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If you have not been to an airport lately you may not realize that pre-pandemic level travel is back — and back with a purpose. I have flown much less than I did before COVID but hope to be back to somewhat normal during the next year or so.
I believe Delta has long known they have an issue with too many travelers eligible for Sky Club access. Years ago they took the nasty step of destroying any real value of “real” club membership by only allowing you to enter when you are flying Delta. That did not really matter for most of us because we have any number of high-end personal or business cards that get us in.
But according to an ever-growing Flyertalk thread clubs across the country are becoming so crowded that there will be times you have to wait in line for someone to exit the club before you are let in. In other words, the club has reached capacity.
Ruh-roh!
This is not really good. Why? I envision a bunch of “Centurion-like” changes on the way.
What will be the first thing implemented? My guess is the end of visiting a Sky Club in your arrival city. Why this to begin with? The pattern is already in place that business class international flyers can only visit a Sky Club (or Skyteam lounge) before the trip or during a connection. Also, this will be the least controversial one. But also it will have the smallest “positive” impact on crowd levels looking at it from Delta’s viewpoint.
The next move will likely be a change to the simply horrid Priority Pass and Centurion rule of no entrance until three hours before departure. Not that any Sky Club is such an amazing experience that you would want to spend more than three hours before your flight. But there are times I plan for more than that to get work done before the flight.
The more drastic move, that I would rather see but doubt it will happen, is to limit the number of times you can enter a club per year as a premium cardholder. It would be a plus for Delta as some may end up then needing more than one card to get as much access as they want over the year.
Either of the two above changes, if not impacting real club members, could bring value back to membership again.
One thing is clear to me that change is coming as passenger volume is only going to continue to grow in the months and years ahead. – Rene
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You didn’t mention an obvious one. Strictly limiting guest access during peak periods.
Disappointed in your #3 suggestion. Why not just make Delta Reserve card holders pay an additional $50.00 to enter a Skyclub? Stop Platinum Delta Amex holders from entering, no more 39.00 to enter. Let’s not stop there, Stop Sky Team Elite Plus(mainly Gold and Platinum members) from entering lounges on international itineraries.
On a side note, restrict the amount of guests to only ONE and require payment of $50.00 or maybe $75.00. Suggest to Delta, STOP children from entering. By the way, I’m sure NO has ever seen it, but I have, especially in LAX where Delta employees traveling on “non rev” travel use Skyclub’s with their 4 or 5 buddy passes, but let’s keep this perk for Delta employees.
For what’s it’s worth, 2weeks ago in Atlanta, was restricted from entering the “F” club for about 20 minutes, finally entered, was too crowded with no seats readily available, so went to “B” club only to be told, “ No, we show, you were already in “F”! I didn’t fight it and left. Let’s increase the Delta Reserve card to maybe $1000.00 per year and restrict access to 6 visits s year.
Signed,
Speechless
Could you envision either a minimum Sky Miles status level (say, Gold) and/or a modest fee per person regardless of card/status?
Having flown out of FLL a number of times this year, can personally attest to the crowding. If there is a cruise ship or two in port, there will be a modest wait, if the port is full, we have waited over an hour to enter.
Ran into this issue at the FLL club on March 31 in the afternoon. There was a line of about 15 people outside. After about 20 minutes there was no line and we were able to get in. At that point there were several open tables so seating was not an issue. Due to weather we missed our connection in ATL and had to overnight. The next morning there was no issue in getting in to the A club prior to our flight.
What I don’t understand is why with travel volumes still well below 2019 we are seeing this all over. I can’t beleive that so many people signed up for cards with lounge access these past 2 years.
In regards to the comment to exclude AX Platinum cardholders that would have a huge impact on me personally as that is one of the many reasons that I signed up for this card. I can see limiting guest access but then again we recently upgraded my wife’s AX Delta Platinum to a Reserve and she received several guest passes as a benefit. I don’t think the 3 hour rule would help much as most people don’t get to the airport that early. The only time I’ve spent 3hours + in a lounge is on a long connection. Other than expanding lounges I don’t know what the answer is.
Just an observation, I flew out of DTW Wednesday morning, 4/6, and there was plenty of room in the main club, and returned from AUS yesterday, 4/10, and got to the club at 9 a.m. for an 11:30 a.m. flight because of all the horror stories recently about problems at that airport – there was plenty of room at the AUS club when we arrived and when we left, plus I was really impressed with the AUS club (much nicer than DTW).
So far I have only noticed this at the ATL sky club by the gates, as the larger one by PF Changs is currently closed(not sure why Delta and ATL waited until the end of the pandemic for a refurb) I’ve seen waits for other clubs pre pandemic. But since I travel to BNA from either FLL or PBI 10 to 12 times a year (all through the pandemic) it hasn’t impacted me too much yet.
I am Plat on Delta and carry both the DL reserve and Amex Plat cards. If they were to remove this as a perk, I would prob drop the reserve as the Amex Plat gives me other benes. I do also have a DL Plat as well.
as a Lifetime Member, yes please restrict them all 🙂
I’ll enjoy when flying UA/AA/Whoever (ok I wouldn’t set foot on AA but still 😉
These are all horrible ideas. I often have a need to visit the club upon arrival and there have a few times when I have arrived really early (i..e more than 20 minutes before departure like I usually do) and appreciated being able to get some good work done. On the other hand, you are right that having to wait to enter is a problem. Maybe they could offer bumping gifts for volunteering to leave, just like they do when a flight is oversold.