Delta announced earlier this week its implementing drastic changes to the Sky Club airport lounge network.
Starting June 1, eligible passengers may enter the lounge no more than three hours before their flight’s scheduled departure time. (Connections are exempt from the rule.)
Plus, passengers may not access Sky Clubs upon arriving at their ultimate destination. UPDATE, May 12: Delta has announced that arriving passengers may still visit Sky Clubs.
This mirrors the changes that American Express made to its Centurion Lounges. (The Club locations have a similar policy.)
I guess these new rules are intended to combat overcrowding. But I don’t know if they’ll solve the problem. And the policy moves devalue the select American Express cards that passengers use for Sky Club access.
Here are my thoughts.
The Three Hour Rule
I don’t know many passengers who show up at airports significantly more than three hours before their flights. So, I doubt this change will affect a majority of Delta travelers.
At least enough to ease overcrowding.
But there are occasions when travelers show up at the airport several hours before a flight.
I’ve departed cities in the late afternoon or evening several times. It’s usually because of my work schedule and/or a good airfare. But I typically head to the airport if I can’t get a late checkout at my hotel or work wraps up sooner than expected.
It doesn’t happen that often. And sure, I’ll survive and find somewhere else to hang out. But I will miss the privilege of entering lounges more than three hours before my flight.
Access to Sky Clubs Upon Arrival
Who visits an airport lounge when they get to their destination? Why can’t you just go to your hotel or home? Some folks may wonder.
Frankly, I appreciate the option to visit airport lounges when I arrive somewhere.
There are sometimes when a work emergency presents itself during a flight. Inflight WiFi is great, yes, and is a fantastic help. But it can be erratic. And sometimes slow. Some planes feature the service from gate to gate. Others offer it only when the aircraft is 10,000 feet or higher.
So, visiting a Sky Club where I can set up my laptop or tablet, get work done (more on this in a minute), access some water or coffee, and make any necessary phone calls is a tremendous help. (Don’t worry: I speak very quietly when I’m on the phone in lounges.)
Arriving in a major city during rush hour can be a pain, too. I occasionally pop into a Sky Club during morning or evening rush hour to wait out the traffic. I enjoy a quick meal and some water or coffee. That’s far more relaxing than sitting on a freeway for a couple of hours.
I’ve never taken a shower in an airport club lounge. But for those who do, this change really stinks. (Shower-related pun intended.)
I know of people who take late-night flights on business trips, arrive early the following day, shower at the club lounge, and then show up at work ready for the day.
Others need to clean up while traveling for days at a time — racking up MQM and MQD during amazing mileage runs that the point.me geniuses whip up for them. 😉
So, this perk is a significant loss for some travelers.
I don’t know how many people visit Sky Clubs when they arrive at their destination. But I can’t imagine it’s so many that they cause significant capacity issues.
These Changes Won’t Fix Overcrowding (At Least, I Don’t Think So)
American Express renovated and expanded its Las Vegas Centurion Lounge.
Guess what one of the big additions some of us visitors occasionally experience since the expansion? Long lines and waits to enter the club.
This is several years after Amex implemented its rule that members may enter only three hours before their flight’s scheduled departure time. And, of course, arriving passengers aren’t allowed access at all.
A few years ago, I asked a Las Vegas Centurion Lounge employee how the new entrance rules affected overcrowding. Her answer: “Kind of — but not that much.”
So, why does Delta think these policy changes will markedly affect Sky Club overcrowding?
Here Come the Haters
You entitled, elitist jerk! some people will say. Why can’t you just go to an airport restaurant or sit in a gate area like the rest of us?
Well, for several reasons.
First, club lounges are generally more comfortable than common areas in the rest of the airport.
Next, many of them are designed for business travelers to get work done. There are tables, desks, power and USB ports, printers, (usually) decent WiFi, and all that other stuff.
