Delta & Shake Shack Partner To Serve Burgers Onboard

Delta & Shake Shack Partner To Serve Burgers Onboard

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Delta Air Lines has just announced a new collaboration for its first class dining, which I’m sure some people will like, but it’s not for me…

Details of the Delta & Shake Shack partnership

Delta and Shake Shack are introducing a first-of-its-kind partnership, whereby Delta will begin serving Shake Shack cheeseburgers in first class on domestic flights. This will be available out of Boston as of December 1, 2024, and will be expanded to other US markets throughout 2025.

Customers seated in first class on flights of over 900 miles will be able to pre-select a cheeseburger as their meal option, between 24 hours and seven days of departure.

Here’s how Stephanie Laster, Delta’s Managing Director of Onboard Service, describes this:

“A delicious cheeseburger is an iconic comfort food – our customers know that which is why burgers are one of the top ordered menu items we offer, and we’re thrilled to elevate the offering with Shake Shack. However, our partnership with Shake Shack goes beyond the burger. Shake Shack’s people-first culture and commitment to enriching their neighborhoods are spot on with our own brand values of service excellence and helping the communities we serve.”

The airline highlights how the Shake Shack cheeseburger features 100% Angus beef patties, topped with cheese and served on a toasted potato bun. Burgers can also be customized to create the signature ShackBurger, with toppings like tomato, lettuce, and ShackSauce, all served on the side.

The meal also features chips, a caesar salad, and a dark chocolate brownie, reminiscent of Shack Attack flavors from some of the brand’s dessert offerings.

Delta will serve Shake Shack burgers in first class

My take on the Delta & Shake Shack collaboration

Delta is hardly the first airline to serve burgers in first class, so the concept is nothing new. For that matter, Delta has even served burgers in first class in the past. However, collaborating with a popular burger place on this is a unique approach we haven’t seen from most other airlines.

I know many people enjoy ordering burgers on planes, so if you’re one of those people, I’m sure this will be a treat. Hopefully the quality somewhat reflects the partnership, and these burgers are better than those served by some other airlines.

Personally I won’t be ordering one of these, unless it’s just to give it a try for review purposes. I’m not a big burger person to begin with, but if I am going to eat a burger, I want it to at least be freshly made.

I’ve written in the past about my approach to ordering airplane food. In domestic first class, I generally prefer either cold dishes, or dishes that reheat well. After all, this food isn’t freshly prepared, but hot dishes are reheated prior to being served.

The closer a dish is to something you might find in the freezer section of Trader Joe’s, the better the odds it could be decent. Indian food? It reheats really well. Burgers? Not so much, in my opinion. But that’s just my take…

Burger in Delta first class (non-Shake Shack)

Bottom line

Delta is partnering with Shake Shack to serve the brand’s popular cheeseburgers in first class. These burgers will be available for pre-order on flights of 900+ miles, and will initially be offered on flights out of Boston as of December 2024, before expanding to other routes in 2025.

What do you make of Delta serving Shake Shack cheeseburgers? Would you order this in first class?

Conversations (73)
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  1. Food Guest

    Lol someone said 10 dollars?! Brother. It's like almost 9 dollars already on dry land. They need to sell it at like 15.

  2. Daniel Guest

    As someone who likes Shake Shack, I am intrugued - but have very, very low optimism on the actual burger served on the plane tasting anything close to the burger grilled live at a real Shake Shack.

    But honestly, credit Delta for the tie-in.

  3. YYZ18 Guest

    Too bad you can't get it without the cheese for the Lactose intolerant crowd.
    Would be nice for DL to offer chili dogs from The Varsity, a home town favorite.

  4. FLLFLYER Guest

    Those Varsity "Sliders" would be great on flights out of ATL. Flying Fart Machines!

    1. Jaded platinum Guest

      Naw, they should just go right to the chili dogs...

  5. Jaded platinum Guest

    Considering how hit or miss the green chile cheeseburger was.... I imagine this is not going to be the premium dining experience the new catering director thinks it is... Don't get me started on the "neopolitan pepperoni pizza" experiment....

