Delta Air Lines unleashed a bunch of changes during the past four-ish months — and brought their credit card partner American Express along for the ride.
First, Delta announced a massive overhaul of the SkyMiles Medallion elite status program. Then it was like, “Just kidding! But this is pretty much what you can expect down the road.” The airline went into damage control mode and again revised the Medallion program.
Just a few days ago, six of the co-branded Delta SkyMiles® American Express Cards underwent their own big changes.
Delta Sky Club access is a big draw for several Amex cards. But two cards lost their airport lounge features altogether, and four premium Amexes will see major changes next year.
So, let’s reset and see which American Express cards get you access to Delta Sky Clubs in 2024.
(Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.)
Complimentary Admission to Delta Sky Clubs
These cards give cardholders free admission to Delta Sky Clubs on days you fly Delta Air Lines marketed or operated flights. However, passengers traveling on Basic Economy fares are not eligible to enter — even with one of the below cards.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
For what it’s worth, I’ve never had a problem getting into lounges at 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM when taking midnight or 1:00 AM-ish flights.
Authorized/additional users may access Sky Club lounges when flying Delta — provided they’re added as paid, “full-fledged” cardmembers (i.e. they’re not “free” authorized users).
Cardholders of co-branded Platinum Cards from American Express (i.e. American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab, etc) also receive complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs. As do, of course, The Centurion® Card from American Express. (All information about American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab and The Centurion® Card from American Express has been collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab and The Centurion® Card from American Express are not available through Eye of the Flyer.)
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card do not receive access to Delta Sly Clubs — even for an admission fee. The SkyMiles Platinum Cards recently lost their Sky Club access. The Gold cards haven’t featured it for a while.
Wait! Aren’t There Limits as To How Many Times You Can Visit Sky Clubs During a Year?!
Those controversial changes don’t kick in until next year.
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- Delta SkyMiles® American Express Reserve Cardholders (personal or business)
- Starting February 1, 2025, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 complimentary “Visits per Medallion year to Delta Sky Clubs
- To earn an unlimited number of visits each year starting on February 1, 2025, the total eligible purchases on your card must equal $75,000 or more between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter.
- American Express Platinum (personal or business)Amex Platinum, and Amex Business Platinum
- Effective January 1, 2025
- Ten (10) Sky Club visits per Medallion year
- Spend $75,000 during a calendar year and receive unlimited club visits for the rest of that Medallion year and all of the following Medallion year
- Effective January 1, 2025
- Delta SkyMiles® American Express Reserve Cardholders (personal or business)
But what defines a “Visit”? Per American Express:
“Visit” is an entry to one or more Delta Sky Clubs or usage of the Delta Sky Club “Grab and Go” feature, at one or more airports, for a period of up to 24 hours starting upon the first Delta Sky Club entry or Grab and Go usage, during an Eligible Card Member’s travel on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. A single Visit permits usage of Delta Sky Club(s) in multiple airports during the 24-hour period. For example, if you visit a Delta Sky Club in different airports on a trip, entry into one or more of these Clubs will be considered part of the same Visit as long as these additional entries occur within 24 hours of the first Delta Sky Club entry. If travel exceeds 24 hours from the first Delta Sky Club, then a second Visit will be deducted if entering the Delta Sky Club or using Grab and Go more than 24 hours after the first entry. Eligible Card Members may not access the Club or a Grab and Go location in the three hours from the time of previous Grab and Go usage at the same airport.
Let’s use a recent trip I took as an example.
I departed from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and visited the T3 Sky Club. I connected at Detroit (DTW) and used one of their Sky Clubs. When I arrived at New York-LaGuardia that night, I popped into a Sky Club for dinner. Those three Sky Club experiences would count as just one Visit.
After a card’s allotted visits are exhausted, cardholders can purchase entry for $50 a pop.
Again, these changes don’t take effect until next year.
Can I Bring Guests?
Yes! However, your guests must also be flying on same-day Delta-marketed or operated flights.
Delta Reserve Amex and Delta Business Reserve Amex members now receive four Sky Club guest passes each year. (Prior to the recent Delta Amex news, cardholders were entitled to only two guest passes each year.) After those are used, cardholders may bring up to two guests — for $50 each.
Current Reserve cardholders: you likely won’t see your full complement of four guest passes until your card’s renewal date.
Delta Reserve, Delta Business Reserve, Amex Platinum, and Amex Business Platinum members may bring up to two guests for an additional $50 charge per guest.
If Delta is your Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum preferred airline, the Sky Club guest charge should credit back to your up to $200 annual airline incidental statement credit opportunity.
Last July, I used my Amex Platinum Card to pay for my daughter’s $50 guest fee into the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport G-18 Sky Club. The entire $50 charge was credited back about a week later.
Questions? Data Points?
Ask or share in the below Comments section!
As the kids say: see you in da club.
— Chris
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles® Business Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Based on the crowds in most Delta clubs, it would appear one can gain access using a library card, index card, or any of the raw materials that go into making a card. I’ve seen boarding gates with less people!
They’re there. They are buried with the drink passes.
