Delta Air Lines has upped its Sky Club airport lounge game at a bunch of airports across the United States. (And we hear great things about the lounge at Tokyo-Haneda.)
During the past several years months, the airline opened up fantastic new lounges at:
- Austin (AUS – read our review)
- Chicago O-Hare (ORD – read our review)
- Ft. Lauderdale (FLL)
- Kansas City (MCI)
- Los Angeles (LAX, T3 — read a review)
- Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP, G Concourse – read a review)
- New York-LaGuardia (LGA – read our review)
- Salt Lake City (SLC – read our review)
I’ve also noticed improving food options at several existing Sky Clubs. (Some lounges are still pretty meh regarding their food and beverage options.)
Two airports are on our “Please Put a Delta Sky Club Here!” wishlist. And a few others landed in the “honorable mention” category.
Related: What is the Best Amex Card for Delta Sky Club Lounge Access?
Be Realistic
Now, will Delta read this post and say in all seriousness, “That’s genius! Why didn’t we think of that?”
Oh, heck no. (Despite what some people think, we’re not that delusional 🙂 ) I’m sure Delta’s brain trust has thought of these ideas before—many times.
Plus, an airline can’t simply say, “Hey, let’s build a lounge!” and it’s a done deal. This isn’t like knocking down a strip mall or a couple of mom-and-pop joints to build a 30-story tower of “affordable housing.”
It’s not as easy as saying, “Hey, let’s make that Chili’s Too and Sbarro offers they can’t refuse. Then we’ll stick a Sky Club in those spaces!”
Airport real estate is minimal. Even if space is available, you must deal with city governments and their regulations.
All that said, here are our ideas.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Delta Diamond and Platinum elite members were dealt a significant blow recently when the fantastic Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse stopped permitting them to enter unless they fly Delta One or premium cabins on Virgin Atlantic. (We hear the ordinarily polite and warm Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse receptionists became anything but the now unwelcome Platinums and Diamonds.)
That aside, a Delta Sky Club would seem to make sense here anyway, given not only Delta’s flights to and from the United States but also Delta-marketed flights operated by Virgin Atlantic (of which it owns 49%).
And eligible American Express Cards give cardholders complimentary access to Sky Clubs when flying same-day Delta-operated itineraries — or Delta-marketed flights (again: Virgin Atlantic flights sold as codeshares through Delta).
- 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
I don’t know the agreement between Delta and Virgin Atlantic when it comes to Heathrow turf. Maybe Heathrow doesn’t want to deal with the Yanks any more than they have to.
I’ve been to LHR T3 several times — and don’t remember there being a ton of space. (But, my gosh, duty-free for miles!)
For those interested: Delta metal performs flights to and from Atlanta (ATL); Boston (BOS); Detroit (DTW); Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP); New York-JFK (JFK); Salt Lake City (SLC) and Seattle (SEA).
Harry Reid Las Vegas International Airport (LAS)
So, rumors of a Delta Sky Club at LAS are nothing new. This Reddit post says there will be a Las Vegas Sky Club by the end of 2024.
I visited Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago. Delta’s LAS presence and passenger loads are much higher now than in years past. (On a personal note: all the flights between LAX and LAS are now on Delta metal. They used to be on regional jets.)
I generally get to chat with Delta’s Managing Director of Sky Clubs, Claude Roussel, when I attend Sky Club previews. (Side note: I genuinely enjoy talking with Mr. Roussel. He’s classy, funny, and puts up with questions from people such as me. I encourage you to say hi if you ever see him.)
I’ve asked him a couple of times about Las Vegas. He wouldn’t confirm or deny anything the first time.
At the following preview, I asked again, and he replied (with a Cheshire Cat grin) something like, “Ah, yes. Las Vegas!” When I smiled and nodded to prompt him further, he said, “What about Las Vegas?”
So, Claude wasn’t talking. (But he was charming while giving me the I-Know-Something-You-Don’t look.)
