Shake Shack and Delta Partnership: What It Means

Updated August 2026

The Shake Shack and Delta partnership allows eligible Delta First passengers to preorder a Shake Shack cheeseburger as their onboard meal on select domestic flights longer than 900 miles. The partnership gives Delta a recognizable restaurant brand for its premium cabin while helping Shake Shack reach customers in a completely new environment.

Delta first introduced the burger on eligible flights departing Boston on December 1, 2024. After a successful initial launch, the airline expanded the program throughout 2025. By July 2025, Delta reported that the burger was available from 13 markets, including all of its major hub cities.

The latest official Delta update, published April 2, 2026, described the Shake Shack Cheeseburger as a continuing fan favorite offered as a limited selection. This means travelers should not assume it will be available on every Delta flight or every eligible route. The most reliable way to check is through the meal-preselection section of the Fly Delta app before departure.

The meal features a 100% Angus beef patty with cheese on a toasted potato bun. Lettuce, tomato, and Shake Shack’s ShackSauce are served separately, allowing the passenger to assemble a version of the familiar ShackBurger after the meal is heated onboard.

The meal has also included crinkle-cut potato chips, a Caesar salad, and a dark chocolate brownie inspired by Shake Shack’s Shack Attack dessert.

This partnership is important because it shows how airlines are moving away from anonymous airplane meals and toward recognizable restaurant collaborations. Instead of simply offering a generic cheeseburger, Delta can present passengers with a meal connected to a brand they already know.

Delta and Shake Shack Partnership at a Glance

Availability, accompaniments, eligible routes, and meal-selection options can change. Passengers should review the choices shown for their specific flight.

What Is the Shake Shack and Delta Partnership?

The partnership is an onboard food collaboration between Delta Air Lines and Shake Shack.

It allows certain Delta First passengers to select a Shake Shack-branded cheeseburger instead of one of Delta’s other premium-cabin entrées.

The partnership is not the same as opening a Shake Shack restaurant inside an airplane. Shake Shack does not install a grill or restaurant kitchen aboard the aircraft.

Instead, the meal must work within the airline’s existing catering system. It is prepared for onboard service, transported to the aircraft, stored safely, heated in the galley, and presented by the flight crew.

The burger was adapted so passengers can add the cold lettuce, tomato, and sauce after heating. This helps preserve the contrast between the hot burger and fresh toppings.

When Did the Partnership Begin?

Delta announced the partnership in November 2024 and began serving the burger on December 1, 2024.

The initial launch covered eligible Delta First flights longer than 900 miles departing from Boston.

Delta described the collaboration as a first-of-its-kind onboard partnership for the airline and said it planned to expand the offering to additional United States markets during 2025.

How Did the Partnership Expand?

On March 4, 2025, Delta expanded the Shake Shack burger to eligible flights departing:

• Atlanta
• Los Angeles
• New York-LaGuardia
• Seattle

These cities joined Boston, the original launch market. Delta reported that it had already served more than 10,000 Shake Shack burgers from Boston during the first few months of the program.

The airline expanded the program again in June and July 2025.

By July 2025, the published list contained 13 departure markets:

• Atlanta, Georgia
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Detroit, Michigan
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Los Angeles, California
• Miami, Florida
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• New York-JFK
• New York-LaGuardia
• Orlando, Florida
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• San Francisco, California
• Seattle, Washington

Delta stated that this expansion included each of its hub cities and made the burger accessible to more connecting passengers across the country.

Is the Shake Shack Burger Still Available on Delta in 2026?

Yes, but availability is limited.

Delta’s April 2, 2026 spring-menu announcement specifically identified the Shake Shack Cheeseburger as a fan favorite that was remaining onboard as a limited selection.

Limited selection can mean:

• The burger is not offered on every flight.
• It may only be loaded at certain departure airports.
• It may only appear during lunch or dinner periods.
• It may need to be selected before departure.
• Only a limited quantity may be available.
• Menus may rotate seasonally.

Travelers should look inside the Fly Delta app beginning seven days before departure. When the Shake Shack burger is offered, it should appear among the available meal choices for the flight.

Who Can Order the Shake Shack Burger?

The published partnership applies to passengers traveling in Delta First on eligible flights longer than 900 miles.

Delta’s current First Class information says that flights between 900 and 1,399 miles generally receive a full meal during qualifying meal periods, while longer flights may provide a broader full-meal service.

