Delta Sky Club access may become drastically restricted for certain American Express cardholders — says someone claiming to work for Amex.
And the alleged moves are fairly drastic. So much so that I hope it’s someone playing a joke.
The Upcoming Changes?
Redditor “leakingtruth” (who seems to be an American Express employee) posted the rumored changes. Unlimited lounge visits would be done. At least, for most people.
First, Delta Reserve American Express and American Express Platinum members would face limits as to how many times they may visit the lounges each year. Delta Platinum American Express cardholders would no longer be eligible to purchase admission (which they currently may do for $50 a pop).
Delta Reserve cardholders would be limited to ten (10) Sky Club visits each calendar year. Those who want to visit the lounge 11 or more times a year would need to spend $75,000 on the card each calendar year.
American Express Platinum members (we’re assuming both personal/consumer and business flavors) could visit the lounges just six (6) times a year.
Plus, only primary cardholders would receive the included/”complimentary” visits. Authorized users of a Delta Reserve card could enter — for $50 a visit.
leakingtruth also says some annual fee increases may be coming in 2024 and/or 2025.
When Would This Be Announced? When Would the Changes Take Effect?
Leakingtruth says emails will start to go out September-October. Later on, they say “Q4.” (That kind of tracks because I believe that’s generally when Delta makes big-ish announcements.) So, I’m surious if September is still in play or if it will be sometime in October, November, or December.
As to when everything would actually take effect, leakingtruth says:
Starting on Q1 2024 Delta Plat won’t have access to the Skyclubs. Starting on Q1 2025 Delta Reserve cardholders that have not spent $75k+ in a calendar year will have up to 10 visits per year (just remember that the Amex Plat went through the same thing recently with the centurion lounges) (This makes sense to be hold until 2025, as it gives Reserve cardholders the time to spend 75k+ during 2024 and enjoy full access once this goes live for them by 2025). Same deal for Amex Plat, but they are cap to 6 visits per year.
The source that leaked TakeOff 15 to the world, if you actually remember that a few months ago, was Thrifty Travels, they reached out to me and already have info about this. Pictures will be shared during the week, so they will be posting an article soon about this.
Most importantly, someone (another employee) already said that a lot of people is going to be mad once this gets public by Q4 2023, he/she said that in a very subtle way. Upcoming meeting with more updates and details on this coming this week. You might wanna stay tuned.
By the way, (as noted by Thrify Traveler) this blog broke the TakeOff 15 news 😉 .
We contacted Delta for comment and will update this post when/if they respond.
Do We Think There’s Truth to This?
Well, we hope not. Redditor “Dull-Refrigerator-33” had some doubts.
Dull-Refrigerator-33: I am pressed to believe you’re the only employee at your level at the company who felt like sharing this anonymously. I guess we will see. Just know many companies set up honey traps for employees to find leakers ahead of real disclosures. Posting anonymously won’t protect you from that.
leakingtruth: It’s not a secret at all. We did the same with Take Off 15 info but it was Delta who leaked it, and Amex issued comma saying they were not responsible for it. No honey trap on a project they’ve been investing 4 months in. They really don’t care about people spreading Co-brand updates, but are more closed on their own cards. No worries… Embargo, non embargo, NDA and non-NDAs employees are aware of that.
Dull-Refrigerator-33: But this is their own card? Platinum is their major card, setting aside the Delta card changes
leakingtruth: The change is for the Delta cards, and decided to put the Plat there for a reason: it’s the most issued card of Amex lately. They use it as strategy. Just like I mentioned in another comment, the original plan was to keep unlimited access for the Plat until 2025, and then change it to 6 visits per year.
That’s on the table and will be fully confirmed internally in a few weeks, and to the public by Sep-OctDull-Refrigerator-33: A decision like that is not on the table and to be announced within a month. That doesn’t track.
leakingtruth: We literally had that meeting on Monday, and training was released on Tuesday for all offices. You’re free to think and believe whatever you want. There’s a reason I have this username. We’re the ones working on updates and emails, some taking calls every day, some replying chats, and some just doing internal Backoffice duties. We all receive the same info and follow by the same training material.
I guess we’ll see. Again, I hope we’re being taken for a ride.
I understand Delta encouraging people to spend $75,000 on their Reserve Amexes. This makes me think they want Sky Clubs to truly be almost exclusive to big-spending individuals and companies.
