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The Delta Sky Club situation has, since the empty clubs during the pandemic, been crazy and reactionary. It is amazing, when we look at the overall picture, all the things they have done to try to fix overcrowding — and also made loyal flyers near meltdown angry. Take a look back.
- Delta ended real club membership. It has been a long time (think before COVID) since Delta killed the real lasting value of club membership and made credit card (cough) membership more valuable. They have made zero efforts to reverse this change. You must be flying Delta as club membership is no longer real membership.
- Delta ended automatic free full Sky Club membership when you made it to Diamond Medallion (with the ability to bring guests with you free). To be fair on this point, they expanded “Choice Benefits” but it was still a cut.
- Delta ended the chance to buy a 30-day Skyclub membership. Depending on your flying, this was a way to get lots of perks during a busy flying time. Then again, in today’s world, the only logical choice is access via a credit card that gets you in.
- Delta ended the ability to use Sky Clubs on landing. Oh, this seemed like such a good idea (said no one ever). Folks went wild and Delta wisely understood this was foolish — and reversed this change. It was a tiny win for loyal Delta flyers – one of the few.
- Delta further destroyed membership on Basic fares. If you thought you were special, you learned years ago you are not because unless you are flying Delta you can not get in. Oh now, if you ARE flying Delta but on a Basic fare you can not get in. Pay up, sucker, if you want in and enjoy your “membership” while you watch Basic fare card “members” walk past you into the club.
- Delta ended the chance to use a Delta Sky Club “day pass” for the day. You can no longer buy these passes but with SkyBonus and other ways, you can still get them. Before COVID you could use them over and over on a trip (for example: pre departure and connecting). Now they are 1x use.
- Delta ended Delta Reserve guess access. Yes, this happened a while ago but you used to be able to bring guests into the club. They then moved to a few guest passes vs. unlimited 2 guests per visit.
- Delta bars “most” employees from the clubs. Membership? Card “membership”? Nope – you are done if you are not flying on a real cash (or points) paid ticket. That is, get out if you are non-reving to work but want to enter the clubs.
- Delta dumps elites for clubs on international flights. This was a disgusting and painful change. This one move reminded me of the stupidity of shooting for 2 million miles with Delta for this one move alone. Why work for “lifetime” status when Delta will destroy one of the best perks of YEARS of loyalty when booking a coach international ticket on Delta? Disgusting.
- Delta changed the club access to 3 hours before your flight. This change was a clone (i.e. not leading the way) of what Amex Centurion and Priority Pass clubs did years ago that really has upset cardholders. Let’s dive in on why this is so bad and what could be done to fix this.
First up, you do not get anywhere near three hours in the club even if you get in at exactly the three-hour mark before flight. There is a long, long, long thread about FlyerTalkers being turned away from clubs for trying to skirt the rules and get in before the three-hour rule (it is very interesting to see the suggestions to work around the rules). But the point is if you get in at the three-hour mark, you still have to be at the gate at least 20 minutes before departure. Otherwise, you risk losing your seat. Depending on the walk (or shuttle ride) from the club to your gate, it could mean you have much less than three hours to enjoy the lounge.
Now we all know the point of the club is not to benefit business travelers. That is, Delta is not an airline for those who travel for work and want to get work done as the director of the clubs Claude has stated that the clubs are NOT WeWork or you could say “YouWork” and get work done in your travels to work with Delta. Anyone who lets their jobs pay for their Delta tickets must understand they – business travelers – are NOT valuable to Delta. Only those who hold Delta Amex cards and spend a bunch are valuable and rewarded for loyalty. Learn this and get over the old, dead notion that those who pay (with company money) are the true, valuable Delta flyers.
But there is a way the three-hour rule can be fixed (yes, it took a very long time to get to this point – I want my life back – sorry can’t help). Domestically, Delta has a maximum four-hour connection rule. It is so firm and set in (Deltamatic / SNAP) stone that no one living or computer can override this iron-clad rule. The only exception (if / then statement in the code) is if you are part of an intentional flight.
But why can’t Sky Clubs’ maximum time be four hours before departure, as well?
And this is my point of this lengthy post. Delta should take the lead and at least align the time with the four-hour connection rule!
Now before anyone jumps on me and points out that no matter how long your connection is you can enter the clubs and stay as long as you want. Yes, that is true but that is not the point of this post, so move along.
By moving to a four-hour pre-departure change, it is a good and fair balance — and an alignment with other domestic rules in place. It would allow a guest around three hours to use the club and enough time to get work done — and yet not becoming an all-day event you could have in the past (it’s not WeWork but maybe SomeWork).
One extra hour would be a good and helpful change.
Now it’s your turn.
I have only once asked everyone to write to Delta using the “hammer” addresses, that is, wring to all the corp contacts to get something changed. The last time was when we learned that Delta was going to end the Diamond waiver for Delta Amex card spend (they had planned to implement). We stopped it but maybe not in a very beneficial way (but heavy creative spenders still get this done with a little effort FYI).
But this time, I think adding one more hour before flights is a reasonable enough small #KeepClimbing change that if we reach out enough and reason with them that this small change would impact our choice to fly Delta – they may acquiesce – and step up with a positive tiny change.