The Shake Shack meal is not generally offered as a complimentary meal in:

• Delta Main
• Delta Comfort
• Basic Economy

A passenger receiving a complimentary upgrade to Delta First may be eligible to choose the meal when the upgrade clears early enough and the preselection remains available.

However, a late upgrade may occur after the meal-selection deadline or after the available burgers have already been assigned.

How Do Passengers Order the Burger?

Eligible passengers can normally select the burger before the flight through:

• The Fly Delta mobile application
• A meal-selection link sent by email
• Delta’s online preselection page

Delta allows customers to begin selecting eligible meals seven days before departure. Selections can generally be changed until 24 hours before the scheduled flight.

Basic Ordering Process

1. Open the Fly Delta app.
2. Locate the upcoming reservation.
3. Look for a meal-selection option.
4. Review the available entrées.
5. Select the Shake Shack Cheeseburger when offered.
6. Save the selection.
7. Check the reservation again if the flight schedule changes.

Passengers should make their choice as early as possible because the burger is a limited-selection item.

What Comes with the Shake Shack Meal?

Shake Shack Cheeseburger

The entrée includes:

• A 100% Angus beef patty
• Cheese
• A toasted potato bun

The burger is designed to represent the basic flavor and texture associated with a Shake Shack cheeseburger.

Lettuce and Tomato

The lettuce and tomato are packaged separately rather than heated with the burger.

This allows passengers to add them after the entrée has been warmed.

ShackSauce

Shake Shack’s signature sauce is also served separately.

A passenger can add the sauce, lettuce, and tomato to turn the basic cheeseburger into a version closer to a ShackBurger.

Potato Chips

The meal originally included ordinary chips. Delta’s July 2025 update described crinkle-cut potato chips inspired by Shake Shack’s well-known crinkle-cut fries.

Actual french fries are difficult to preserve through airline preparation, transportation, storage, and reheating. Chips provide a crunchy potato side without requiring the texture of freshly fried food.

Caesar Salad

The earlier version of the meal included a small Caesar salad, providing a cold side alongside the burger.

Side dishes can rotate, so passengers should review the current meal description shown in the app.

Dark Chocolate Brownie

The meal includes a dark chocolate brownie developed with inspiration from Shake Shack’s Shack Attack Concrete dessert.

Delta’s July 2025 description mentioned cocoa nibs and flaky sea salt in the brownie.

Is It Exactly the Same as a Restaurant ShackBurger?

No. It is an airline adaptation of a Shake Shack burger.

At a Shake Shack restaurant, the burger is cooked and assembled shortly before being handed to the guest. On an aircraft, the meal must be prepared in advance and pass through an airline-catering process before service.

The onboard burger therefore has to tolerate:

• Advance preparation
• Refrigerated storage
• Transportation to the airport
• Loading onto the aircraft
• Holding inside an aircraft galley
• Reheating
• Service at cruising altitude

Separating the toppings is one way to prevent lettuce and tomato from being heated with the patty.

The goal is not to reproduce every detail of a freshly prepared restaurant burger. It is to provide a recognizable Shake Shack experience within the limitations of airline catering.

Why Did Delta Partner with Shake Shack?

Shake Shack Is a Recognizable Brand

Passengers may be more comfortable choosing an onboard meal when they recognize the restaurant associated with it.

A named Shake Shack burger creates clearer expectations than a menu simply advertising a cheeseburger.

Burgers Are Familiar Comfort Food

Delta said burgers were among its most frequently ordered menu items when it announced the partnership.

A burger is:

• Familiar to a broad range of travelers
• Appropriate for lunch or dinner
• Easy to understand from a menu description
• Comforting during a long travel day
• Compatible with simple sides and dessert

It Strengthens Delta First

Domestic First Class products compete partly through food, beverages, seat comfort, service, and airport benefits.

A recognizable restaurant partnership gives Delta another feature it can use to distinguish the premium cabin.

It Builds on an Existing Hospitality Relationship

Shake Shack was founded by restaurateur Danny Meyer, who also founded Union Square Hospitality Group.

Delta had an existing relationship with Union Square Hospitality Group before introducing the Shake Shack meal. Union Square Events, the group’s catering business, had already supplied meals for selected Delta flights departing New York-JFK.

This existing relationship may have made it easier for the companies to develop an airline-ready product.

Why Did Shake Shack Partner with Delta?