It’s assumed that Delta charges Amex for each Sky Club entry gained via an eligible Amex (Reserve, Amex Platinum, etc). We don’t know how much Amex shells out for each admission. But Delta limiting how many times they’ll take money from Amex seems strange. (Unless this is Amex’s doing.)
I wouldn’t be surprised if limiting Sky Club visits became a thing for the Amex Platinum cards. We’ve already discussed that. But restricting Sky Club access on the Reserves — Delta’s premier cards? C’mon, man. Not even American or United do that with their top-of-the-line cards with club access (well, at least not until does it 🙂 ).
This will be a big problem for me if the changes are real. I often rack up four Sky Club visits during one roundtrip. My wife and I also use our Reserve cards’ guest passes to bring our daughter into the Sky Clubs (then pay the admission fees with my Amex Platinum cards’ airline incidental credit) Delta will continue to lose more of my business — as will American Express.
What do you think about all this?
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Horrible news if this is true…
TBH I have three delta reserves for family members and would hit the limit, but I’d question keeping it as the limitations keep increasing especially.
If this is true, and considering the source, it seems more likely that this is initiated by Amex. Possibly in response to a planned increase in the per visit fees that Delta charges in Delta’s effort to improve the profitability while at the same time improving the usability of the Sky Clubs. It’s got to be a delicate balancing act between Amex and Delta on this subject. Amex has sold many many, probably millions, of customers on the Amex Platinum cards – in all their various flavors – by promising unlimited Sky Club access. The value of the Amex Platinum card for me will plummet if this benefit is drastically scaled back. I often visit the Sky Club at either end of the trip, so like Chris, 4 visits per round trip isn’t unusual. More visits sometimes if the flights involve a connection. I could use up my allotted 6 visits a year in one trip lasting 2 days.
If true, I’m wondering how they’d count “entrances” if you’d use 3 SkyClubs in ATL and then another at your destination. HARD to BELIEVE.
Delta Sky Club access is one of the main reasons I carry AMEX Platinum (and why my husband has an authorized user card). If these rules happen, we’ll drop the card. Chase Sapphire Reserve® all the way.
IF this is true then I’ll have to seriously reconsider my relationship with Delta and Amex. I use the three AUs just so we can all visit the club when traveling. I guess Amex wants to overfill their new Centurion Lounge at ATL before it’s even built. Ridiculous!
Other than making the AU’s on the regular Amex Plat pay for admission (that should have been done a long time ago) the rest of this seems a bit extreme.
My guess is something is coming, but I can’t see them shooting themselves in the foot quite this much.
I do think a one club per airport per day rule could be coming. That would help in those airports that have more than one.
But…yes…greatly restrict my access and I’ll greatly restrict my use of Delta.
I think you may be confusing the DELTA PLAT and the PLAT
DELTA PLAT already charges $50 for lounge access AU or not
PLAT AU get access to skyclub.
If they did take away skyclub access for PLAT AU, this would eliminate the reason most people pay $175 for AU.
@John: Yes you are correct. I did mean the ‘regular’ Plat not the Delta Plat. I do believe that many people are in the Sky Club thanks to the AU on the non-Delta Plat. Let’s face it…$175.00 for access for a year with no $50.00 door charge is a home run for those folks.
That’s the gap that needs to be closed.
Why would anyone pay $175 for AU, if it has no benefits they might as well get rid of it.
$50 + an AF is way too much to get into the skyclub.
Agreed ^^. The AUs are contributing to the over crowding in the lounges, but if they take that perk away there’s really no reason to have AUs. I would cancel all 3 of mine and my plat card as well.
Well, and now $195 for 1 AU. Maybe that will be enough for them to hold off and see what that change does to crowding issues.
@Stacy: I hope you’re right but it’s only a $20.00 increase. We’ll see…
Major Bull if true. I spend more than the $75k although with DL’s #KeepDescending strategy, this would be one more reason to just ‘give up’, fly cattle car Southwest and be happy I get to the destination vs getting there in some form of comfort.
For those that can’t spend more than 75K a year, it really would devalue the Reserve card if it’s true. Mind you, if that were the case American Express leadership should be disappointed that someone with privileged information is violating the trust that was placed in them, unless this is being done on purpose.
SWA’s 737 Max8 has more width than Delta Main Cabin.
Only when people realize the company that Delta truly is and stop giving it money will they value loyalty and patronage again. That’s not likely to happen until another recession or severe pilot shortage occurs.
When I give them money they reciprocate with a ticket to fly to see people half way across the planet. Is the issue that they are profitable? I personally would rather fly with an airline that can afford to pay its bills and its people.
