We’ll freely admit it: part of the allure of a long layover at Dallas Forth Worth has always been that second story Shake Shack at the top of the escalators. And now we and our fellow passengers can also board a flight—on Delta Airlines—and get a second Shackburger, but this time airborne. That’s thanks to a partnership between the airline and the beloved burger chain, which has now deliciously rolled out to seven new U.S. markets this week. The only catch? You have to be a first-class passenger.
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From Tuesday, June 3, first-class Delta customers flying out of certain airports on flights that go more than 900 miles can order a Shake Shack cheeseburger onboard. The sandwich is made with 100-percent Angus beef and melted American cheese on a toasted potato bun; you can also add whatever condiments or toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion and the like) that you desire to have or to hold. The in-flight offering will also include crinkle-cut potato chips—as a nod to the crinkle cut fries you ordinarily get when you’re not at cruising altitude—and a dark-chocolate brownie.
Which airports can take advantage of this deliciousness right now? Travelers out of Miami International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Orlando International Airport, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and Salt Lake City International Airport all have the option open to them. Detroit folks, hold your horses and wait—by July, you’ll be able to order the Shake Shake cheeseburger in the air, too.
Fun fact: Shake Shack began operations out of a hot dog cart in New York’s Madison Square Park in 2001. Helmed by celebrity chef Danny Meyer, it was supposed to help revitalize the ailing park, and three years later was successful enough to transform into a kiosk-style restaurant, where people would wait in line for as long as three hours to place their burger order. Today there are around 500 Shake Shacks all around the world, and while many companies are closing doors post-pandemic, Shake Shack is planning to open another 80 new restaurants in 2025, according to QSR magazine.