  6. David S Guest

    Infinitely better than most of the choices on BA

  7. Creditcrunch Diamond

    I actually quite like this concept, as it’s pre order I would probably go for it. I prefer tapas style eating these days, lots of small tasty bite sized items, I would rather have a good meal in the lounge and then just have snack style meals on board.

  8. Jason Guest

    Two kinds of U.S. airlines:
    1. advertise a plane burger as the most premium invention in the world and charge you $200 more and if you are their top published member, maybe $10000
    2. hand out sad boxes on domestic first, and offer mini, not-really-lie-flat on their long haul with ~30yo plane and still price it 2 or 3 grands.
    WAIT A MINUTE, maybe they could be the same airline!

  9. Tim Dunn Diamond

    looks like a whole lot of people didn't bother to read this is a pre-select option.

    If you don't want it, there will be another choice.

    1. Timtamtrak Diamond

      Yes, for anyone for *pays* for Delta One or domestic First out of BOS, followed by other markets. Those who get the elite upgrades that don’t exist won’t have the option. Blessing or curse, only they can decide.

  10. Anthony Diamond

    Delta - going with Shake Shack (started in Manhattan) instead of the home town Varsity. Another example of how Delta is neglecting its Atlanta roots.

    1. Julie Guest

      fair, but not many people know what Varsity is outside Atlanta. Shake Shack is far more known in the US

    2. Fsuga Guest

      I'm an Atlanta native and have zero qualms stating Varsity burgers are absolutely overcooked garbage. Think about how atrocious they look traveling 100 feet from the restaurant to your car, then imagine the presentation a day later on a plane. It would be a horror show online.
      Now, if they wanted to really go for it, you figure out how to pull off Holeman & Finch burgers and sell them for $25.

  11. UncleRonnie Diamond

    Chill out Premuim pax. If you don’t want a burger, just order the chicken.

  12. Sam Jackson Guest

    Agree with Joker, disgusting. Typical of all US airlines. I would rather eat my own testicles than the food they serve on board Delta, United or American. Singapore or Japan airlines any day of the week

    1. NOLAviator Guest

      you always give yourself away because no one else on this forum routinely talks about testicles in their posts

  13. Jake Guest

    Can I say ... yuck?

    This is what North American "first" class has become, reduced to offering cuts of meat of such bad quality that they have to be ground in order to be served?

    I agree with Alonzo that it should be something they sell to economy class passengers.

    Ridicolous.

  14. Robert D Guest

    Even when freshly made, Shake Shack burgers are just not very good.

  15. Aaron Guest

    If I'm Shake Shack, I'm not sure slapping my pristine brand on a reheated airplane burger is the best PR move.

    1. Aaron Guest

      To be fair, it's like not Shake Shack is the most premium of burger chains.

  16. George Romey Guest

    I could deal with that cheeseburger meal instead some of the strange stuff served in AA domestic first. It's airplane food. A burger will suffice.

  17. Brian Guest

    Uh oh. You expressed your opinion on not being a burger fan. Hopefully, Shake Shake doesn't have video footage of you ordering McDonald's! ;)

  18. vlcnc Guest

    These feels risky for ShakeShack reputation wise and I agree with Lucky that burgers on a plane just don't work.

  19. Clara Guest

    This should help solve America’s obesity crisis!

  20. Alonzo Diamond

    I actually like this a lot. Seems like something Jetblue would do instead of Delta.

    If Delta offered these burgers in economy class for $10, they would sell like hot cakes.

    1. ImmortalSynn Guest

      Hell, ShakeShack themselves barely sell them for $10. Have you eaten there? Almost need a small personal loan!

    2. Alonzo Diamond

      I eat there monthly. The burger price doesn’t seem to be affecting their stock price or international expansion. There are Shake Shack's EVERYWHERE now.

      Save your complaints for Five Guys.

    3. ImmortalSynn Guest

      Dumb@ss, I'm not talking about their fiscal well-being, I'm saying that there's no way a third party is going to retail them cheaper than the corporate home.

