Delta Air Lines is rolling out two big updates this fall: one for your smartphone and another for your taste buds.
The Atlanta-based airline just unveiled a major refresh to its mobile app ahead of the busy holiday season, adding new tools to help travelers find cheaper flights, manage trips, and even track annual Sky Club lounge visits. At the same time, Delta just teamed up with celebrity chef José Andrés to bring new Spanish-inspired dishes to select premium cabins.
While both upgrades aim to improve the passenger experience, the app update is the real win for most Delta flyers, giving travelers more control (and potentially more savings) at their fingertips.
Delta App Update: More Power in Your Pocket
Delta’s latest app release arrived just in time for the busy holiday travel season. The update focuses on flexibility, self-service, and transparency.
Here’s a quick glance what’s new:
- Flexible Date Search: Much like searching at Delta.com on a desktop device, you can now toggle “My Dates Are Flexible” to see a flexible calendar that compares fares across days when searching. That solves one of the app's glaring weaknesses compared to the website.
- Redeem Credits and Certificates: You can now apply Delta eCredits, companion certificates, and Delta gift cards right within the app – no more separate logins or endless searching for the right fare class when using your companion certificate.
- Live Updates on Lock Screen: You’ll get real-time boarding info, gate changes, seat details, and even baggage carousel assignments without unlocking your phone.
- Sky Club Visit Tracker: For those with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or American Express Platinum Card®, a new Sky Club Tracker helps you see how many of the 10 to 15 annual lounge visits you’ve used so far … or how close you are to earning unlimited access for the next year.
- Easier Known Traveler Number Updates: Travelers can now update their Known Traveler Number (KTN) for TSA PreCheck® benefits directly in the app.
For travelers, the app update is a genuine win. The flexible dates calendar makes finding and booking cheaper fares much, much easier, finally adding a longstanding feature of the airline's website to its smartphone app. Add in the ability to apply eCredits, companion certificates, and gift cards, as well as the other streamlined management tools, and it’s clear Delta is giving travelers more control of how they search for and book flights on the app.
Since Delta began limiting Sky Club visits for Amex Platinum and Delta Reserve cardholders earlier this year, the best way to check how many you used was directly through Amex. With this update, you can see where you stand right in the Delta app.
In addition to the changes listed above, a small group of travelers will soon be invited to test out “Delta Concierge,” a new AI-powered digital assistant, designed to help with real-time travel planning and service questions.
New In-Flight Dining Collab With Chef José Andrés
On the culinary side, Delta is teaming up with celebrated chef and humanitarian José Andrés to refresh its premium cabin dining with Spanish flavors – and a touch of Michelin-star flair.
Starting Nov. 4, travelers flying in Delta One and First Class may see new menu items like:
- Spanish Tortilla with Pisto Manchego — a rustic egg-and-potato omelet served with vegetable stew
- Braised Beef Short Rib in mojo rojo BBQ sauce over creamy polenta
- Stuffed Piquillo Peppers with goat cheese and mushrooms
- Spanish-Style Chicken with sherry-dried-fruit sauce, celeriac-potato purée, and roasted carrots
“Many people, including me, love to travel for food … they are looking for a new taste, a new dish, a new ingredient,” Andrés said. “Well, now your journey can start before you even land!”
Celebrity chef partnerships are typically more of a marketing gimmick than a substantial change, though some of those new dishes undoubtedly sound tasty. Bringing on Andrés is part of a larger culinary refresh, including an upgraded wine program for Delta One passengers featuring big-name vineyards from Burgundy, Napa, and Chianti.
The airline also announced that the fancy Taittinger champagne it began pouring earlier this year is here to stay year-round.
These in-flight dining moves follow Delta's successful partnership with Shake Shack that launched late last year.
Bottom Line
Delta recently announced a couple of minor (but fun) moves, including some useful new smartphone app features to help flyers find better fares, manage their trips, and track Sky Club usage.
Meanwhile, the new in-flight dining collaboration with Chef José Andrés’ brings welcome dose of culinary creativity to Delta’s premium cabins.
