Sports fans can take their predictions to 30,000 feet with SkyPicks, a new product created through a partnership between DraftKings and Delta Air Lines.
The free-to-play in-flight contest was unveiled in a joint announcement Wednesday.
Key Takeaways
- Participants can connect to SkyPicks through their Delta SkyMiles account.
- Users predict a series of outcomes for future sports events.
- Two new contests will be available every week and can be tracked even after travelers land at their destination.
Delta Air Lines has already offered several entertainment options to its customers, including live sports. Adding SkyPicks allows users to immerse themselves in the experience while traveling over 500 miles per hour through the air.
DraftKings said SkyPicks will allow customers to interact with upcoming matchups in a multitude of leagues. Customers on U.S. domestic Delta flights can access SkyPicks on their laptop or mobile device while connected to the plane’s Wi-Fi through their Delta SkyMiles account.
SkyPicks contests are free to play and test users’ knowledge of sports, along with their forecasting abilities.
"At DraftKings, we believe interaction with sports shouldn't begin and end with the game itself - it should extend to every moment fans care about," said Jeremy Elbaum, chief commercial officer at DraftKings. "As we continue elevating the DraftKings Sports experience, we're also exploring new ways to bring fans closer to the action beyond the traditional settings. Collaborating with Delta gives us the opportunity to reimagine what sports engagement can look like while traveling, bringing innovative ways for fans to stay connected to the games they love - even when they’re in the air."
SkyPicks participants will be asked to answer several sports-related questions, which could include:
- “Who will score first?”
- “Which team will win?”
- “What will the final score be?”
Correct answers help players move up a leaderboard across the entire SkyPicks player base. New contests will be offered twice weekly.
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More on SkyPicks
SkyPicks players will be asked to log into or create a DraftKings account when they open the product. Users must verify they are at least 21 years old through their SkyMiles account.
Once submitted, contest entries can be tracked and edited until the contest closes, even if that is after the plane touches down at its destination. A link to the contest will be sent to the email attached to the customer’s account. New SkyPicks contests can only be created while a user is in flight.
Contest winners will receive prizes through Delta. Winners will be sent an email with instructions on how prizes can be redeemed.
“With Delta Sync, our goal is to create an onboard experience that offers something for every customer - one that’s connected to what customers love on the ground,” said Ranjan Goswami, Delta's chief marketing and product officer. “For many of our customers, that includes sports. SkyPicks brings that passion onboard in a fun, free-to-play way, giving SkyMiles Members another way to engage with the games and conversations they love while they fly.”
Delta hosts up to 5,500 flights daily to more than 300 destinations on six continents. It served more than 200 million customers last year.
DraftKings going all-in
DraftKings’ recent moves show it is broadening its product offerings.
Combining its casino games, sports betting, lotteries, and prediction markets into one “Super App” is a clear effort to increase cross-engagement across multiple verticals of the company’s operations. It also recently launched its prediction markets exchange DKeX, which will allow it to keep all operations in-house, reducing fees.
The Delta partnership gives DraftKings another touchpoint with sports fans outside its traditional sportsbook and casino platforms.