    4. f15x28 Member

      As I read the article I kept thinking it was JetBlue doing this, perhaps because JetBlue is more likely to do innovative partnerships and because both JetBlue (corporate HQ and main hub) and Shake Shack are from NYC.

  21. MildMidwesterner Diamond

    Every airline should offer a burger that best aligns with its brand or home region:

    Delta & Shake Shack
    American & Whataburger
    United & McDonalds
    Alaska & In-n-Out
    Spirit & White Castle
    Hawaiian & Big Kahuna Burger

    1. Stanley C Diamond

      @MildMidesterner No love for Burger King or Five Guys?

    2. MildMidwesterner Diamond

      Burger King would obviously be affiliated with Royal Jordanian or Royal Air Maroc.

    3. Stanley C Diamond

      @MildMidwesterner Haha!!!!!

    4. Timtamtrak Diamond

      @ MildMidwesterner - first, LMAO at the Burker King reply.

      Second, I think Alaska would be better off partnered with Burgerville, a Portland-area staple. Or Taco Time!

    5. Timtamtrak Diamond

      Burger* King so sorry

    6. Noah Guest

      If United put Portillos on the plane or in the lounge....

    7. Rob in Miami Member

      BurgerKing was born out of Miami and, I believe, is still headed out of Miami.
      So, that would make AA = BK
      (Do not even know what a Whataburger is)

  22. FNT Delta Diamond Guest

    Nothing says PREMIUM and LUXURY on a $4,000 Delta One ticket or $1,700 domestic first-class ticket than a fast-food burger. If tiny Air Baltic and [now-defunct] Czech Airlines can offer up extensive pre-order selections equivalent to a brasserie, so can Delta.

    1. Jake Guest

      Agree. Noting screams premium less than cuts of meats of such bad quality that have to be ground up in order to be served.

    2. Dave W. Guest

      You must buy awful stuff. I rather look forward to steak tartare on visits to France.

  23. Aaron Guest

    I guess it beats serving Burger King or McDonalds?

  24. NedsKid Diamond

    Generally big brands stay away from partnerships like this because the execution and quality varies so much out of their direct control. Maybe Delta has magic ovens that'll make this come out much better than any other time this has been tried?

    1. FNT Delta Diamond Guest

      I would not be surprised if it isn't even real Shake Shack. Delta and Delta's catering contractor(s) are probably just licensing the Shake Shack name and will serve a burger that looks like what Shake Shack serves but isn't necessarily coming directly from Shake Shack. You see this all the time when Delta touts a local chef. It's always described as "inspired by chef [name]'s restaurant."

  25. JN Guest

    No threat to IN-N-OUT.

    Still a great idea; kudos to Delta for the *choice*.

  26. NS Diamond

    Haven't had a Shake Shack since 2018. I liked their burgers, but how well that translate into a Delta's in-flight meal is... let's see.

    Reminds of me the times when JAL served a Mos Burger (Japanese burger franchise) as a meal in economy class in early 2010s.

  27. Romuald Holubowicz Guest

    Delta need to drop its predilection for smothering its on-board hot meals with cheese to try to disguise how disgusting they are. There’s no hiding it. My last flight on Delta there was not a single meal offered that was not disgusting and did not have cheese all over it.

    1. ImmortalSynn Guest

      You sampled every meal option to see if it was "disgusting" or not, or are you just the whiny type who'd say that about every option regardless?

  28. Brian Guest

    One of the greatest interactions I've ever heard on a plane. 1st class FA: We have a chicken enchilada or a shrimp salad. Passenger: Oh, which is better? FA: They look very different and taste exactly the same. This sums up my general experience with airline food from international first class and business to Spirit. I love you Ben but I never care about the food part of reviews because none of it matters.

    1. jake Guest

      You choose to fly the wrong airlines. Most of them (outside of North America ones) serve excellent food.

  29. PM Guest

    HAHA, "Premium" Airline serves fast food. You are just going to see Shake Shack loading precooked burgers into the ovens. This is a joke. After yesterdays announcement of DL upgrading food they plan to offer this. One commenter stated "DL is going after the international market" they shall remain nameless, but imagine AF Premier Class serving McDonalds!