What do you think? Is this a reasonable compromise? Would you be willing to e-mail Delta and request this one hour change? Do you think they will listen to us? You tell me! – René
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ah – all of this makes my Lifetime SC membership that much more valuable – who knew at the time I purchased it what I was getting for my $$$$
@Lifetime – Yes we are very jealous of you! Be happy the Delta lawyers have not yet found a workaround to cancel these.
YES! (@Rene, I did not know about the 4 hour domestic connection rule. Is there a link that spells this out?)
@Don – Here is one Delta site that has the rule.
“On a Domestic* only journey the maximum allowable time at a connection city is 4 hours (must also apply DL minimum connect times). “
I was in a SkyClub in ATL last month. I bought a sandwich on the concourse because it was 11 am – not sure if there would be any decent food in the SC at 11:00 am. I sat down, was greeted by lovely staff, brought a beverage and proceeded to eat my sandwich along with a cup of soup from the Delta buffet. I few minutes after I sat down, the door greeter came over and very forcefully said I was eating a sandwich from outside the club (true), it was strictly against the rules (?) and I needed to gather my belonging and leave immediately. He explained that outside food was not allowed and I needed to be gone. So I left. The others in the Sky Club who witnessed the whole event seemed a little stunned and several commented on how petty and ridiculous it seemed.
For once in my life I didn’t say a word. I just grabbed my stuff and left. Their Club, their rules.
Such southern hospitality in the Sky Club. Have not bought a Delta ticket since then.
@rjb: Wow…you’re right…that was a harsh interpretation of the rule. Case in point…I was in the EWR club two weeks ago. Same thing…a guy brought in sushi from the concourse. The SC employee went over to him…explained the rule…and wink-wink…asked him he could just move to the back of the club to finish eating. Much better.
I’m sure there is some insurance reason for why you can’t bring in outside food. But, throwing out a valued guest? Not a good look.
This is a long-standing rule that no outside food or beverage is allowed. I’m not entirely sure why, but typically they stop guests at check-in and kindly ask them to return once they’ve eaten whatever it was they intended to bring into the lounge. It’s certainly awkward to ask someone to leave once they’ve settled in and begun eating. At a certain level I understand and appreciate the policy because it helps keep the clubs cleaner and better smelling to prevent things like spicy chicken-wings out of the club. I’m GF and frequently eat small packaged snacks that I’ve brought in (typically from a first class snack basket) and have never had a problem.
There are plenty of food available in the ATL SC. I have been to many of them. Just think of this… How about everyone start bringing in Pungent outside food and make the SC a picnic ground or bring their own boxes or buckets of KFC. The club will be a mess! The rules are there for a reason, like it or not. We may not agree with it; but that is the T&C we agreed to.
I also have a lifetime membership purchased more than 20 years ago. From what I am reading then none of these rules apply before flight connection and on arrival? Was purchased from NW for about $1050 so my annual cost is less than $50/
They’re aligned with Amex on the 3 hour rule and they are hardly going to change that now. That said, wife and I arrived at JFK Centurion last week about 10 minutes before the 3 hour cutoff (not connecting) and the friendly agent let us in no problem.
How can there be a 4-hour max connection for cities where the only flights are more than 4 hours apart? Not only that, DL will definitely sell you a ATL-LAX-Hawaii flight with a 4+, 5, or 6 hour connection if you want it.
@Paul – The rule, as I understand it, is continental USA must be under 4 hours.
Ah – OK makes more sense.
Maybe you should look at Skybonus more often and see they no longer offer day passes or skyclub membership.
@Alan – I have been out of Skybonus for a VERY long time (see my many posts)! I know Chris recently got a bunch of day passes (i.e. last year) so any changes – sorry enhancements – are recent. That said IMO any value from Skybonus DIED a very long time ago! Clearly Delta hates business spenders and ONLY values card holders and spenders!
PS – THIS in photo proof is how Delta feels about ANYONE who takes part in SKYBOGUS program!
I like the four hour idea, but at this point I’d just settle for 3 hours before BOARDING not departure. In ATL on most planes boarding begins 30 minutes before departure so even if the SC is next to your gate you’re really not going to be in the club for much more than 2.5 hours. I note this every time I get a survey.
We have to note that airport lounges are (supposed to be) premium experiences. Access rules need to be simple and straightforward. Delta cannot pander to the “just give it to me for the cheapest price” crowd.
First, Delta One passengers, access is part of the ticket price.
Second, adjust the metrics for achieving 360 and Diamond and simply grant access to 360s and Diamonds with two guests or spouse and two kids. No jacking around. Just do it. (I’m not a Diamond.)
Third, everyone else pays. As a premium experience, lounge access needs to be priced as such. Volume (including guests) will be controlled by price. With volume controlled, there needs to be NO time limit at all. So, the real question becomes, at what price does lounge access need to be to afford guests as well as no time limit?
To enjoy the view, ya’ gotta climb the mountain.
Atlanta has been boarding 40 minutes from take-off this last week –so even less Sky Club time there…Still no ral glasswear, china or silverware there,, even in B