If you’re familiar with the LAS D30s-40s gates, perhaps you’re like me and recognize there’s nowhere right now screaming, “I’m a Perfect Spot for an Airport Lounge!” There’s the space formerly home to the old The Club T3, which I noticed recently seems to be just an open air. (I didn’t take an extended look — can a LAS traveler please take a peek for us?)
Perhaps Delta could add a lounge above the LAS gates? I don’t know if local and FAA regulations would permit that at Henry Reid.
Or maybe somewhere else in the vicinity is suitable for a Sky Club.
“But Heathrow and Vegas Have Amex Centurion Lounges, Pal!”
Indeed, they do.
But here’s where Delta Sky Clubs could come in handy.
Overcrowding
Despite being remodeled and expanded a couple of years ago, the Vegas Centurion Lounge still encounters overcrowding issues occasionally. (Yes, Delta Sky Clubs do, as well.)
I don’t know what that situation is like at the LHR Centurion.
Sky Clubs could potentially take on some relief for eligible cardholders when Centurion Lounges get full.
Now, Delta Sky Clubs pale in comparison when it comes to premium alcohol versus the Centurion Lounge. Delta makes you pay for the good stuff. The Centurion Lounges don’t.
Food is better at the Centurion Lounges — but the new Delta clubs with dedicated kitchens whip up some decent stuff, too.
If that were a more convenient option, I’d be willing to plop down in a Delta Sky Club instead of a Centurion.
Access to the Clubs
Delta Reserve and Delta Business Reserve members can access Centurion Lounges when flying same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated itineraries. However, those trips must be purchased with a U.S.-issued American Express Card.
So, if you hold a Reserve Card but paid for your trip using your Chase Sapphire Reserve®®‘s $300 annual travel credit, you’re (theoretically) out of luck. Go use a Priority Pass Lounge or pound sand or something.
Guesting Privileges
Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs charge $50 per guest per visit for cardholders entering their respective establishments.
However, the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card both come with two complimentary one-time visit Sky Club guest passes each membership year you hold the card.
Airport lounge entry fees generally count toward the $200 annual airline incidental credit feature on both the The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required and terms apply). That can help defray the costs of bringing guests to Delta Sky Clubs.
Access Upon Arrival
This is one of those things that depends on whether or not you travel with checked luggage — or are willing to hope the airline’s employees will take it off the carousel and hold it for you.
American Express Centurion Lounges do not admit passengers arriving at their final destinations.
Delta Sky Clubs, however, do. I visit Vegas a few times a year — both for business and personal travel — and would love to visit a lounge when I show up after my flight.
Heathrow-wise, I imagine an LHR Sky Club would be teeming with people wanting showers after long transatlantic flights. (Though, FNT Delta Diamond notes it wouldn’t be accessible because of passport control.)
The “Relaxed” Three-Hour Rule
Centurion Lounge and Delta Sky Club policies state that departing passengers may not enter lounges more than three hours before their flight’s scheduled departure. (Connections are exempted.)
We’ve seen Centurion Lounges will plenty of open space —three hours and thirty minutes before our flight and we still get turned away.
We broke the news that Delta Sky Club agents may — at their discretion and if space permits — allow guests to access the lounge more than three hours before their scheduled flight time. So, score another one for the Sky Club.
What About Other, Smaller Airports?
A few other airports seem like potential candidates for Sky Clubs — though they don’t necessarily need to be as big as the huge new lounges.
- Anchorage (ANC)
- Delta’s done pop-up Sky Clubs here before
- Chicago-Midway (MDW)
- We’ve heard this has been requested for years
- Ft. Myers (RSW)
- Popular tourist destination — but still needs rebuilding after Hurricane Ian.
What Do You Think?
Do you like our ideas of putting Sky Clubs in LHR and LAS? Would you visit them — even though both airports have Centurion Lounges?
Where else should Delta realistically put Sky Clubs? Please share your thoughts in the below Comments section!
To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
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.
