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If you tried to visit the Delta Sky Club in MSP in C (right across from the tram) this week from Monday to Thursday you were told it was closed for some “enhancements” (a word that creates terror in all Delta flyers’ minds).
So just what enchantments you ask? I was told no changes to the club area itself and that no changes are planned for the area we enjoy. These changes this round were to the kitchen and the construction required the club to be closed until today.
The result was, this past week, that Delta suggested you go visit the main larger “F/G” club instead that is a considerable distance from the C club.
The result of that, as you would expect, was considerable over crowding to an already usually over crowded Sky Club. I was there on Monday and chose instead to go to the almost empty and much nicer MSP Escape lounge and suggest if the Sky Club is packed to go there instead.
But I have learned there are some updates on the way to the “F/G” club coming later this year. As you can see from this quick shot from another visit, the food area is a small cramped area and getting some snacks can be a challenge. Not good and Delta knows it.
What is on the way is a move of the food service to the right of the bar as you can see in the shot above. I was told an area about the size of the bar will be added for food (reducing seating a bit) to allow better access. The old food area will be only for beverages. Smart change.
I asked if the food provided would be expanded like we see in the flagship JFK Sky Club or even in the F & G ATL Sky Clubs but was not given any more info from the Delta representative I spoke to in MSP.
I think this will be a very nice and welcome change, but I do not see how these improvements will change the fact that this club is often so packed it is just not pleasant to visit. For me, the day the Escape lounge finally joins Priority Pass will be the last day I ever enter the Sky Club in MSP (unless I have a ticket issue that is). – René
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How did you get access to the Escape lounge? As far as I can tell, they still haven’t been added to the Priority Pass network. Did you just pay the $45?
@MSPTraveler – They offer discounts for online purchase. Not worth it for short visits but if you have LONG layover then yes. Again, as mentioned in post, until PP is accepted I will still put up with crowded Sky Clubs.
Thanks. I’m keeping my fingers crossed they will join soon. Odd that the London locations are part of PP but this one isn’t.
i NEVER GET TO GO TO THE CLUBS IN msp CAUSE EVERY TIME I HAVE HAD TO CONNECT THRU THERE THE FLIGHT WAS SO LATE I RAN TO THE NEXT GATE(NO HELP FROM THE CART PEOPLE-THAT’S ANOTHER STORY) AND IT’S A RATHER WIDE AND LARGE AIRPORT!!!!!
I had the same reaction the other day when I tried to go to the Concourse C club and found it closed for repairs. Asked the agent what was going on and was SO relieved that they were only making minor changes to the piping. I really like the way that the C sky club is set up and greatly prefer it to the “modern” delta club aesthetics. Wish they would make more improvements than just the food area in the E/F club though. The bathrooms are pretty tiny (I’d rather use the new bathrooms just across the way from the sky club), there’s no changing room, no showers, and I really dislike the one-giant-open room style. They could also use a boost in the food options as well (but then again, american lounges in general need a boost when it comes to the food).
@rene — Im a PM 2016, expect to be a PM 2017. After reading your blog for the last year or so and the constant drum beat of crap from Delta, Im now pondering whether I should status challenge to AA or UA and just leave Delta behind before I get any further down the road with them? I expect to fly another 50K miles this year and should I just give up on Delta and start somewhere else OR should I just accept that the same changes are going to happen everywhere and stick with Delta? Not really sure what I should do. Thanks.
@James – Honestly, I have no idea at all. Let me get back to you soon.