What is the Best Card for Delta Sky Club Lounge Access?

Airport club lounges are great places to recharge (yourself and your electronic devices!). You can relax, get some work done, grab a quick bite to eat, and enjoy a beverage.

Four American Express Cards give members admission privileges when flying Delta-operated or -marketed flights

But is one of those cards the “best” for getting you into Delta Sky Clubs?

First, think about how often you use Delta Sky Clubs and want to bring guests with you. And how important to you are Companion Certificates, discounted onboard drinks, food, free checked first bags, and earning Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD) through spending? What about getting access to other airport lounges? (Plus, there are some major changes to coming to Sky Club admission policies next year.) So, I figured now is a good time to take a look.

Ready?

Which Cards Get You Into Delta Sky Clubs?

These American Express cards grant cardmembers complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs when traveling on a same-day, Delta-operated or Delta-marketed flight:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Earn 80,000 bonus American Express® Membership Rewards® points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the card within the first six (6) months of being approved for card membership. (Terms apply.)
  • $695 annual fee (See Rates and Fees)
  • Read more and learn how to apply here
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Increased welcome offer! Earn 120,000150,000 bonus American Express® Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on the card within the first three (3) months of being approved for card membership. Terms apply.
  • $695 annual fee. (See Rates and Fees)
  • Read more and learn how to apply here
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
  • Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on the card within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. (Terms apply.)
  • $650 annual fee (See Rates and Fees)
  • Read more and learn how to apply here
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
  • Earn 80,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $10,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within six (6) months of being approved for membership. (Terms apply.)
  • $650 annual fee (See Rates and Fees.)
  • Read more and learn how to apply here
• The invitation-only Centurion Card or “Black Card.” (All information about the Centurion Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was not provided or reviewed by the card issuer.) 

Both the primary cardmember and any paid additional cardholders may enter for free when flying a same-day Delta-marketed and operated itinerary. By “paid” additional cardholder, we mean an additional card that carries an annual fee.  For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express members can add up to three additional cardholders for $195 each. (Terms apply. Rates and Fees)

Delta Reserve and Delta Business Reserve members each receive four (4) guest passes each membership year.

Each card also allows up to two guests to be brought in for $50 per person. In our experience, you can earn back the guest admission fee when as part of Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum annual airline incidental statement credit benefit.

Major Changes Coming to the Delta Sky Club Entrance Privileges for American Express Card Members

Starting next year, a cap is being placed on how many complimentary Sky Club visits Delta Reserve, Delta Business Reserve, Amex Platinum, and Amex Business Platinum members may enjoy.

The term “Visit” will get a new definition as of February 1, 2025:

A “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-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.

For example, if I fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Minneapolis (MSP) to Chicago O’Haare (ORD) during a single day, I can go to the beautiful LAX Sky Club, the G18 lounge at MSP, and then the gorgeous club at ORD. All three entrances would count as one “Visit.”

A Delta Sky Club agent told me that Delta Reserve and Delta Business Reserve guest passes will also fall under those terms next year. Right now, guess passes work for only a single entrance. In my above example, I’d need to burn three guest passes until then. (I know this because my daughter often travels with us and is the beneficiary of our guest passes.)

Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve Business Amex Members

Effective February 1, 2025, Reserve Card Members (both personal and business) will receive 15 Visits per card, per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go. Theoretically, that gives you about 7.5 roundtrips to use your Sky Club “Visits.”

To earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on February 1, 2025, the total eligible purchases on a single card (not combined between two, if you hold multiple cards) must equal $75,000 or more between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter.

Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.

Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum Members

Effective February 1, 2025, Eligible Platinum Card Members (again, both personal and business) will receive 10 Visits per card, per year to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go. That’s pretty much five (5) roundtrips during which you can visit Sky Clubs next year.

To earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on February 1, 2025, the total eligible purchases on a single card (again, not combined across multiple cards) must equal $75,000 or more between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter.

Once all 10 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.

Should you run out of Visits, my guess is the $50 will work toward any remaining space on your airline incidental perk.

Better for Sky Club Access: Reserve Card or Platinum Card?

I think this depends on how often you visit Sky Clubs, which class of service you purchase, and how much you value status and statement credit opportunities.

If you don’t need a Companion Certificate, then the Amex Platinum or Business Platinum Amex are solid ways to go. Some people buy first class or use miles. They can afford to pay for companions and don’t need to play the complimentary upgrade lottery. Some people don’t even care about airline status! Can you believe it?! 😉

If you want access to Centurion Lounges, too, the Platinum cards are a much better option than Delta Reserves, which also offer the perk but are far more restrictive in terms of their entrance rules. The Platinum Cards also give members the option to enroll in Priority Pass Select membership — whereas the Reserves don’t. Platinum members may also visit Lufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa Group flights) and Plaza Premium lounges; the same can’t be said for the Reserves.

The Platinum cards each have their host of statement credit features. You can read here about the Amex Platinum Card benefits and features. Meanwhile, we break down the Business Platinum Amex’s features and benefits here.

Going forward, though, I think the Delta Reserve and Delta Business Reserve cards are the better options purely in terms of Sky Club access. They’ll offer 50% more visits (15 vs. 10) than the Platinum Cards starting next February. Plus, the Reserves’ four guest passes — valued at up to $200 total, per card — also give an edge over the Platinum Cards (unless you plan to use your airline incidental credit for those).

In terms of Delta benefits, each card gives members:

• $2,500 MQD toward Medallion status each year
• Free first checked bag for the cardholder and up to eight others on the same Delta PNR/reservation
• Zone 5 boarding
• 20% statement credit for select purchases made onboard Delta flights (e.g., food, beverages)
• Takeoff 15 — save 15% on eligible SkyMiles award trip redemptions
• $240 each calendar year ($20 per calendar month) on eligible Resy purchases
• $200 each calendar year on eligible Delta Stays purchases made at Delta.com
• $10 each calendar month on eligible purchases in the U.S. with Uber, Lyft, Curb, Revel, and Alto
• Cardholders receive a Companion Certificate valid for First Class, Premium Select, and Main Cabin flights to select destinations starting the second year of card membership.
• Earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent on eligible purchases

Final Approach

Several different American Express cards offer access to Delta Sky Clubs. The past I usually recommended one of the Platinum Cards. But because of the “Visits” change next year, I think the Delta Reserve or Delta Business Reserve are the way to go. That gives you about 7.5 roundtrips to burn your Sky Club “Visits.” Consider, too, that the Reserves have slightly lower annual fees than the Platinum Cards (Reserves are $650 vs. Platinums’ $695.)

• 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 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

But if you’re an occasional-yet-not-frequent Delta traveler, you can probably get away with an Amex Platinum or Amex Business Platinum. Those will basically amount to five roundtrips’ worth of Visits next year.

Which card do you like best for Sky Club access and why?

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 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.