A recent collaboration between Delta Air Lines and Shake Shack is taking the concept of getting a to-go burger to new heights.
In December, Delta passengers seated in first class on select flights were given the option of ordering a cheeseburger from the cult burger chain as their in-flight meal.
Initially, the burgers were available only on flights longer than 900 miles from Boston Logan International Airport. But as of last week, they are now on offer in first class on all flights of more than 900 miles out of:
- Boston
- Atlanta
- Los Angeles
- New York (LaGuardia)
- Seattle
“Customers are raving about the Shake Shack experience onboard our flights after serving more than 10,000 burgers out of Boston since launching in December,” Stephanie Laster, Delta’s managing director of onboard service, said in a press release.
Specifically, the entrée option includes Shake Shack’s 100 percent Angus beef patty, topped with cheese and served on a toasted potato bun. Travelers can customize their burger with sides of tomato, lettuce, and Shake Shack’s signature ShackSauce (a tangy, creamy dressing made with mayo, mustard, ketchup, and spices). The burger is served with chips, a Caesar salad, and a dark-chocolate brownie.
Travelers have to preselect the burger option in the Fly Delta app or through a link sent to their email before departure, which they can do between seven days and 24 hours before takeoff.
Select first-class passengers can opt for meatballs from Jon & Vinny’s Italian restaurant in Los Angeles.
Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
Delta is also expanding its long-standing partnership with Los Angeles Italian restaurant Jon & Vinny’s, and is now serving the outpost’s braised meatballs with marinara, garlic bread, and ricotta on added routes. Previously available only on first-class flights out of Los Angeles (LAX), the meatballs are now also on offer on first-class departures from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Minneapolis–St. Paul (MSP), Orlando (MCO), Portland (PDX), Seattle (SEA), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Tampa (TPA). First-class passengers on all Delta flights will have the option to try a new snack in honor of the airline’s centennial: a special Biscoff sandwich cookie.
Regardless of where they are seated, fliers can also try some of the new tipples on board. Delta recently refreshed its wine program, which is overseen by master sommelier Andrea Robinson. Since 2007, Robinson has been responsible for finding reds, whites, and rosés that shine even at higher elevations.
Airplane food has long been a punch line, and in recent years, airlines across the globe have been working to overhaul their food and beverage offerings. Once criticized for blandness, in-flight meals are now crafted by renowned chefs, and they include gourmet options and cater to diverse dietary preferences, offering vegan, gluten-free, and health-conscious choices. That’s especially true for travelers sitting at the front of the plane. For example, passengers flying in business class on Turkish Airlines can dine on dishes prepared by the airline’s award-winning Flying Chefs. Similarly, travelers in Air France’s long-haul La Première and Business cabins can choose entrées curated by renowned Régis Marcon and Thierry Marx, two French chefs who helm Michelin-starred restaurants in their home country.
This story was originally published in November 2024, and was refreshed on March 10, 2025, to include current information.