You would never be able to access a Delta Sky Club upon arrival at Heathrow because of passport control. There is, however, a small Virgin Atlantic arrivals lounge that is arguably one of the best-kept secrets.
I’m pretty sure Anchorage had a Northwest Airlines lounge back in the day. I also believe Guam and Manila did too.
Las Vegas definitely needs a Sky Club. I don’t understand how Jacksonville, Denver, Milwaukee and Phoenix have lounges but Las Vegas doesn’t.
Columbus is finally getting a Sky Club, I believe.
I remember really liking the Indianapolis Sky Club before the pandemic when there was a Delta flight from Indianapolis to Paris that always had availability for global upgrade certificates.
Pittsburgh would be great. I’ve never understood how Pittsburgh doesn’t have a Sky Club but Milwaukee does.
I’ve used the Virgin arrivals lounge at Heathrow, and when I used it, I really appreciated it being there.
RSW absolutely needs Skyclub
Even if they have expanded hours during peak season and less hours during slow season.
There are renovating now so a good time for delta.
They should have lounges at BWI which has several flights every day, and TLV (or at least give access to Sky Club members, not just those in Delta One or Premium Select).
Not sure about Baltimore. I could see Washington-Dulles because Delta could make money with access from other Sky Team passengers. Before 2018 or so, a Sky Club member could use the Air France lounge at IAD (and other lounges without a Sky Club) on a purely domestic flight. Before the Sky Club at Washington-Reagan was renovated, I used to fly into DCA and then home out of IAD just to use the Air France lounge. The food was never great but the champagne was superb.
BWI has two Priority Pass lounges in the same secure area as Delta. The former US Airways Club space is now the Mexican restaurant.
Exactly. But they are no use to Sky Club members!
The SkyClub in Kansas City is also new along with the entire airport. I recently visited the KC SkyClub and it is fantastic. Open air patios were awesome and the food was really great. On the same trip, I also visited the SkyClub at LaGuardia and the food didn’t come close to KC. As for new clubs, how about PIT?
I imagine the Kansas City Sky Club is heavily subsidized by the airport or the government. Someone is giving money to keep that open because it really doesn’t make much sense or cents to me.
+1 Would love an LAS club.
I also think one at RIC could make a lot of sense given the sheer number of Delta elites (the upgrade list is nuts on flights RIC:ATL) that fly to/from RIC to ATL, BOS, CVG, DTW, LGA, MSP. After low cost Breeze Airways, they’re the top airline at RIC with AA nipping at their heels. A club could be a differentiator.
I’m not sure Delta decides to open Sky Clubs strictly based on the number of elites.
I was flying in and out of Cleveland recently. Upgrade lists 30 passengers long. In Cleveland of all places.
I imagine it’s a combination of subsidies or incentives from an airport authority, corporate clients and, increasingly, American Express revenue. If Delta knows they can make money from AmEx having a lounge, they’re going to open a lounge.
RIC has no clubs currently, so I would imagine that AmEx would drive a lot of business, though Capital One has a huge presence in the market. The thought on elites is that they’re also likely SkyClub members through AmEx or Diamond status.
Charlotte Airport has released multiple drawings of the new far far North A concourse under construction that include a Sky Club on the mezzanine level above the gates.
Richmond doesn’t have any concourse level space inside of security… I could see an area on ramp level working that already has an elevator and stairs leading to it from the DL gate area but would require reconfiguring a hallway and a number of security doors.
Living in Atlanta I hate flying into CLT and can make the trip much faster driving, even factoring in a stop to rent a car. The airport’s an absolute mess with insufficient seating/queuing areas at the gates and then add in the lack of a lounge and it’s been a hard pass for me. If I need to make a quick trip I usually charter and the price for 2-3 of us is close to buying DL last minute first class and the FBO situation is much better taking off from PDK or LZU. A lounge might change my calculus a bit.
