It's no secret that if you've been reading this site, you know I love Delta Airlines. Being based in Atlanta, GA, I really had no choice. It was like being born into a baptism of excellent customer service with airfare that was nearly double the next competitor. However, I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for," and what I'm paying for with Delta is the ability to fly anywhere in the world at the drop of a hat without a connection.
This isn't to say that Delta is perfect, however. Delta has been lacking some key features that competitors have rolled out over the last few years, like Bluetooth connectivity and a certain satellite-based internet company that we'll discuss later. That's why aviation enthusiasts were waiting with baited breath this week as Delta took to the stage at The Sphere in Las Vegas during the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show to highlight their most groundbreaking developments.
Here are the biggest announcements from Delta Airlines at CES 2025
Delta Concierge - Artificial Intelligence to Help You Travel
You knew it was coming. Any company that could find a way to weave the letters "AI" into their announcements would see their stock price head north, and the airlines are no different. But finally, it's the application of AI agents that airlines are looking to roll out, with Delta leading the pack.
The newly announced "Delta Concierge" is a contextual AI model that will "help customers connect to their journey more meaningfully at every step." Is that PR-massaged nonsense? Of course - but this could actually have some pretty meaningful applications.
Accessed via Delta's mobile app, this new AI tool is the realization of what Delta's been promising since 2020, in that their internet applications would help each traveler with customized and personal travel assistance. Delta Concierge is going to be a big help in pre-planning your trip, from weather notifications to help you pack to reminders to scan and verify your passport before you head to the airport if you're flying internationally. It's contextual, so it'll also give you a heads up about things like visa requirements if you're headed to a country that requires it, or providing you directions in the airport to get to baggage claim.
Delta Concierge will also link in with Joby, an electric air taxi service that Delta invested in several years ago. This is a vTOL (vertical takeoff and landing, see also: helicopters) company that attempts to circumvent traffic in New York City and Los Angeles by going over it, similar to the services that companies like Blade already offer.
This is clearly Delta's piece de resistance for this announcement, and they started with a bang.
Upgraded In-Flight Entertainment Systems (including Bluetooth!)
This is a big one, so we'll break this one up and chat about each part of the meat of the Delta presentation.
New Seatback Screens
It's no secret that Delta's seatback screens are...tired, I guess is the best way to put it. Delta's older planes still have that slot on the bottom that looks like you need to swipe a credit card to turn the screen on, but their newer planes have some stylish, low-bezel options that are sleek and sophisticated. Well scrap all that, because Delta is rolling out a completely new seatback screen provider. Brought to you by manufacturer Thales, these screens will be 4K OLED screens with "Do Not Disturb" options, and will be rolling out over the next few years.
Entertainment and Connectivity
Delta is upgrading their entertainment offering on their planes thanks to a new partnership with YouTube! Announced alongside YouTube's Chief Business Officer, Delta CEO Ed Bastian unveiled the new partnership that includes YouTube Premium and YouTube Music access on all seatback screens so travelers can watch and listen to YouTube ad-free for the duration of their flight (SkyMiles members only that have connected to Delta Sync).
But the new options don't stop there. Recently appointed Delta board member and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady stopped by to announce that he is launching a new travel show exclusive to Delta called "Well Travel." If it's anything like his broadcasting career so far, I'm dubious.
Finally, Delta is catching up to its competitors with this new IFE experience by offering Bluetooth connectivity across its fleet! You can finally connect your AirPods without that really weird hanging dongle thing that have become all the rage on planes nowadays.
Partnership with Uber (sorry Lyft)
The one reason I would use Lyft would be to and from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and only because I had my Delta SkyMiles account linked to it to earn double miles on my rideshare spend. Well, that's over now! Delta announced on Tuesday, alongside Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, that the Lyft partnership is dead and long live Uber.
Delta SkyMiles members can now link their SkyMiles account to their Uber app to earn 1 mile per dollar on UberX rides to and from airports, 2x miles on premium rides and 3x miles per dollar on Uber Reserve rides. You can also now earn miles from Uber Eats (1 mile per dollar spent on all restaurant and grocery orders), which is a game changer for every agoraphobic millennial.
One Thing Missing: Starlink
After following some reporters that were on the ground at CES for the Delta announcement, the comments section, in a classic display of "not appreciating what we have," went after Delta for the lack of a Starlink partnership. This could be hot on the heels of United Airline's announcement yesterday that Starlink will be integrated on their airline by Spring 2025, but Delta's in-flight WiFi is a sticking point for many passengers. As a frequent Delta business traveler myself, the internet reliability is not awesome on Delta with their current provider, T-Mobile, so it would be worth Delta exploring new options on this front.
Conclusion
As a mainstay Delta flyer, I'm excited about these changes! I'm joining the waitlist for Delta Concierge, and I'm fascinated to see how quickly they can roll these IFE changes out to make the in-flight experience even better. For a millennial couple, the YouTube addition is a big one for my wife and I and will make the flights to Europe even easier to stand while we're stuck in a non-padded economy seat.
What do you think about these changes? Sound off in the comments below!
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