Also, restaurants generally don’t like you camping out for hours at a time while you work. They want you to eat your meal, pay the bill, and leave. Have a nice flight. Leave.
Finally, those of us with Amex cards that get us into Delta Sky Clubs pay hefty annual fees.
Complimentary access when flying same-day Delta itineraries
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: $695 (See rates and fees; terms apply.)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: $695 (See rates and fees; terms apply.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: $550 (See rates and fees; terms apply.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: $550 (See rates and fees; terms apply.)
$39 admission fee when flying same-day Delta itineraries
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: $250 (See rates and fees; terms apply.)
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: $250 (See rates and fees; terms apply.)
These, for sure, are First World Problems. But they’re still frustrating.
Credit Where It’s Due
I will say this about Delta: they’re doing a nice job of upgrading the Sky Club experience (when you’re actually allowed inside 😉 ). The airline is investing in new or remodeled lounges at several locations. Some clubs’ food is tastier than in the past.
Final Approach
We’re in the final weeks of the current Delta Sky Club entrance policies. Beginning next month, eligible travelers may then enter only three hours before their first departing flight (connections are exempt) and access will no longer be granted to passengers arriving at their ultimate destination.
I think this is kind of a petty disservice to loyal Delta travelers — and don’t know if any true, meaningful change will be accomplished.
To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply. (See rates and fees; 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.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum 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.
Well – everyone seems to agree that overcrowding is a significant issue. Is there a way to reduce crowding without having a negative impact on the customer?
This ridiculous change won’t ease overcrowding in the least. It’s just another way to cut costs, much like hotels that still aren’t offering benefits “due to Covid.” They’re simply looking at saving a penny by preventing you from getting a soda on arrival. I’d say this contrasts from Amex’s policy, as many of us once did enjoy a Centurion meal on arrival. But I daresay no one goes to SC for the food.
I also think kids shouldn’t be allowed into the Sky Club. That would probably help. You can’t bring kids into the American Legion or VFW. Sky Club should be the same. Sky Club operates on the same premise. Some of the lounges, like Denver, still have self-serve booze.
As a Diamond, two million miler I have already wrote Delta on my unhappiness with these new changes…
I’m wondering if the overcrowding isn’t going to be short lived. Delta extended status and benefits two years in a row so I’m guessing there are a number of Diamonds now that wouldn’t necessarily have achieved that status otherwise. I’m also guessing the majority of them chose sky club access as one of their benefits. Also, people are traveling like never before. I say wait a year or two and see what it looks like then. Personally, I don’t see how Delta’s new policies are going to ease overcrowding. It will save them money, however; and that, to me, is the sole reason why they are changing their policies.
Corporations have one motivation: shareholder profit.
There are times when my itinerary has a loooong layover, theu no fault of my own, then what’s a loyal flier to do?
@Carol – If you are connecting the 3 hour rule does NOT apply.
I think the 3hr change won’t have a major impact on most lounges, but can attest first hand that there are many people who show up 3+ hours before a flight at cruise ship ports. The lounge at FLL almost always has a wait because of cruise passengers who are dropped off early AM and have a flight later in the day. Maybe there’s a similar dynamic at other tourist airports with hotels (11AM check out) and later day flights?
It is annoying to not visit when landing. I often travel with my wife and two young children who inevitably are starving and have to use the bathroom when we land. We usually grab a quick snack and use the lounge facilities. Hopefully, if the lounge is not crowded, they’ll grant us a 5min visit.
To “solve” the issue, I wonder what an AmEx + Delta Gold (or above) status requirement would do to capacity? There are more platinum cards in circulation than ever before, and new member acquisition is accelerating, from AmEx’s last quarterly earnings report:
“We had an all-time high in acquisitions of U.S. Consumer Platinum and Gold Cards as well as U.S. Business Platinum Cards this is quarter…When you think about the rate at which we’ve been bringing new Premium Card Members into the franchise, record first quarter for U.S. Platinum, Gold, on the Consumer side and Business Platinum…because of quarters like we just had with a record level of new U.S. Platinum and Gold Cards on the consumer side and a record level of U.S. Business Platinums.”