I’m currently Diamond and would drop my Reserve card over this. I’d probably stop chasing Diamond too… I typically visit the Sky Club 4 times in one round trip. Wouldn’t be worth it.
If this is true even for Reserve cardholders then I would very disappointed and would plan to downgrade my Reserve card, apply for status match at AA, and update that card to “Executive”. And if this is AmEx driven then I would likely downgrade my platinum back to green again.
Where I live AA has a better flight schedule and better planes than Delta from my home airport, but I’ve been loyal to Delta because I’d rather fly through Atlanta than Charlotte, and (begrudgingly) LaGuardia rather than Philly. I would miss the ability to get a first class companion ticket with Delta, which I’ve used for the past 3 years, but I would not patronize a company that becomes even more restrictive than they’ve already become.
Although I’m no fan of AA as far as their gate attendants go in the larger airports I’ve traveled, I’m only as loyal to a company as they are to me.
I am sorry but I pay annual $650.00 I want to be able to get in before any sprical American express card , which I have the gold American express card no access at all.
If this is true, it is one more dagger to the heart of those of us Diamond flyers who earn this status every year by being loyal to Delta.
They have already:
1. Removed the easy path at booking to Delta One using a global upgrade benefit unless booking in Premium cabin. I fondly recall the days of unlimited upgrades if and when seats were available and the ability to guarantee the upgrade at time of booking a few times of year based on how many coupons one had. No more.
2. Starting in 2024, the ability to select a Diamond benefit to add a guest pass to the Reserve card is gone, and using Diamond benefits for Exec access to the club will be 3 Diamond benefit credits. Expensive!
I get we are still recovering from the glut of Diamond and Platinums thanks to the generous rollover policies of COVID (especially in major hubs like Atlanta). It will take this year and next to flush the system and hopefully return to Delta rewarding those spending the $ to fly with them.
But, it sure seems like Delta is caring less and less for the Diamond business traveler who wants the hassle of travel to be minimized while also saying “thank you” for all the miles.
Hope this is not true, but fearing the worse.
Keep us posted please.
Agree. Seems odd to punish organic DMs based on their Reserve spend. 10 visits per year wouldn’t get me through the next two weeks. Absurd.
I will 100% cancel my Platinum Business Card and book on another airline if this comes true (and lose my diamond status which doesn’t get me much anymore anyway). I already pay an absorbant annual fee and to take this perk away from your business members is a major mistake. I’ll just use a 2% cash back card if this happens.
I’m all for limits. I shouldn’t have to “pay” the same as a casual traveler that makes a few trips a year as someone who travels constantly for business, or with a family. But even with that said, these limits are too low. I thought something like 50 would be appropriate, not 10.
Do you think annual fees should be higher for “casual” travelers?
Casual flyer here with the amex plat + 3 AUs. i’m fine paying a higher annual fee if I get to keep all of the platinum privileges, especially the delta lounge access. I’ve done the math for our family and even if amex hiked fees 50% it’d still be worthwhile for us.
dropped Amex Plat earlier this year when they stopped allowing nonrev members into skyclubs.
I am a Delta Diamond member and I pay for the AMEX Delta Reserve as well. Like others, I would drop both, if this rumor is true. Just wouldn’t be worth the price.
I am Delta Diamond as well.. would drop Amex Plat if true … if you can’t get in the clubs what is the point of that card.
I carry the Delta Reserve and am a DM, if this happens it will be the last kick in the gut from Delta to me and, will be time to drop the Reserve card and chasing DM status.
If this is true, then I’d be out, too. 10 visits is an insult. No value in reserve card for me. DM not worth it either. I understand crowded clubs are problematic, but I don’t see how empty clubs serve anyone’s interest.
Delta/Amex need some solutions.. I agree with a lot of the comments they have sold this Amex Platinum as a lifestyle card.. with access to clubs all over the world.. and with Delta of course.. They just need to put spending minimums in to keep the unlimited access. My Amex Platinum is free from Morgan Stanley..and we hardly use it because Amex Gold and Amex Marriott Cards accrue a lot more points…but limiting is an terrible idea.. as they have sold this card to millions or people below age 40… who love the clubs..
If true, I would drop the reserve card. Limiting my visits doesn’t warrant the $550 fee. As a Platinum member, I fly 15-20 times a year. I guess my million miler staus with Delta wasn’t worth my loyalty anymore