Access to Travelers

The partnership places Shake Shack in front of passengers who may not visit one of its restaurant locations during their trip.

Brand Exposure in a New Setting

Airline service gives Shake Shack visibility inside a premium travel experience.

The brand appears:

• Inside the Fly Delta app
• In preflight meal-selection emails
• On meal packaging
• During inflight service
• Across travel and food media
• In passenger social-media posts

Expansion Without Opening a Restaurant

Shake Shack can serve customers in the air without building a full restaurant inside every airport or destination.

This does not replace physical restaurants, but it expands the number of places where customers encounter the brand.

A Hospitality-Focused Partnership

Shake Shack described the partnership as a way to reach more guests in a travel setting where hospitality matters.

Both brands benefit from presenting the collaboration as more than a licensing agreement. The marketing connects the burger to service, travel, and customer experience.

What Does the Partnership Mean for Delta Passengers?

More Familiar Food Choices

Airline menus sometimes contain dishes passengers have never tried. A Shake Shack burger is easier for many travelers to recognize.

More Control Through Preselection

Passengers can reserve the meal before arriving at the airport rather than waiting to learn whether it is still available onboard.

A More Restaurant-Like Experience

The separate toppings allow passengers to finish assembling the burger at their seats.

This small interactive step makes the meal feel less like a completely sealed airline tray.

A Premium Benefit Limited to Certain Travelers

The partnership also emphasizes the difference between Delta First and the airline’s lower-priced cabins.

Main Cabin and Delta Comfort passengers may receive snacks or other meal service depending on the route, but the complimentary Shake Shack partnership is associated with eligible Delta First flights.

Availability Is Not Guaranteed

The burger remains a limited-selection item.

Passengers should not select a flight solely because they assume the burger will be onboard. Aircraft changes, catering changes, flight schedules, departure markets, and menu rotations can affect availability.

What Does the Partnership Mean for Airline Food?

The Delta and Shake Shack partnership is part of a larger shift toward restaurant-branded airline food.

Instead of developing every meal under the airline’s own name, carriers can work with:

• Restaurant chains
• Celebrity chefs
• Regional restaurants
• Bakeries
• Coffee brands
• Wine and Champagne producers
• Snack companies

These partnerships can make airline food feel more trustworthy and memorable.

Brand Recognition Reduces Uncertainty

A passenger may not know what to expect from a generic airline burger. The Shake Shack name creates an immediate reference point.

Food Becomes Part of Airline Marketing

The meal is not only a product served onboard. It becomes a reason for the airline to generate:

• News coverage
• Social-media content
• Customer discussion
• Loyalty-program engagement
• Premium-cabin interest

Airlines Can Test Demand Before Expanding

Delta began with one departure market, measured the response, and expanded after the initial launch.

This staged approach reduces the risk of introducing a complicated meal across the entire network before understanding how passengers respond.

Why Preordering Is Important

Preordering benefits both the passenger and the airline.

Benefits for Passengers

• Greater chance of receiving the preferred meal
• Ability to review choices before traveling
• Less uncertainty during onboard service
• More time to evaluate ingredients and meal type

Benefits for Delta

• Better information about how many burgers to load
• Reduced chance of loading excessive meals
• More accurate demand information
• Ability to compare Shake Shack demand with other entrées
• Improved personalization for premium passengers

Preselection helps connect passenger demand with airline catering, although Delta may still carry a limited number of additional meals for onboard selection.

Why Is the Burger Only Offered on Longer Flights?

Delta’s standard First Class service varies according to flight distance and departure time.

Flights under 900 miles generally receive snacks rather than a complete plated meal. Eligible flights of 900 miles or more may receive meal service during designated meal periods.

Longer routes provide:

• More time for meal service
• More time for collection and cleanup
• A greater passenger expectation of a complete meal
• More value from a premium branded entrée

What Are the Challenges of Serving a Burger on an Airplane?

Maintaining the Bun

A bun can become too dry from heating or too soft from steam and moisture.

The product must be designed so the bun remains usable after the burger is reheated.

Maintaining the Beef Patty

The patty must remain safe, hot, and enjoyable without becoming excessively dry.

Keeping Cold Toppings Fresh

Lettuce, tomato, and sauce need to remain separate from the hot meal until the passenger assembles the burger.

Recreating Restaurant Flavor

An aircraft galley cannot reproduce the exact service process of a Shake Shack grill.

