Delta flyers will be able to hail an Uber ride using an AI-powered digital concierge, earn SkyMiles on that ride to the airport, then connect their Bluetooth headphones to an uber-high definition 4K seatback screen on the plane … eventually, anyway.
That was all part of a splashy slate of announcements unveiled at the massive consumer electronics trade show CES in Las Vegas on Tuesday evening. It comes just two years after announcing its launch of fast-and-free Wi-Fi across its entire fleet – though that rollout that won’t be complete until the airline finally outfits all its long-haul jets and regional planes with free Wi-Fi sometime later this year.
Now, Delta is betting that upgrading technology from nose to tail will be key to protecting its brand as a premium U.S. carrier. Timelines are fuzzy and the airline was short on specifics, but here’s what Delta passengers can look forward to in the months and years ahead.
Uber is In, Lyft is Out
Even your ride to the airport may change: The days of earning SkyMiles on your Lyft rides are coming to a close. Uber is taking its place.
From the stage of The Sphere on the Las Vegas Strip, Delta CEO Ed Bastian announced a new, exclusive partnership with Uber would begin sometime this spring. The exact timing of when it will go live hasn’t yet been announced, though travelers can join a waitlist for the heads up on when they can link their Uber and SkyMiles accounts.
Once it’s live, Delta flyers will earn:
- 3x SkyMiles per dollar spent on Uber Reserve – rides scheduled at least two hours in advance
- 2x SkyMiles per dollar spent on premium Uber rides
- 1x SkyMiles per dollar spent on UberX rides, but only to and from the airport
- 1x SkyMiles per dollar spent on eligible Uber Eats restaurant and grocery delivery orders
Uber might be the go-to transportation app for many, but that’s arguably less rewarding than the returns Delta flyers have been getting from Lyft for years: A flat 2x SkyMiles per dollar on all rides to and from the airport and 1x SkyMiles per dollar on all other rides. Then again, Lyft doesn’t offer any kind of food delivery service.
A Delta spokesperson confirmed its longstanding Lyft partnership will end on April 7.
4K Screens, More Bluetooth Connectivity, YouTube Premium & More
While its competitors ripped screens out of their planes to save a few bucks years ago, Delta doubled down, maintaining and installing seatback entertainment across almost its entire mainline fleet. In the years ahead, Delta will go even further.
New, high-definition 4K seatback screens are in the works for Delta aircraft, promising a “vibrant theatre-like viewing experience” with even more films, TV shows, and other entertainment available to watch – and better, personalized recommendations, too. What’s more, every seat on the plane will come with the option to connect your own Bluetooth headphones. Delta ushered in that technology a few years ago with the introduction of its Airbus A321neo, but only for first class passengers.
That new technology will also introduce helpful features like translating important messages to other languages right on the seatback screen and a new “Do Not Disturb” mode.
Just don’t count on catching a movie on a 4K screen with your AirPods in anytime soon: That flashy in-flight entertainment experience will only come on select new aircraft deliveries starting sometime in 2026. Bastian and Delta made no indication they plan to retrofit existing planes.
These days, Delta is all about trying to build a buzz with branded partnerships – you heard about the airline’s new Shake Shack burgers, right? Bastian announced another big one on Tuesday: YouTube.
Sometime later this year, YouTube Premium will be available to all SkyMiles members onboard – whether you’re watching clips or listening to music on your smartphone, tablet, or on the screen in front of you. YouTube’s Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe said the company will also offer free trial of the service to all Delta customers.
Finally, Tom Brady – who Delta brought on payroll as a “strategic advisor” – will also star in a new series available exclusively on Delta flights called “Well Traveled.”
AI-Powered ‘Delta Concierge’ is Coming
Some big changes are in the works for Delta’s smartphone app: A personal, digital concierge.
They call it – surprise! – “Delta Concierge.”
The way Delta describes it, the concierge is “built into the Fly Delta app, giving customers more control and confidence navigating their travel experience.” An onscreen demo showed a woman consulting her Delta Concierge before a trip to Tokyo, including:
- Double-checking that her passport was still valid
- Proactively ordering an Uber ride (or, eventually, maybe even an electric air taxi from Joby) to get the airport on time
- Wayfinding directions using Augmented Reality (AR), pointing her to the right baggage drop queue, TSA PreCheck lines, and the Delta Sky Club
- Ordering an Uber upon arrival in Tokyo and even suggesting and making a restaurant reservation
“Delta Concierge will serve as a thread across your experience … that anticipates your needs, provides real time guidance, and delivers personalized recommendations,” Bastian told the crowd.
Bastian said “elements of Delta Concierge” will be available soon. An airline spokesperson added that Delta will bring “advanced capabilities to its Fly Delta app beginning in 2025 and beyond.”
Bottom Line
Delta has some buzzy changes up its sleeve in 2025 and beyond.
While its longstanding relationship with Lyft is out, SkyMiles members will soon be able to earn miles on Uber rides instead. Over time, fancy new seatback screens with enhanced features (like Bluetooth connectivity) will take flight. And starting later this year, a new, AI-powered concierge tool within the Delta app could help you get where you need to go.
