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Delta Sky Club access rules change next year for people with certain American Express cards.
We have an idea for people who don’t want as many restrictions and would like to bring in a couple of guests for free.
(Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.)
What’s Changing With Sky Clubs?
Before we get to the nitty-gritty, here’s what changing with Sky Club access:
Effective February 1, 2025, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Cardwill receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. Effective January 1, 2025, The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club. (A “Visit” is an entry to one or more Delta Sky Clubs or usage of the Delta Sky Club “Grab and Go” feature, at one or more airports, for a period of up to 24 hours starting upon the first Delta Sky Club entry or Grab and Go usage, during an Eligible Card Member’s travel on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. A single Visit permits usage of Delta Sky Club(s) in multiple airports during the 24-hour period.)
Once all Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits (including Grab and Go) at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
To earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on February 1, 2025, the total eligible purchases on a respective Card — not across two or more cards —must equal $75,000 or more between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, and each calendar year thereafter.
Delta Flyers: It Might Be Time to Join the Chase
Another credit card issuer and its lounges could provide a great alternative for Delta travelers in a half-dozen cities featuring Sky Clubs.
And I know a lot of Delta travelers who are adamantly opposed to using anything besides American Express Cards and maybe a Costco credit card on the side.
But my wife and I have gotten plenty of value from my Chase cards. (You might be surprised: some Delta enthusiasts recoil like vampires in sunlight whenever someone mentions the word “Chase.”)
And the Chase Sapphire Reserve®* could be a great option for certain Delta flyers.
Several airports feature Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and at least one Delta Sky Club:
- Boston Logan International (BOS)
- Los Angeles International (LAX) — Chase Sapphire Lounge opening date TBD
- New York-Kennedy International (JFK)
- New York-LaGuardia (LGA)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
- San Diego International (SAN)
Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can visit Chase Sapphire Lounges as many times as they like. None of this 10 or 15 Visit cap business. No need to drop $75k for unlimited visits
Plus, Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders may bring up to two guests for free each time they visit.
(The only knock against them versus Sky Clubs: no admittance upon arrival at your final destination is permitted.)
When my wife, some friends, and I visited the Boston Chase Sapphire Lounge before our flight to Honolulu, someone in our group said, “Wow, this place puts Amex Centurion Lounges on notice.”
My wife said, “The food is so much better here than at Centurion Lounges.”
For what it’s worth, all of us in that bunch like Centurion Lounges and think their food — while not as good as it once was — is very good. But, yes, the Centurion Lounges are darn nice.
Many Chase lounges are smaller than most of the new Sky Clubs, so crowding could be an issue at times.
Remember that folks with Priority Pass memberships from other cards (i.e., Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Amex Platinum Card, Business Amex Platinum Card, and Capital One Venture X Business) receive one complimentary Chase Sapphire Lounge visit per calendar year. (After that, it’s $75 per visit). Guests are $75 a pop.
Other Reasons to Consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Unless I’m purchasing a Delta Amex Companion Certificate airfare or something through Amex or Capital One’s travel sites, I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve® for airfare, rental car, and rail (yes) bookings. (Learn here how to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card.)
Why?
The card features excellent trip insurance and protection coverage.
You only need to pay a portion of your trip on the card. For example, when I’m using Delta e-credits or vouchers, I pay with my Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Amex cards that carry similar protection require you to pay the entire airfare, etc., on the card. (Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.)
Plus, the card’s Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, Trip Delay protection, and Travel Accident Insurance usually kick in after six (6) hours of your trip being affected. Amex’s top-tier cards do, as well — but that assumes you paid the entire eligible purchase on your card.
I also have travel insurance but use this as a backup in case something isn’t covered.
Travel purchases — and Chase has a fairly liberal view of what “travel” is — earn 3X points after the card’s yearly $300 travel statement credit is earned (You get $300 of your $550 annual fee back to spend on travel each year.) Parking meters and hospital parking ramps have triggered the 3X travel earnings for me. That’s how easy it is to earn 3X.