I generally avoid flying American. I’m able to usually hit the front door of the airport about an hour to departure and be fine (but I’m usually flying either 0600 or evening) with United, Spirit, Delta, etc. But as a local the airport is a nightmare especially parking. I travel to Florida a few times a month and have learned to tolerate Allegiant, as they fly from Concord just a few miles from my house. Airplane seat to my living room in 20 minutes is hard to beat.
My wife and I were scheduled to fly back from FLL using American miles. We would have flown Delta but wanted a non-stop to DC (although there will soon be such an option from the Miami area with Delta).
The night before I tried to change to a flight from PBI that left later, for less miles, but American didn’t redeposit the miles when I canceled the original and we missed our flight while I spoke with them for 3 hours or so to try to fix the problem (that took a month to resolve).
Instead we flew JetBue for $80 each and got free exit row seats because of my lifetime Platinum status with American (from before I switched to Delta). The seats were great.
I still prefer Delta but I am grateful to JetBlue, this is the second time they have helped me at very short notice without overcharging. As you can imagine, I am not very happy with the plans to scrap their alliance. I am not sure who these elected representatives ask when they decide they are doing things like this for our benefit.
“I am not sure who these elected representatives ask when they decide they are doing things like this for our benefit.”
People who pay them more than you and I do. 🙂
If I was East Coast-based and flying New York to Los Angeles, I would switch to JetBlue because the Mint product is better than Delta, American and United’s premium business or first products. The problem is JetBlue doesn’t have a premium product on all of its routes. They should have copied WestJet, which also started as a low-cost carrier, and ut in a couple routes of a domestic first or domestic business on all domestic routes. Even if it was just a copy of Spirit’s big seats. In a dream world, Alaska and JetBlue would be one airline or have an extensive partnership.
Keep asking for Delta lounges. No one should say that Heathrow has an Amex lounge and suggest that it or any Amex lounge is a reasonable substitute for or even comparable to the new Delta lounges. The Amex lounge at LHR T3 is the same as any other Amex lounge . . . and, it’s in an inconvenient location. Premium airport experience? Ha. Amex lounges are like middle-of-the-road Priority Pass lounges. They are a last resort when one does not have access to an airline’s own lounge. They are well-attended by individuals who look as if they’re in the middle of a 30-plus-hour connecting journey in basic economy. Again, keep asking for Delta lounges.
If we’re going to be randomly requesting international Sky Club expansion, I would think Rome since Italy’s ITA has been bought (or is being bought) by Star Alliance’s Lufthansa. You could also make a case for Cancun, given the large number of Delta flights to Cancun. There’s even a case to be made for San Juan in the US territory of Puerto Rico.
Forget Sky Clubs and Amex Centurion Lounges… I want more Chase Sapphire Lounges!
I think LAS would be a great start!
It’s already in Chase’s plans!
And don’t forget Toronto, especially with the lack of a WestJet lounge there.
I fly into and out of YYZ monthly. Have been doing so for 10+ years. Covid permanently killed a lot of DL’s YYZ traffic. DL used to have 7 ATL flights each day year-round. Now 3 year-round and 4-5 in the summer. Westjet is focusing more on western Canada these days and ceding eastern Canada to AC.
Pre-covid, I used to get some awesome international business-class deals out of Toronto. I’d fly to YYZ from DTW on a cheap economy ticket, go through passport control, drop my bags at the Delta counter, and return for a flight to New York, Atlanta, Minneapolis or Detroit and then onwards. It was tricky at times because the U.S. pre-clearance lines could be absurdly long. Still, I regularly saved $2,000+ for YYZ-DTW-NRT-SIN or YYZ-MSP-CDG. Since covid, Chicago has been the cheap place to start on long-haul flights.
Can you confirm that holders of the Delta Skymiles Reserve American Express can still access the Virgin Clubhouse at LHR? (I’m a lowly Platinum, so affected by this recent change.) I wasn’t able to find out online. Thanks!
Reserve cards could never get anyone into the LHR Clubhouse, as far as I know.
