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Can you believe it Austin Texas, where there now is only a small United and AA club, is going to get a mega Delta Sky Club.
Back in February last year I ran a very popular poll about what Delta serviced city most “deserves” to get a Sky Club or maybe more accurately what city is most missing one. From my list the winner was LAS or Las Vegas but where there is a proper Amex Centurion lounge in a city (i.e. not a micro lounge) there really is no need to go anywhere else. Now those voting for Phoenix I get as the Priority Pass lounge is not simple to get to at all (for Delta flyers anyway).
But the winner, that only 77 of you voted for that Delta has picked, is AUS or Austin, Texas! What does Delta tell us about this coming club?
I find it interesting that Delta chose to use the ATL “B” club for the graphics vs. a shot from say the flagship SEA or JFK club (the latter that has a Sky Deck). But let’s look at the highlights.
- We have to wait for at least another year i.e. it opens 2019
- It is going to look like all the other modern clubs i.e. no western theme
- They will have some local food selections? Interesting!
- It will have a premium bar vs. self service in some clubs
- 195 seats is decent size considering the daily flights in/out of AUS
- It will have a Sky Deck – just the 3rd one in the entire system (so far)!
So there are the highlights from the sign (currently at Gate 6). Again, I am just thrilled that “little old Austin” is getting such a spectacular club. Am I surprised? Only about the Sky Deck. This is something so special that so far only two of the mega hubs from Delta have one. For AUS to get one is just WoW to me. Then again, the weather in AUS sure does support it so there is that.
Now let’s speculate. Can you even dream if Delta decides to have some decent type BBQ on the menu? Say from Franklin’s? Talk about creating buzz for a club (I know this is not going to happen but just saying)! But even some real BBQ inspired dishes would be impressive.
Now it’s your turn. Are you also excited about this new club? Are you disappointed in the choice for the 3rd Sky Deck? Will this, if you live in Austin, impact your choice of choosing to fly Delta just to enjoy this club pre or post flight? Let us know in the comments below! – Rene
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What does Delta have against PHX?? Crowded gate areas……certainly should be the next Club……
@Jerry – No argument from me. Heck, email them – they may listen???
@Jerry A SkyClub is coming to PHX. I saw a picture on social media of a sign posted at the DL ticket counter saying “The Exitment is Building” a new Delta SkyClub is coming to PHX in Fall 2018.
@Bryce L – Oh. Please send me a photo of the sign! 🙂
@Rene – There was a thread on FlyerTalk a couple of days ago that talked about it.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta-air-lines-skymiles/1864123-skyclub-planned-phoenix-2.html
@Bryce – Thanks. PS WARNING TO READERS – Flyertalk ads right now are loading spyware and malware and I would avoid that site.
AUS isn’t exactly a busy DL hub — gotta say I’m rather surprised. Also pleased though: I’ve spent some time walking from one end of the terminal to the other, over and over…
AUS needs a Priority Pass club. Austin needs it bad!
When it opens can we go visit it and have BBQ with poor old Dave? I’m actually super jealous as AUS will have a way nicer club than TPA.
Just in time for me to loose club access if I do not make DM …
As for AUS, it’s really a “meh” moment for me being mainly an East coast flyer. RSW in Ft. Myers needs a club badly with it being the only large airport in FL without a club.
You mentioned Bar-B-Que (no surprise there) and in MEM last week they had Neeleys pulled pork in the SkyClub. So, the AUS club will probably mimic that move.
AUS it’s such a small airport for a premium lounge ??
Makes no sense to me. Seems only folks who will ever use the club are those traveling to/from AUS. Where does delta fly that has a stop/connection in AUS?? Delta should have put the money into rehabbing some other outdated clubs. Even better, increase bartenders staff in the most populous sky clubs so you don’t have to wait 15-20 min for a drink.
How about Charlotte? The gate areas are horrible and delta has quite a few flights. My Admirals Club membership lets me use one of the Admirals Clubs when flying delta, but those are some of the worst clubs in the AA system surprisingly and there is no Priority Pass lounge. Help.
PHX is coming late 2018. They’ve got a sign just like the one in AUS same graphics!
Rene, NO I am not excited. I would rather have the daily papers brought back into the Crown Rooms, AKA Sky Clubs. Am I dating myself. I like to feel and touch things.
I am surprised but none of us should be. The entire commercial aviation industry has expanded its focus on AUS in recent years. The telltale sign was British Air’s addition of non-stop Dreamliner service from London.
Surprised about Austin – airport’s not that big. Phoenix is long overdue.
Austin will be a Delta focus city within 18 months. And look for a Seoul-Austin route on Korean soon as well.
I live in Austin so (though biased) I am thrilled we will be getting a Sky Club. It is also a great place for a sky deck as it can be used almost year-round. I had a feeling this was coming as AUS stated that a new lounge was going in with their expansion project (AA and UA already have lounges here). With this Sky Club going in with the 9 gate expansion I think that this may only be the first of DL’s AUS announcements over the next 12-18 months. AUS is the only airport in Texas which makes sense for DL to focus in with AA at DFW and UA at IAH (plus the SW foothold at DAL, HOU, and yes, even AUS). They have steadily added flights over the last few years beyond hubs with SEA and BOS and have had one off flights to LAS and AMS to correspond with CES and SXSW. They have clearly been testing the waters here. As a DM (though soon to be PM with the $250k) I am looking forward to enjoying some local brews on the sky deck in AUS before my flights next year!
Well it will be the new Amazon headquarters! Not surprised.
Since I live in Austin and regularly fly through the Airport there both leaving and returning … Yay! It is about time. Now AMEX, let’s get going on that Centurion Club lounge for when I am using an airline other than Delta for my flight.