Dining purchases earn 3X.
You can also earn 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠. (I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve® for rental car purchases because I heard great things from people who, unfortunately, had to file claims because of rental car accidents.
Sapphire Reserve members earn 5X total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
I like Chase’s suite of transfer partners.
Airlines
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways Executive Club
- Emirates Skywards
- Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- United MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Hotels
- IHG One Rewards
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
Plus, Chase Sapphire Reserve® members can redeem points at a 50% bonus when using them to purchase travel through Chase Travel.
For example, Chase points are worth a cent each when redeeming them toward a Chase Travel purchase — but they’re worth 1.5 cents for Reserve cardholders.
Let’s say a Delta flight you find on Chase Travel costs $500. You could apply 33,334 points to offset the entire cost.
The card’s annual fee is $550. But remember you get $300 of that back in eligible travel purchases — or you can simply opt to put $300 back toward your annual fee. The other $250 can pretty easily earned back with points earnings and redemptions and lounge visits.
Final Approach
Given the upcoming visit limitations to Sky Clubs and the network expansion of Chase Sapphire Lounges, Delta flyers who regularly travel some of the country’s major airports might want to consider getting a Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Chase lounges are great and the Sapphire Reserve card doesn’t impose any visit limitations.
*All information about this card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided by nor reviewed by the card issuer.Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
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.
I’ve actually thought the Sapphire lounges would be good for people flying AA. Unfortunately, the LGA, BOS and PHX locations aren’t connected airside to the majority of DL gates at those airports.
The biggest challenge with Priority Pass in the US is the lack of locations. And, where there is a location, it’s typically not convenient.
The Chase lounge slated for LAX will be located air-side at the entrance to the Bradley International Terminal. Essentially, close to the Amex lounge. If a person is traveling out of T2 gates, that’s one heck of a hike. But, one does get their cardio workout for that day.
I’ve always had a preference for airline-operated lounges and have always had access. I imagine that hobbyists (on this blog) will have multiple cards qualifying for SkyClub access. Add Delta being selected for the airline incidental statement credits and I think most would be covered.
Happy New Year and happy trail to everyone.
Or you could get the United Infinite Card (assuming it’s convenient for your home location). No limit on United Club visits, guests are free, and you can access upon arrival.
If you’re flying United, yes. But according to the terms I read, that won’t work for people flying Delta.
I guess that was my subtle jab to the Delta fans (which I vehemently once was) to consider United also. Perks-wise, the Infinite card is cheaper. You get Premier Access (you need to reach Gold Med for Delta’s version: Sky Priority). You get the lounge unlimited and your guests are free.
Including when traveling on Delta?
No…you’ll have to be on United. But imagine not having to figure out how to budget your allotment of lounge visits come this Feb. 1st?
I was under the impression that starting last October 1 that you had to book your entire trip on the Chase card in order to qualify for any of the insurance coverage. I would love to hear your point of view.
I’m not seeing any of that in the benefits guide.
Thanks saw it on their Facebook page, but that’s great that it didn’t change
Was it on Chase’s official Facebook page? Do you happen to have the post’s address you should share just so I can check it out? I believe an entire rental car needs to be charged to the card to be eligible. But airfare, train, hotel, etc., don’t.
Thanks!
This exact question came up in another article on another site. The CSR’s Guide to Benefits was recently updated and states the following:
“The Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption benefit provides
reimbursement for Eligible Travel Expenses charged to the
Cardholder’s Account up to ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars
per Covered Person and up to twenty thousand ($20,000.00)
dollars per Trip . . . ”
While the entire trip need not be charged to the CSR, the coverage is limited to the amount “charged to the Cardholder’s Account.”
Hope this helps.
The Chase reserve also comes with Priority Pass including 2 guests. No visit limit I am aware of.
Correct. I think I’ve told you this before but I love your handle.