I have two cards that grant access, Business Platinum & Delta Reserve. Can I tell the Delta desk agent that want entry using Business platinum so I can pay for my wife with that card to get the charge credited back as airline incidental?
@Greg – Yes. You can pull whatever card you want out at check-in to gain access.
“ SkyTeam Elite Plus members and one guest enjoy complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs and select partner lounges on days they fly international trips.”
Not necessarily so. Speaking from personal experience, and after talking to a customer service rep to confirm, select domestic (USA) Delta clubs will not admit Gold Medallion eliteplus when traveling on international tickets (e.g., Nashville, Atlanta, and JFK). No problem getting in with Detroit, or clubs overseas.
@DT – The rep was wrong. Departing and connecting cities that have Sky Clubs (or Skyteam lounges – think Korean club LAX) gives you access. Arriving city – no.
Having said that, reps often get the rules wrong. Matt from Live and Let’s fly had just such and issue in the LAX Sky Club and blogged it. Delta apologized and said they would train reps better.
I believe she was wrong, but this was not a call in rep. This was a specialized customer rep responding to my written complaint. I tried to reference the specific points on the Delta website, but she wasn’t having it. Then she got belligerent and said I wasn’t listening to her.
And as I have said, I’ve been refused admission to the clubs indicated while traveling on international tickets. Their responses vary; have to be on business or first class ticket, does not apply, we don’t do that. Not just the club agents, but the ticket counter agents. I even show them my “red” multi-million miler tag.
On the other hand Detroit has never been as issue gaining access, or the international terminals. That’s why we try to align our international flights through Detroit. That, and less problems if delays.
@DT – Sigh and wow.
The new redesigned DL AMEX cards are now being made from metal instead of plastic like the non branded AMEX Platinum.
@Bryce: Yep. We have a post about that this afternoon!
If I have a Reserve Card, can I get 4 people in (2 paid and 2 with free guest pass) during a single visit? Or will they limit it to 2 regardless?
@Ryan: That’s a good question. I’m thinking they’ll limit it to two guests. The verbiage reads, “Card Members may also bring up to two guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 21 years of age) at the exclusive per-visit rate of $39 per person, per location.” It sounds to me like the guest passes are simply used in place of the $39 fee. But who knows? Maybe a Sky Club rep will take pity and let a group of four in. Stranger things have happened, I suppose.
Am I able to get into the Delta Sky lounge with my American Express Platinum or Priority Pass?
With your American Express Platinum card when flying Delta.
I have a question about Sky Club access at your arrival city. I’ve never done that before and I’ve read conflicting posts on this topic. Seems in the article you mentioned accessing the Sky Club in NY on your arrival but Rene stated you cannot get in at your arrival city.
My wife and I are flying to PBI/JFK on DL and then have a long layover before an international flight on another airline and terminal. So can we access the Sky Club at JFK on arrival?
@Michael – For a while they changed the rules that you can not access at arrival city. There was such a backlash that they changed it back. Do keep in mind if you have not yet used the club during your journey it will count against you for one of your limited per year visits (next year).
Thank you for the quick response. it’s a trip in March of this year so we don’t have the limited visits in place yet. We always visit our nice little SkyClub at PBI prior to departure so in 2025 it would count as 1 visit based on the new rules.
How about the guest traveling with you, do they get the 24-hour delta pass into the Sky club (after paying $50.00) or is it a 1-time access?
As we understand it, it should be 24 hours — make sure to get a receipt.
Is it the same with the 4 free guest passes?
As we understand it, it should be 24 hours — make sure to get a receipt.
So, as a Amex Platinum holder, I can access Delta lounges on just five Delta round-trips per year. (One “visit” in each direction of a trip).
Serious question, though perhaps a tiny bit off-topic: Both United and American offer (pricey) credit cards which include membership access to their lounges (Admirals Club and United Club). Do folks have any thoughts on which of these two lounge networks is better, or which of those two airlines (and networks), I should add to my regular rotation along with Delta? (I fly most out of LAX, to ORD, MKE, BOS and Europe, if that matters).
Thanks for your help!!
This was very helpful to see the options for Sky Club access by card.
As for the non-card options for club access, are they limited to flying Delta One or buying a $695 membership?
Correct. SkyTeam Elite Plus members on other airlines are also eligible, as are First and Business Class passengers traveling on partner airlines.
I think you can’t get in anywhere if you’re on the cheapest Delta ticket. Is this wrong?
Correct. As we noted in the post, passengers traveling on Basic Economy fares are not eligible to enter.
Is a paid authorized Delta Reserve card user allowed the four free guest passes also?
Have the Reserve Card and had my wife as an additional card member which was her way into the Sky Club. (had to show each time) Is our entire account capped at 15, or is it 15 visits per card on our account? It’s $175 for the additional card, haven’t seen a conclusive answer if we should keep this?
15 per card. Whether or not you should keep it is up to you.
Regarding stopping at different airports within 24 hours, different airports must be in different time zones, or even clock back or forward one day. How does that time-zone sum be counted? Will Delta count the actual elapsed hours to be 24, regardless the actual local hours at all airports are less or more than 24?
It’s the actual 24-hour period, regardless of time zones.