Airlines love launching branded collaborations, because, well… people care about brands. In 2024, we saw Delta and Shake Shack launch a partnership for first class catering, which has perhaps been one of the most talked about airline collaborations we’ve seen.
I can’t say I’m a huge burger fan, but I finally figured I had to give this a try for myself, given all the hype, and I’d like to report back…
In this post:
The Shake Shack cheeseburger in Delta first class
Delta’s Shake Shack cheeseburger is available exclusively for pre-order in first class on select domestic lunch and dinner flights. Over the weekend I was flying Delta from Boston (BOS) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and this was a pre-order option, so I figured I had to order it.
Here’s how it’s described:
Shake Shack Cheeseburger
Angus beef, cheese, toasted potato bun with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and ShakeSauce on the side. Served with crinkle cut potato chips and a brownie.
Below is how it was presented. As you can see, the burger is served open-faced in a casserole-style dish, then the toppings are in a bowl to the side, and then there were packaged chips and a brownie.
I don’t actually like burgers, but this was well executed
Okay, real talk, I’m probably not the person to judge a burger, because I don’t particularly care for burgers (minor detail, eh?). I’m not a huge meat eater, and when it comes to indulgences, a burger just doesn’t rank up there on the list of things that appeal to me.
Here’s what I will say, though — I appreciate the thought that went into how this is presented and prepared, given the unique constraints of airplane food:
- It makes sense to serve it open-faced and to have all the toppings on the side, so that it doesn’t get too soggy
- As much as it would be nice to have fries, those simply can’t be served with decent quality on a plane, so chips are a better alternative
I can’t help but contrast this to the (unbranded) sliders & fries that American is serving in first class, also available by pre-order. As much as I’m a fan of pretzel buns and french fries, the execution simply isn’t as good. The whole thing is just sort of a soggy mess.
That’s not to say it won’t be satisfying to some people who eat it, but it’s definitely less in line with what you’d hope for on the ground.
Bottom line
Delta’s first class pre-order Shake Shack cheeseburger is perhaps the most talked about airplane meal out there. It’s a brilliant collaboration, and while I’m not a big burger fan, I appreciated the thought that went into the execution, like not serving it with fries, presenting it open-faced, etc.
If you’ve tried the Delta Shake Shack burger, what was your take?
We are so easily pleased as a people. Give us some branded junk food in first class and we go gaga over it and talk about it endlessly.
Did you have access to the delta one lounge? Would love to see an updated review on that and your thoughts on its restaurant only style.
One of the DL options for the pre-landing meal out of DUB (thus, no preordering) was a grilled onion cheeseburger. It was not promoted as Shake Shack. I figured I'd try it. It looked "prettier" than the one you pictured (though I don't get the comments of those who wouldn't eat it based on looks). And, it was nice. Not "hey, I want a burger, this is a great one." It was a " hey, that's an amazingly satisfying burger for a plane."
This looks disgusting.
Well, based on your 2023 review of the United burger, it looks like Delta’s domestic first food program beats out AA and UA. Everyone’s shocked
Might as well complete the gauntlet with the Alaska Tillamook cheeseburger. I’d argue that not being a burger fan makes you better equipped to review these than most
Can't eat cheese so that lets me out.
Too bad; I'd like a burger on a flight.
Don't worry, that thing Americans put on burgers has very little to do with actual cheese :)
Delta is just an Applebee's that thinks it's French Laundry. And the burger looks gross.
That cheese looks ghastly :'(
Would love to see Delta work with Chick-fil-A on something similar
Unfortunately, still not available on Sunday (flights).
No thanks on the hate chicken!
Would love to see Delta work with Chick-fil-A on something similar
As long as they remember the sauce.
@Ben, vaguely unrelated question - how to you catalogue your photos? For comparison you included a photo of sliders you got on an AA flight at some point. Did you have a photo tagged somewhere of "AA sliders" or how long did it take you to go through photos from AA flights to find one?
Wish they’d do the Chicken Shack burger which for me is much nicer than the beef burger; it also would also reheat much better in the skies. I did do a double take on the pic of the potato chips as it was lost in my Brit translation A burger with crisps…. No thanks
No commentary on the taste, arguably the most important part?
Seems like you're skirting around the actual substance, you remark that it's "well-executed" in terms of the presentation and everything.
But does it actually taste good? That's what matters. You include your opinions on it in pretty much all reviews normally.
Sir, this is (not) a Wendy’s…
I’m writing a review of a burger, but I don’t like burgers and probably shouldn’t review one, here’s my review of the burger. Ok
Not a review. Lucky has pretty specific definitions on what a "review" on this website is. This is more like just reactions
Maybe we'll get the full write-up as part of the review of the flight. It was a first class flight, after all!
I thought it was fine. I wouldn’t get it again. The regular meal options are more substantial and the packaged brownie was the biggest fail for me when my neighbors were served fresh played desserts.
I dunno when United did fries they were crispy. They just had to leave them a little longer in the oven while in the box. They can be done it just requires the flight attendant to not be lazy.
I agree it is from a taste standpoint better to swrve it open face and toppings to the side, but.....
....my does it make it look less appetizing. I very much like Shake Shack, but yeah that makes it look worse.
Glad it still tastes decent.
YUK! Is that a Joke?
Besides Cathay, JAL and ANA also serve really good burgers as well.
And Singapore airlines
That looks rank
I actually like burgers on planes compared with other meals! Best so far - Singapore. Delta is better than AA; at one point United did a taste of Chicago with some great options too
When they stop looking like they have been run over by a city bus hours before, then I might have a bite
Eh, still slightly better than the salads that gift us with now-deadly *explosive diarrhea* (RIP)
Very premium road kill!
You should try the Cathay Pacific Cheeseburger which comes out like a restaurant burger together with air fried fries!
Yes!! Some say, it’s the water from Hong Kong harbor that makes it so tasty. Kinda like what they say about the water in NYC for bagels and pizza, etc.
Lived in NYC for over 20 years. Nobody says that about the water in NYC ffs
Oh, well, Jake, if you have Manhattan landline, then you must be ‘right’… or, you’re just ignoring a well-known sentiment. Will you next pretend the city is a war zone and the Subways are still covered in graffiti like in the 1970s?
I do enjoy burgers, especially a shake shack one... and I think Delta did a very good job on this. I've had it a couple of times now and I'm always happy with it.
Looks ghastly. Hard pass for me.
What a gourmet wants is an original Shake Shake burger (no cheese , no potato chips) ; and a chocolate Shake-Shake shake . I can wolf down two of each in three seconds .
Definitely better than those awful AA sliders, and about the same as UA’s cheeseburger, but actually Delta served a non-Shake Shack burger on an eastbound TATL with fresh lettuce and tomato that was better. QR and SQ have better burgers overall.
Sorry, forgot one. CX’s burger is good, too.
1990 ... HK burger tastes like stinky HK harbor fish because of the floating sampan kitchen .
Is that what makes it so tasty? Welp, who am I to question ‘delicious’…