Delta Air Lines wants to help you travel like a local on your next big trip.
The company teased its “Delta Locals” trip inspiration platform at the Consumer Electronics Show, a major tech conference, earlier this year. But the airline started introducing curated itinerary suggestions and stories about local cultures on Thursday, Nov. 20.
“Delta’s goal for our next 100 years of travel is to be so much more than just your airline,” Alicia Tillman, Delta’s Chief Marketing Officer, said in a statement. “We’re your one-stop shop for dreaming, planning, booking and arriving at a city on your bucket list. We are ready to take you where you want to go but to also help ensure you’re fully exploring the best that places have to offer with insights that most tourists would never know about.”
The Delta Locals platform currently features video interviews and trip inspiration suggestions with people from Patagonia, Tokyo, Sicily and Los Angeles, with more destinations, including Curaçao, Austin and Dublin set to be introduced in the coming months.
In one of the video series, Chilean filmmaker and adventurer Antar Machado shows potential visitors some of his favorite spots for rock climbing and other outdoor activities in Patagonia.
These characters may not be able to meet up with you on your next trip, but their stories can help you think about the things you want to do when you visit their hometowns.
The launch comes as more AI-powered planning tools are becoming available to travelers to map out trips. American Airlines recently introduced its own AI-powered travel search platform.
Google has also rolled out new features in search that help users build personalized itineraries. That includes Canvas in AI Mode – a tool that pulls real-time flight and hotel data – Google Maps photos and reviews, and suggestions from across the web into one customizable travel plan.
Users can refine itineraries with follow-up questions, compare hotel tradeoffs and return to saved plans through their AI Mode history.
Google also expanded “Flight Deals,” an AI-driven feature that helps flexible travelers find the cheapest destinations and travel dates by simply describing the kind of trip they want. And new updates allow users to book restaurant reservations and event tickets across platforms like OpenTable, Resy and Ticketmaster.
As more travelers pair airline-curated local guides with AI-powered planning tools like Google’s, building a personalized itinerary is becoming more accessible.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at [email protected].
