Delta and Shake Shack

How in the world are they going to make the burgers taste good??

It has to be pre-ordered. Shake Shacks are found in terminals at major airports. I know T4 at JFK has one.

I know another airline serves burgers but I can't remember which one.

I wish American would stop their ultra complicated foodie/gourmet selection on international flights and offer some simple selections. I had a chat with a FA on my most recent flight about this and he said he heard from a lot of passengers wishing the same.

How this is supposed to be a draw or Delta selling point is a giant mystery to me.

No matter what cabin class I'm in, I do not want fast food. If I'm paying or using miles to fly in the front of the plane, I most definitely do not want fast food. Really, does anyone think "Yay! I just spent 500,000 Skymiles on a premium cabin and I get a burger and fries for my meal!"

If I wanted Shake Shack, I'd just go get Shake Shack. There are two of them within five miles of my house. I know there is a Shake Shack at JFK (I've eaten there) and I'm pretty sure there is one at ATL. No doubt there are others at airports

Again, how is this considered a perk of flying in first?

Again, how is this considered a perk of flying in first?

It beats the sawdust-and-cyanide they're serving in coach!

-- Mike Beebe

@Mike Beebe

I don't know, I've had two pretty decent meals on Delta in the past few months. One was in premium economy in September, a good chicken curry with jasmine rice and some braised bok choy. The other was just this week in main cabin, a pretty tasty chicken and vegetable stew over polenta.
Don't get me wrong, I've had plenty of subpar meals on Delta in the past, but those two I described I would choose any day over fast food.

"Yay! I just spent 500,000 Skymiles on a premium cabin and I get a burger and fries for my meal!"

And they won’t even get the fries. Delta is serving potato chips with that burger.

I am with you. How is that burger going to even taste good after being reheated on the plane?

Shake Shack is stupid for doing this... sorry but allowing Delta to burn your food into a hockeypuck is hardly going to win customers.

I would hope they did some sort of survey or test. Actually I would bet money they did. Just tge RS crowd has a finer pallet than the average Delta customer.

Do you get to 'customize' the cheeseburger, or do you get just the basic burger?

I think getting a sub sandwich from your favorite vendor and flying in less than 1st class would be the better choice.

Just discovered there is a Shake Shack about 5 miles away. The basic burger is $7.49 ( plus tax 10.5%). Not on my 'places to go' list.

I think the purpose is two-fold. One, Shake Shack gets to spread their footprint. Two, many people in First Class on Delta will have an alternative to these type of entrees.

good chicken curry with jasmine rice and some braised bok choy. a pretty tasty chicken and vegetable stew over polenta.

While some may like these entree choices, many would not. Shake Shack in first class will be a simple alternative that most people do like provided it isn't cooked like that mentioned hockey puck.

there is always some pasta alternative offered. And besides, what have the people who don't like those entrees been eating all this time?

I've always thought there is a bit of brainwashing involved with premium class amenities. I've seen so much grumbling on other social media travel forums about what's in amenities kits, for example. I don't understand how people get so worked up about those. It's been spun like it's something really special, unique or exclusive, I guess, and people have bought into it. But if you can afford a first class seat, you can probably afford to go buy whatever full sized products you want, so why the weeping and gnashing of teeth?

Delta trying to make it sound like Shake Shack is something unique or a special experience or a reason to buy a business class seat is just silly. But people will probably fall for it.

Unless the folks at the Delta News Hub have completely forgotten their own branding, you won't see this going to Europe. They specifically reference "First Class", and Delta is quite serious about always calling their intercontinental business class Delta One. So, domestic flights in First, on which they've served a cheeseburger in the past...without the Shake Shack branding. That cheeseburger actually got some decent reviews over on FlyerTalk.

provided it isn't cooked like that mentioned hockey puck
Blockquote

I’ve had Delta’s hamburgers in first class. Yes they resemble a hockey puck.

And yes, I know it got decent reviews on Flyertalk But so does just about everything else they serve. On Flyertalk if Delta puts it on a plate in front of them, it’s gourmet dining. I’ve never understood this. I don’t know where those passengers eat when they’re not in the air ( Elementary school cafeterias? ) It’s bizarre.

I’ve never understood this. I don’t know where those passengers eat when they’re not in the air ( Elementary school cafeterias? ) It’s bizarre.

Or, maybe, different people have different tastes. Nothing particularly bizarre about that.

Again, I presume they do their market research and this has a good chance of working for the ... assuming not too many RS poeple flying Delta.

Having flown on Delta a lot in the past few years in Comfort+, Business (domestic and international), and Delta One, I can say that they have done fairly well for food - save for vegetarian fare, which tends to go with a boilerplate and boring pasta dish.

News flash: vegetarians like things other than boring pasta and tomato sauce! And there are so many good options out there that have protein and flavor; it's just that most airlines don't care that much. And most don't discern between vegetarian and vegan, which is a shame as many vegetarians will eat things like cheese - and the Shake Shack 'shroom burger would be an excellent addition to in-flight fare, even in high-rent sections of the plane.

But back to Delta's mainline food. Their food in Business/Delta One tends to be really well executed - even hamburgers! Part of the secret is that they use sous vide systems to reheat the patties, which won't overcook things and will keep the moisture and flavor in a good zone. I'm sure Shake Shack took this into account. And given Business/Delta One gives passengers the option to pre-order their meals (especially for long-haul international) it's a fairly moot point.

And I've had good eats in Comfort+ as well, though usually only via special order ahead of the flight.

Is Delta the best in-flight cuisine? is any U.S. airline in this realm? No. But their product has improved over the past decade and it seems they're open to trying new things. I only wish more airlines had this desire. Passenger experience is a big deal in a competitive market.

United Airlines Now Serving Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding
https://www.delish.com/food-news/a63162351/united-airlines-magnolia-bakery-banana-pudding/

Of course, someone has tried the Delta Shake Shack burger and posted a video of it. If you want to get to the part with the actual tasting of the burger on the plane, fast forward to 5:50:

https://youtu.be/Z5MzfIkgBOg?si=zXpllQvH0gqROvAX

Well, I’m sitting here giggling because I’m sorry I have recently flown Delta‘s international business class service to and from Europe and really well executed would not be words I would use to describe their food

Basically edible is about as good as I can go

Seriously it was not good food it was just edible

And I had the hamburger last weekend, flying back from Boston to Atlanta. I’ve never had a shake shack hamburger and this certainly didn’t make me want one. It was OK, but I certainly wouldn’t consider it any kind of great burger. I will give Delta credit, they did manage to keep it from turning into a hockey puck like the last hamburger I had on their flight in first class.