+1 you’re correct Chris, they also didn’t have reciprocity with the SkyClub membership that comes with the AmEx Delta Reserve CC in case that’s what Heather’s thinking would provide access.
So I’m Delta Platinum and was able to get into the LHR clubhouse as well as the IAD and JFK clubhouses. So, what exactly is the rule?
SkyTeam Elite Plus (DM, PM, and GM) traveling on international flights operated by SkyTeam carriers can enter the Clubhouses — except at LHR now.
FNTDD. Jacksonville is always packed as we have sooo many Plat users and DM’s we are 2 nd to Atl with DM’s. Sacramento totally needs a Delta lounge in terminal 1!! It has a tiny mini priority – centurion lounge but most of the time there is very minimal food( chefs do not show up like in Providence ) and not a great liquor selection but it is better than zip!!
How does Jacksonville have so many diamonds?
It always has. It used to be hourly 767 and 757 to ATL and I think I recall 767 to DFW too. Until the last decade Delta was pretty much the only one with a ton of volume at JAX. I was shared some information from a contact at Delta about ten years ago that ranked elite heavy field stations and top of list was JAX, GSP (or maybe GSO), BNA, MSY. JAX is the only station where one time as a Gold I hit number 100 on the upgrade list on a Monday morning.
Wow. That’s very interesting!
I have a colleague in BNA and he said the reason they have so many Diamonds/Platinums is simple, he flies to all of the same places that I do, but he has two more 500 accrual mile flights and ~$100-250 more in MQDs on every trip than I do because he connects through ATL on every trip. JAX and MSY are in the same situation. The SE is a bit unique compared to other geographies in the country in that the next closest big-three hub city would be CLT for AA and UA would be Houston or DC depending on direction of travel. This gives DL a powerful position for regional travel in the SE and with nearly hourly flights to the secondary/tertiary cities they hold on to that position.
we all have to go thru atlanta to go anywhere!!!SO I guess that helps get status
PS Cabo could use a lounge as the Priority lounge is a Zoooo
Denver is small, crowded and needs work !!
This. So much this.
I’ve been told Denver is getting an expanded Sky Club. I wouldn’t be surprised if that lounge space takes over the whole concourse currently shared by the USO and American lounges. I’m pretty sure it was one huge lounge when it first opened.
You missed FLL as a new build in the last couple of years. 🙂
I appreciate the reminder. Added it!
“This isn’t like knocking down a strip mall or a couple of mom-and-pop joints to build a 30-story tower of ‘affordable housing.'”
Tell me you no nothing about urban planning without telling me you know nothing about urban planning…
You’ll have to forgive me: I live in Los Angeles.
I live in Los Angeles and have a degree in planning from a Los Angeles institution… I wish it were easy to get anything done in SoCal.
I think Chris’ point is not so much about the planning process as the pure lack of space at airports. At LAX, there’s only so many slots in which to put a lounge. The same applies at other airports.
ANC currently has a ‘pop up’ and there are rumors of a true SkyClub there. The LAS club is real but unlikely to be complete by 2024.
Thank you!
Didn’t Anchorage have an old Northwest lounge before Northwest and Delta merged?
They did not at least the last decade… Delta did have a club there in the late 80s/early 90s oddly enough.
Unsure about that. The ANC SkyClub pop up is on the mezzanine level. It’s actually pretty good as pop ups go.
What are they featuring in the pop-up?
Full bar, grab n go food and snacks, plenty of seating that includes a large TV.
Nice! Thanks for the report!
The RSW terminal is in the midst of an extensive renovation and expansion. There is definitely some steel being put up ABOVE the gate level of pier C, the gates currently being used by DL and UA. It is destined for an airline club, perhaps two.
RSW is currently the largest DL station without a Sky Club with the exception of LAS. DL boarded over 10 million passengers at RSW in 2022, and that’s with the 10 day closure and subsequent reduced schedule following Hurricane Ian.
Interesting, thanks!