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Nothing is ever small in NYC. This is true of the city itself, the traffic and just about everything associated with it and the Delta Sky Club in T4 is more of the same.
While you cannot really see the distance involved in the map above to get from the curb to the Sky Club, let me tell you it will take you a while. A long while. Keep this in mind as you block off enough time to make it to and from your gate.
You can get in with a number of AMEX cards or, if you are a Skyteam elite plus status and are on a coach or anyone on a business class international departing (or connecting) ticket, you can also get in free. The club is open each day 5AM till midnight other than Thursdays when it closes at 10:30PM.
The club is above the main concourse and you have escalators, stair or an elevator to get you into the club.
Check-in and customer service is one large desk area. Normally check-in is quick but I have had times where there were lines to enter the club.
As you enter the main central area of the club you are presented with complementary newspapers and magazines. Also take note of the art around the club. Delta has done a nice job including aviation themed items throughout the club.
The heart of the club is the large central full service bar and food service area. More on the choices later in the post. There are a number of complimentary wines and well drinks with other “premium” drinks for purchase.
Moving back to just left of the entrance and check-in there is a long room with mixed use furnishings.
There are two coffee stations at opposite corner ends of the club and you will tend to find folks walking around looking for them. The view from the club is impressive if you are into airplanes.
There are six showers in this “flagship” Delta club. Two more than you will find in Delta LAX Sky Club but two less than in the F or E clubs in ATL.
While inoperable during my visit, the second coffee machine is at this end of the club (near the showers and rest rooms). Once again you have some stunning runway and AVgeek views to enjoy. If you want light and sights stick to the outside sections of this club.
Having just said that, in the central part of the club is a large space that is blocked off from windows with private-ish cubes. For me, if you want rest, there are better choices as you will see soon.
Also noteworthy are the ordering stations and units scattered about the club. Should you choose to you can order custom meals for an upcharge. I have a real problem with this feature. Entrance to the Sky Club is not cheap (as much as $59.95 for one visit). Paying a fee for anything goes against the grain to me.
This NYC club also has one of the only two ” Sky Decks” in the Delta system (more are on the way). On the way to the deck is the resting / sleeping room.
I am a bit confused over the choice of location for this area in this club. In the F club in Atlanta it is just off the main area but in the E club it is in the back and dark-ish for rest. Bring some eye shades if you plan to rest in this room.
Before you get to the Sky Deck you have more work space, runway views as well as a network printer. I do appreciate this consistent feature you will find in just about every club. I have used these printers often in my travels.
Finally we have the Sky Deck. The one in Atlanta, due to southern weather, is open most of the year. The NYC one, well, a bit less so.
Breakfast at this club is standard Sky Club choices. Oatmeal will be your only warm choice other than toast or a bagel. This is one area Delta needs to improve with hot eggs and a protean option.
For lunch and dinner there is an expanded buffet similar to the F and E clubs in Atlanta. During my visit there was BBQ chicken and rice as well as black beans and peppers. The bread choice was a disappointing raisin bread (not a good match with the other choices)! With better bread choices you are able to “assemble” your own BBQ sandwiches.
Other options were salad choices as well as some hot soups, that is, vegan and Thai chicken.
Overall this expanded buffet is a decent quick option. Still nothing like the options offered by most international lounges but a large step up from the other standard choices at a Delta Sky Club.
My biggest impression and disappointment from this club was the quality of cleaning and freshness of the choices. Notice the bananas above as they exemplify that better than words can. Disappointing for a “flagship” Delta Sky Club in NYC. – René
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After recently flying from SLC – JFK in C+ I arrived in the late evening realizing I was quite hungry due to the elusive snack basket on the plane having been picked clean. I proceeded to this club with the idea of maybe having the upgraded food selections and to print my boarding pass for the next day.
I found the Thai Chicken soup mixed with the rice to be great as compared to any other choices in many clubs. The BBQ chicken was ok as well but maybe I should not have served myself that second BBQ Chicken … more on that.