Would probably rub some people the wrong way, but adding some sort of Delta status requirement is justifiable given it is an airline-based lounge. If not an outright requirement, maybe a tiered approach? Amex+Silver = $25/person fee, Amex+Gold = $0 etc. or something along those lines.
It has not worked for the Amex Centurion lounge crowds so not sure why Delta thinks it will work for them?? I
Went thru Atlanta and went to the B lounge. It has set up new machines for check -in. I
Used my boarding pass that would normally get me in with no problem as it is tied into my Plat Amex card. But it asked me for my card to pay $39 entry fee??? I guess the machines are getting ready. I had 40 minutes between flights ! I have used the lounges on arrival to await the bus connection while on the west coast. But that will not be an option ?? Sad
The machines have been there a couple of months. Started with JFK in late 2021. They are going to replace staff with the machines. The goal is to reduce staffing to only one or two help desk staff. Labor costs are getting too high to have three or four staff at the entrance of every Sky Club.
If your originating airport is currently undergoing construction – isn’t that all of them – the suggested arrival time is often 3-4 before your flight. At this point, the worst place to work for an airline employee would be their associated club roomS enforcing these new guidelines.
Expected follow up w/ AA & UA? Hmm?
So what is the solution other than just saying expansion which takes years and costs big $$ (and ultimately will result in higher membership fees for both the Sky Club’s and the credit cards that get you into them?
To me the solution is to provide a set number of admissions for free for those using credit cards to enter (after all it’s usually cheaper than buying Sky Club membership except for Sky Ruble elites), and then a set charge (whatever it is now, $39) for each visit after that. Maybe the Centurion card gets unlimited visits.
For me as a leisure traveler, I used the Amex Global Lounge Collection maybe max 15-20 visits (when my spouse travels with me she is a visit) a year and that’s across the whole portfolio and not just Sky Clubs and Centurion lounges. I’m not sure I want to pay more so Amex can expand Centurion lounges. I would think Delta Sky Club members and holders of the cobranded American Express card that includes Sky Club admission would either.
The crux of the issue is no one wants their visits limited, but at the same time, would they be willing to pay more to make that happen so they can visit all the time without having to wait or deal with crowded lounges?
I still think it’s the AMEX Platinum Cards causing the issue. (Nothing against you guys at all BTW!) It’s just that a lot of folks have them either personally or through business.
Keep in mind in the old days (2019) there really weren’t that many Centurion clubs around. Now, they’re starting to expand exponentially. I think – where there is a Centurion option – all “straight” AMEX card holders (platty, centurion, etc.) should use the Centurion. Delta Reserve card holders only the Sky Club. If you hold both…congrats…you can go to both.
I stated this earlier…I have not done any real research other than general talk at the bar in Sky Clubs around the U.S. and I’ve found the following:
I don’t think there are that many “paid” Sky Club memberships; there ARE a lot of elites who chose the benefit; there is some amount of Reserve card holders; there is an overwhelming amount of AMEX Platty’s.
Thoughts?
No offense taken here! Despite what seem people think, we don’t work for American Express or any card issuers. Or airlines. Or hotels. Or anyone else.
I think the explosion of Amex card membership is driving the surge of guests in Sky Clubs.
Agree 100%
I’m in 3-4 clubs a week. Diamond Medallion, Million Miler, with a Delta Reserve, and AMEX Plat.
From my informal anecdotal “research”, more than HALF of the entrants get in using a Platinum card with ZERO status.
It is just too easy to get in to the clubs these days.
