or potential quarantine.  

Follow-up of travelers is at the discretion of health departments and may be considered by jurisdictions implementing safety measures.  

*Please refer to Delta’s Privacy Policy for details. For more information, go to www.CDC.gov, opens in a new window or www.CBP.gov, opens in a new window, or see CBP’s Privacy Impact Assessment for the Advance Passenger Information System, opens in a new window. 

Who Can Participate?

Delta and our global partners are working diligently with our respective government agencies, health officials and aviation authorities to offer safer travel at every point in your journey. 

You and those in your itinerary can voluntarily participate if you are:  

  • Flying on a Delta operated flight or flying on a global partner airline ticket with a Delta operated segment, and
  • You are a foreign national and/or a U.S. passport holder traveling to the United States as your final destination.
Frequently Asked Questions

Though contact tracing is strongly encouraged to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, participation is voluntary and not required for air travel on Delta or our partners unless specified by a specific flight, country, city or region.  

We recommend you check your destination specific travel requirements that may be applicable during your trip. We recommend before traveling, that you check with local airports of origin and destination to ensure you have the latest information. 

When you participate in contact tracing, the CDC will work with local health departments to alert you to help reduce further exposure.  

Follow-up of travelers may include: 

  • Contacting travelers 
  • Providing instructions for what travelers should do if they develop illness compatible with COVID-19 
  • Possible intermittent check-in during the two weeks after arrival 

To support contact tracing, Delta is asking passengers to provide their destination address while in the U.S. and a phone number. This information, in addition to contact information you provided during ticket purchase or at check-in, will be shared with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) via U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) utilizing established channels for the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS). We will retain this information in our systems for no longer than is necessary to achieve the contact tracing objectives, or as required by CBP.


Please refer to Delta’s Privacy Policy for details. For more information, go to CBP.gov or CDC.gov, or see CBP’s Privacy Impact Assessment for the Advance Passenger Information System., opens in a new window

All Delta customers flying to Atlanta from Rome are required to submit their contact tracing information prior to boarding. If you do not wish to provide your contact tracing information, you have the option to select a different flight to the U.S.