With so many people working this club I was surprised that when I was looking for the printer none of the employees were available to ask a question – like where is the printer! I finally found it after walking every inch of the club … Yes I may have been at some fault but I was tired from Mileage Running for 3 of 4 days.
I then decided to head out to the hotel as my flight the next morning left from LGA. As I rode down that long escalator I began to feel a little nauseous and tired and was not looking forward to a long walk. As we exited the Skyclub my travel partner and I saw one of the Delta “poor man’s Porche Carts” and I said “Heck yes!” when the driver asked if we needed a ride. Now normally I would have been ashamed and felt guilty for taking the ride and attempted to hide my face – BUT as what seemed like eternity passed for us to get to the baggage claim exit I quickly got over this guilt and was very happy to have missed having to walk a half hour feeling weird from the “skygrub” chicken surprise.
So yes Rene, the Skyclub at JFK is OK but I pity the poor traveler who does not realize the extreme distance for connections.
#thestruggleisreal when it comes to this walk and even getting past Shake Shake, which has a line even at 6am. I once flew in from a red eye at the veryyy end of the corridor in gate B41. It took me 15 min walking at a brisk NY pace to the taxi line. Only to book it home, pack another suitcase, and head back to JFK for a 2pm flight to Turkey. Needless to say i still managed to get my 10k steps in!
First time at this club last week. Nice enough, but it is FAR. Far enough that now that I’ve been, if I’m flying out of T2 (which I was) I won’t bother even if I do have time. Unless, of course, I’m short on my fitbit steps for the day. 🙂
Personally I will stop at Shake Shack any time rather than walk farther to skygrub.
Love the “new” JFK club.
Come on folks…this is a place that you can you relax, enjoy some good food and drink, but most of all walk “outside” and enjoy watching the airlines come and go from the Sky Deck !!
So what’s the deal with earlier closing hours on thurs night? Stumped by that one…
@Mr.H – That is the 1x a week they switch bananas 🙂
@Rene, Would you rate the T4 club as the best in delta’s system?
The showers in the T4 lounge have hair dryers if I remember correctly whereas F and E in ATL do not. A hairdryer is an essential item for any shower IMO. Although it is not unusual to have to wait to use these showers, the attendants are very good at keeping and managing the waiting list.
International first and business class travelers really dumped on the T4 lounge on lounge review sites. Maybe the reviews have improved since delta made some improvements to food and beverages. Still, I think many would find it in bad taste to charge for decent alcoholic beverages in an international business/first class lounge.
In contrast to new clubs like T4 and the improvements delta has made to many of the lounges in its system like F and E in ATL, delta has done nothing to improve the two lounges at it’s Narita hub. Correct me if I’m wrong, I believe this is delta’s only international hub with delta connecting flights to/from other countries. A few years ago, these lounges were the best in the skyclub system. Now they are at the bottom of the barrel. They need more and better seating and trying to find electrical outlets in the seating areas is next to impossible when the clubs are busy. One good thing is these clubs do not have Luxury Bars so the selection of complimentary alcoholic beverages is much better than in domestic skyclubs. The failure to invest I these clubs makes me wonder about delta’s long-term plans for the Narita hub and commitment to the Asian market.
@John – in ATL you simply request a dryer before you enter showers. They are near the desk.
@Rene, Thanks for the tip. I’ve used the E and F showers at ATL 20+ times and this is the first I heard that hair dryers were available. I haven’t seen them or heard them in use by other passengers.
@John – Sure. I did mention they are available in the review: http://renespoints.boardingarea.com/2015/10/26/atlanta-f-international-concourse-delta-sky-club-review-by-renespoints/
P.S. One improvement delta should make at T4 and its other clubs at international gateways is at a minimum to follow American’s lead and provide premium cabin passengers and alliance elite plus passengers flying on international same-day tickets regardless of class of service two coupons for premium drinks when they enter the lounge. If delta wanted to really up its lounge game it could have separate areas or clubs for these passengers that would also offer upgraded food and beverages including champagne. American does this with their Flagship Lounges and at DFW it has a Flagship Dining area inside the D Admirals club.