Agree. In nearly all my visits to various Skyclubs throughout the country, there are always at least a couple people ahead of me who flash their Plat cards as their method of entry. It seems they make up the majority of people in the club. So instead of a blanket “3 hour rule for everyone,” how about focus on the real culripts? How about switch to finite number of free visits per year, then pay per visit after that? Meanwhile, for those are who are actually loyal to DL (either through status, SC membership, or Reserve card), keep it status quo for them.
When I travel with my family, we use lounges on both on departure and arrival. It is nice to have a meal before you hit a 3 hour road trip to your final destination. It would be a great hit for us. Mind, that I always pay for my children.
My take that the only reasonable solution is to establish a number of visits/year for each cardholder (like 10) that would be free visits. Beyond that, those will be paid visits. US Bank Reserve has similar policy for their Priority clubs (4 member + 4 guests visits are free per year, beyond that – please pay). For me, with DL Researve Card, I don’t travel each month – mostly 2-3 times/year. Not being able to use my benefits during those rare family trips is not acceptable.
Sergey,
I think your “number of visits” idea is on the right track, but I think a better way to go would be a set number of visits per month, not per year. The number could be determined by Delta after consulting their own entrance data.
Delta has been scanning our boarding passes to get into Sky Clubs for a long time, so they know exactly how many people enter a club more than three hours before a flight or after arrival. I imagine that Delta has pretty accurate models predicting the reduction in people entering Sky Clubs. However, I do not expect to see much of a reduction in overcrowding. I believe that these policies are more about making room for more AMEX cardholders to enter the clubs.
In general, I do not think the new policies will affect me very often. However, it would be nice to have an option to pay to get into a Sky Club early or after arrival. There have been a few times when I was dropped me off at an airport early, or I got to the airport early to avoid paying more for a rental car.
For people that really want to visit a Sky Club on arrival, it will be interesting to see if some of those people start buying fully refundable tickets and cancelling the ticket as soon as they are in the club.
That’s a brilliant idea!
I imagine that Delta would find a way to crack down on anyone that does this more than a few times.
One of the big problems is the new design that Delta is using for renovated and newly-built Sky Club lounges isn’t great. People end up taking up more space than intended because the space isn’t designed for eating or working if you have coats or bags. Almost every single person occupies two sears. Then toss in social distancing and a third seat is often unoccupied because nobody wants to be on top of anyone else in this age of the pandemic.
First world question, the changes don’t affect 360 members, but do they affect lifetime members? Previous changes have not but based on what I have read, it is unclear.
@Steve – See the FAQs at bottom of access page. It is very clear that lifetime members are impacted the same as card holders who have access.
@René – you may be right, they have this footnote at the end of the page: 2 Applies to guests of existing Delta Sky Club Lifetime Members; Lifetime Memberships are no longer available for purchase.
Of course the actual source for the footnote is missing (at least I didn’t see it). So it isn’t clear if it apples to other unrelated comments on the page, or the new FAQ. Previous changes like this haven’t affected lifetime memberships. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Having previously read the FAQ it isn’t clear to me, but the skeptic, believes it will affect lifetime members.
@SS – Also do keep in mind last time they made universal changes that did impact lifetime members they walked it back. I would not at all be surprised to see the same thing happen again thus NOT impact lifetime members.
Yes, very lame, and yet another #KeepDescending move from ‘I got my mind on my money and my money on my mind’ (and not on his clients) Ed (Snoop Dogg) Bastain. It’s been a ever increasing downslope since Richard left Delta. I’ve used the showers many times in the past and appreciate them being there, and fortunately with the new rules coming I’d still be able to as they have mostly been the late night west coast departures to be in the EST for a ~9a arrival and hitting the DTW or ATL shower equipped clubs ~6a on arrival. Yet another reason to not have loyalty to Delta with this move.
It’s currently just a waiting game. As soon as the Am Ex Centurion Card invitation hits my mailbox it’ll be problem solved. I’ll be guesting in people all over the globe. Especially when I arrive at my destination. And I won’t be asking any questions about what airline you’re on or if it’s your final destination.