The OP has at least two clear problems.

1. He tried to travel with unclear and confusing documents. People change their names all the time and manage to get their tickets in order - how many hundred "Getting Married, Changing Name" threads have their been on FT in the last decade? It isn't hard to get this right, but the OP failed to do so.

2. Rather than wait for the Delta team to accommodate him on a later flight, the OP bought a ticket on another airline. This is just silly - graciously explaining your error in the naming convention on the tickets and travel documents will usually, eventually, see the airline re-accommodate you on a later flight. Again, how many threads here on FT talk about showing up with the wrong passport, on the wrong day for the ticketed flight, after the gate has closed, even at the wrong airport, etc. In almost every case, the airline will eventually put you on another flight.

Unless you shout and curse at them or accuse them of being racists, of course.

Lessons learned:

1. Get your passport fixed.

2. Don't compound your error by purchasing a ticket on another airline it a fit if irrational pique - that will only end in tears.

The problem is with the OP.