    1. Dave W. Guest

      Sorry, I don't get the comparison. I serve you choice meat, and you ask what if [fill in top steakhouse] served select grade.

  30. Julie Guest

    Shake Shack tie up? Is it 2012 where shake shack I popular again?

    1. Alonzo Diamond

      Their stock price and international expansion indicates they're insanely popular. Have you been living under a rock since 2012?

    2. Julie Guest

      no. I have not. Have you?

    3. Julie Guest

      Like the old saying goes "Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded"

      Shake Shack is rather downmarket at this point

    4. Alonzo Diamond

      Julie been hittin them gummies again.

      Down market lmao.

    5. Stanley C Diamond

      @Julie @Alonzo. Yeah. Not joking one bit that Shake Shack is crazy popular outside of America and not just popular in America. They say it is so much better than McDonalds where the quality of meat is much better. Waiting in line to order as well or looking for a while to find seating.

    6. Julie Guest

      who is still waiting in line to order Shake Shack? The days of people waiting to do that are far far in the past.
      But, sure, of course it's better quality than McDonald's for the meat. The french fries? Pretty sure they get those krinkle kut fries straight out of the Kroger frozen aisle

    7. Alonzo Diamond

      Nobody is waiting in line cause you can just order on the app lol. Geez Julie, unthaw from the stone age.

      We understand you dislike SS but the broader population enjoys it. Hence the massive global expansion. Companies don't expand because there isn't demand.

    8. Julie Guest

      You act like global expansion is the sign of a quality meal. It's actually quite the opposite meaning it's gone to that stage in a chain when they aren't deemed quality and so the brand is going all out on quantity to create growth.

      Stock price has nothing to do with it. If it were, we'd be looking at YUM brands or McDonalds for quality food.

      We get it. You don't live in...

      You act like global expansion is the sign of a quality meal. It's actually quite the opposite meaning it's gone to that stage in a chain when they aren't deemed quality and so the brand is going all out on quantity to create growth.

      Stock price has nothing to do with it. If it were, we'd be looking at YUM brands or McDonalds for quality food.

      We get it. You don't live in a place where you know much about quality, but Shake Shack just isn't the brand it was ten years ago.

  31. DenB Diamond

    If Delta will use the very same cooking technology Shake Shack uses, then this is interesting. If not...
    (I can't believe I get to be the first!)
    ...it's a NothingBurger.

    1. Timtamtrak Diamond

      Bahahahahhaa!!

  32. SMC422 Guest

    I personally really enjoy shake shack though when I fly Delta from JFK T4, there are 2 shake shack locations there so I would not eat it on the plane.

    But aside from In-and-Out, Shake Shack is always consistent.

  33. 305 Guest

    I’m here once again on behalf of those who can’t eat dairy to stop putting cheese on every airline meal possible

    1. uldguy Diamond

      Amen to that! I absolutely hate cheese. I even order pizza without cheese. But airlines seem to love the stuff which can be frustrating when traveling. There are non dairy special meals but some of those are quite ghastly. My usual go-to is to order a Kosher meal, since they do not combine meat and dairy together.

    2. Jake Guest

      Couldn't agree more.

      US ultraprocessed cheese is cheap, cheap and cheap and adds taste to the worst, tasteless, pieces of proteins.

    3. LuisRPM Guest

      We could also stop using bread in a burger for those who can´t eat bread, or meat for those who doesn´t eat meat, and veggies for those that doesn´t like veggies :)

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

MildMidwesterner Diamond

Every airline should offer a burger that best aligns with its brand or home region: Delta & Shake Shack American & Whataburger United & McDonalds Alaska & In-n-Out Spirit & White Castle Hawaiian & Big Kahuna Burger

5
Alonzo Diamond

I actually like this a lot. Seems like something Jetblue would do instead of Delta. If Delta offered these burgers in economy class for $10, they would sell like hot cakes.

4
MildMidwesterner Diamond

Burger King would obviously be affiliated with Royal Jordanian or Royal Air Maroc.

2
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