The companies must identify which parts of the brand experience are most important:

• Angus beef
• Cheese
• Potato bun
• ShackSauce
• Lettuce and tomato
• Recognizable sides and dessert

Serving Many Passengers Quickly

Flight attendants must heat and distribute several meals within a limited service period while also managing beverages, safety responsibilities, and passenger requests.

Does the Meal Include Shake Shack Fries?

No. Delta’s published meal descriptions list potato chips rather than freshly prepared french fries.

In 2025, Delta described the side as crinkle-cut potato chips inspired by Shake Shack’s crinkle-cut fries.

Traditional fries depend on being served shortly after frying. During airline service, fries would have to be prepared in advance and reheated, which can make maintaining a crisp exterior difficult.

Potato chips provide a more reliable crunch and still connect the meal with the potato side customers expect with a burger.

Can Passengers Customize the Burger?

Passengers receive limited customization through the separately packaged toppings.

They can choose whether to add:

• Lettuce
• Tomato
• ShackSauce

However, the onboard meal does not provide the full customization available inside a Shake Shack restaurant.

Passengers generally cannot use the preselection system to request:

• A different cooking temperature
• Extra patties
• Bacon
• Additional cheese
• Different buns
• A complete selection of restaurant toppings

Is There a Vegetarian Shake Shack Option on Delta?

Delta’s announced Shake Shack meal is an Angus beef cheeseburger.

The airline offers other menu choices and special-meal programs on eligible flights, but passengers should not assume a vegetarian Shake Shack burger will be available.

Passengers with dietary preferences should:

1. Review the complete meal-selection list.
2. Check the meal description and ingredients.
3. Select another entrée when necessary.
4. Request an eligible special meal at least 24 hours before departure when appropriate.

Delta says special meals are available on many international flights and most qualifying domestic Delta First routes, although specific options vary.

What Does the Partnership Mean for Restaurant Brands?

The collaboration shows that restaurant brands can expand beyond traditional storefronts.

Potential partnership locations can include:

• Airplanes
• Airport lounges
• Hotels
• Stadiums
• College campuses
• Hospitals
• Convenience stores
• Entertainment venues
• Packaged retail products

However, a food item must be adapted to the operating environment.

A restaurant recipe that works perfectly in a standard kitchen may require changes when it must be:

• Produced at large scale
• Transported
• Stored
• Reheated
• Served by another company
• Consumed much later than it was prepared

Lessons for Restaurants and Foodservice Operators

Start with a Recognizable Bestseller

Delta and Shake Shack did not begin with an unfamiliar experimental dish. They selected a cheeseburger, one of Shake Shack’s most recognizable products.

Adapt the Product to the Service Environment

The toppings are kept separate, and chips replace freshly fried potatoes.

This preserves important parts of the meal while acknowledging the limitations of aircraft service.

Test Before Expanding

The partnership began in Boston before moving to additional markets.

Restaurants introducing catering, packaged food, wholesale products, or satellite locations can use a similar strategy.

Use Customer Feedback

Delta cited strong customer response when it expanded the program. The airline has continued to describe the burger as a fan favorite.

Build a Complete Meal

The burger is supported by a potato side, salad, dessert, toppings, and sauce.

The partnership therefore feels like a complete meal rather than a single branded item placed on a tray.

Possible Future Directions for the Partnership

Delta and Shake Shack have not announced every future plan for the collaboration.

Possible directions, based on the structure of the existing program, could include:

• Additional departure markets
• Seasonal Shake Shack meals
• New side dishes or desserts
• Special promotional flights
• Additional SkyMiles promotions
• Airport or lounge activations
• Other Shake Shack menu items adapted for airline service

These are possibilities rather than confirmed plans. Delta’s current public information only confirms that the cheeseburger remained a limited-selection favorite in April 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Delta and Shake Shack partnership?

It is a premium-cabin food collaboration that allows eligible Delta First passengers to preorder a Shake Shack cheeseburger on select flights longer than 900 miles.

When did Delta begin serving Shake Shack?

The burger launched on eligible flights departing Boston on December 1, 2024.

Is the Shake Shack burger still available on Delta?

Yes. Delta’s April 2, 2026 menu update said the cheeseburger was remaining onboard as a limited-selection favorite.

Is Shake Shack available on every Delta flight?

No. It is only available on select routes, departure markets, meal periods, and flights.

Which cabin receives the Shake Shack burger?

The published partnership applies to Delta First.

How long does the flight need to be?

The burger is offered on select Delta First routes longer than 900 miles.

Can Main Cabin passengers order the Shake Shack burger?

The complimentary partnership is not generally offered in Main Cabin. Availability is associated with eligible Delta First meal service.

Can Delta Comfort passengers order it?

The Shake Shack meal is not generally listed as part of Delta Comfort service.

Does the burger cost extra?

It is presented as one of the complimentary meal choices for eligible Delta First passengers rather than a separately purchased restaurant meal.

How do passengers select the burger?

Eligible passengers can use the Fly Delta app or a link sent by email.

When can the meal be selected?

The selection window normally begins seven days before departure and closes 24 hours before the flight.

What comes on the burger?

The meal includes an Angus beef patty with cheese on a toasted potato bun. Lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce are served separately.

Does it taste exactly like a restaurant ShackBurger?

It is designed to provide familiar Shake Shack flavors, but it is adapted for airline preparation and reheating.

Does the meal include french fries?

No. Delta has served crinkle-cut potato chips inspired by Shake Shack’s fries.

What dessert comes with the meal?

The meal has included a dark chocolate brownie inspired by Shake Shack’s Shack Attack Concrete.

Does the meal contain beef?

Yes. Delta describes the burger as containing a 100% Angus beef patty.

Is there a vegetarian Shake Shack burger on Delta?

Delta has not announced a vegetarian version as part of this partnership. Other vegetarian meal choices may be available depending on the flight.

Can the burger be ordered without sauce?

Yes. ShackSauce is served separately, so the passenger can leave it off.

Can the burger be ordered without lettuce and tomato?

Yes. The cold toppings are served separately.

Which airports had Shake Shack service by July 2025?

Delta’s published list included Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Orlando, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Why did Delta choose Shake Shack?

Shake Shack is a recognizable hospitality brand, and burgers were already among Delta’s most frequently ordered onboard meals.

What does Shake Shack gain from the partnership?

Shake Shack gains exposure to premium travelers and the opportunity to serve customers outside its traditional restaurant locations.

What does Delta gain from the partnership?

Delta gains a recognizable restaurant-branded meal that can help improve the appeal of its domestic First Class service.

Why are the toppings served separately?

Separating the toppings prevents lettuce, tomato, and sauce from being heated with the burger and lets passengers assemble it at their seats.

Can the meal sell out?

Yes. It is a limited-selection meal, so passengers should preorder it when it appears in their reservation.

What happens if a flight changes?

A schedule, aircraft, or departure-market change may affect the meal. Passengers should check their selection again after any itinerary change.

Final Thoughts

The Shake Shack and Delta partnership brings a recognizable American restaurant brand into Delta’s domestic First Class dining program.

The partnership began in Boston on December 1, 2024, before expanding to additional departure markets during 2025.

By July 2025, Delta said the Shake Shack meal was available from 13 markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York-JFK, New York-LaGuardia, Orlando, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Delta’s April 2026 menu update confirmed that the burger remained onboard as a limited-selection favorite.

The meal includes an Angus beef cheeseburger on a toasted potato bun. Lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce are served separately so passengers can assemble their own version of the ShackBurger.

The complete meal has included potato chips, a Caesar salad, and a dark chocolate brownie inspired by Shake Shack’s Shack Attack dessert.

For Delta, the partnership helps make domestic First Class food more recognizable and marketable. For Shake Shack, it creates another way to reach customers without opening a traditional restaurant.

For passengers, the main benefit is familiarity. Rather than choosing a generic airline cheeseburger, eligible travelers can preorder a meal connected to a restaurant brand they already understand.

The partnership also reflects a broader change in airline catering. Airlines are increasingly using restaurant names, celebrity chefs, regional food businesses, and premium beverage brands to make onboard dining feel more connected to the hospitality industry.

The burger is not identical to one served immediately from a Shake Shack grill. It must be adapted for advance preparation, refrigerated transportation, aircraft storage, reheating, and inflight service.

The separate toppings and crinkle-cut chips show how a restaurant meal can be modified to work in a different foodservice environment without abandoning its most recognizable flavors.

Travelers should remember that the meal is not available on every Delta flight. The best way to find it is to check the Fly Delta app beginning seven days before an eligible Delta First departure and complete the selection at least 24 hours before the flight.

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