Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and and may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This relationship may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some 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.
- Introduction: My First Atlantic Crossing on the Norwegian NCL Viva Prima Class Ship
- Emptying my Delta SkyMiles Accounts to get Value Flying to Lisbon Portugal
- The Comfort Inn South Bend SBN Airport Review via Delta Stays – How Very Disappointing
- Checking Bags on Two Separate Delta Tickets (Interlining) – How to Make it Work Seamlessly
- Are Airport Lounges Worth the Effort Anymore in Atlanta? (A Rant)
- Shrinkflation: Famous Delta Shake Shack Burger is Less Than Old Delta Burger
- Rant: Are Centurion Lounges Worth the Effort Anymore Mexico City T1
- Air France A350-900 Business Class New Seats Review Mexico City to Paris MEX-CDG
- Air France A321 Euro Business Class Review With Blocked Middle Seats
- THE ONE American Express Fine Hotels Review Near Lisbon Portugal Cruise Port
- Review: Vibe Beach Club Plus Cabana Norwegian Viva – Is it Worth the Upcharge?
- Norwegian Viva Mid ship 16th Floor Balcony Cabin Number Floor Review
- Norwegian Viva Complementary and Main Dining Review – Is the Food Good Anymore?
- Norwegian Viva Specialty Dining Review – Should you pay to Enjoy “Better” Meals?
- What is the Entertainment Like on the Norwegian Viva?
- Emergency Dentist Visit in the Dominica Republic from my Norwegian Cruise Ship.
- How Much Does it Cost to Take an Uber from Galveston, Texas to Houston Airports?
- How You Get Paid Taking an Oversold Flight Bump From Delta Air Lines
- Delta Air Lines A220-300 Comfort Plus Review. How Much Better than Coach
- Final Thoughts on my 15 day Atlantic Crossing on the Norwegian Viva Prima Class Ship
Have we reached the point that airport lounges are no longer really worth the effort, no matter what logo is on the door?
After you read about my experience below, please let me know your thoughts in the below Comments section.
Let me start with my grand plan for the start of this epic trip. First up, a quick visit to the Centurion in Atlanta for a breakfast bite as the food there is better than the offerings in Delta Sky Clubs. Plus it is located in E concourse where I knew it would be close to my next gate. In fac,t it was almost next door to our flight. But…
There was a wait list, and I was not smart enough to join the list as soon as we landed in the Amex App. We only had a short hour before we had to fly and I wanted some kind of breakfast before the lunch service on the flight down to Mexico City in Delta 1st class so rather than wait in line to maybe get in we trucked it around the corner in the E concourse to the Sky Club.
Here is where my rant begins. First, we had to explain to the Delta reps that we were traveling internationally in business class, so we were allowed in without a card (we have them, but why burn one of our few yearly visits). How hard can this be in 2025, I ask you?
Next, what have the Sky Clubs become, and why are so many just dying to get into them? The breakfast buffet is so sad and all processed junk. I mean, we are talking Holiday Inn Express at its finest, and I don’t see people breaking down the doors in long lines to go have breakfast at one of these budget overnights, right?
Plus The Club, even this early in the morning, was PACKED. I looked at the Sky Club tracker in the Fly Delta App and all the clubs at near 9:AM on a Monday morning were all packed. To be fair, it was the Monday before the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, but I did not expect everyone to be flying on Monday that week, rather than maybe the Saturday preceding or the Wednesday to follow?
Bottom line is airline lounges now all have limits on when you can get in and offering meager anything are truly becoming so much less exciting than days gone by. While I am going to keep using them, at least for now, I can see the day coming where I just start looking for quiet places to go hide in airports and avoid the frustration and noise altogether.
Is it just me, or are you too reaching the tipping point as well? – René
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and and may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This relationship may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some 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.
This blog’s new title: What Can Rene Complain About Today?
Imagine clubs being busy at 9am on a Monday morning. Also, I think SkyClubs have upped their food game a bit lately, but breakfast has always been the weakest. E usually has better offerings than the T, A, B clubs as well.
Sorry you were offended. René posed the question “Are Airport Lounges Worth the Effort Anymore in Atlanta?” Some people look forward to visiting lounges and maybe even arrive early to take advantage of them. I know who you are and have seen your blog. You certainly seem to enjoy lounges, just as many of us do!
You’ll note he said, “we had to explain to the Delta reps that we were traveling internationally in business class, so we were allowed in without a card.” It’s reasonable for him — or you, or anyone else — to expect that Delta Sky Club reps would know the rules for how to get into the Sky Clubs, right?
Some Sky Clubs have greatly improved their food offerings over what they once offered. But breakfast is usually still meh. See? You and René agree on something!
Unfortunately, I have to agree with Paul on this. Looking back at DeltaPoints in 2013 and the abundance of really helpful topics, tips and tricks, things have changed quite a bit in the last several years.
Ignoring for a minute that an Eye of the “Flyer” blog has a lot of cruise posts and recycled Reddit threads, there’s been a definite tonal shift. Just look at the upcoming topics in this series, we go from Rant to Shrinkflation to Rant. Really not looking forward to more “keep declining” and “bat crazy” posts.
It’s common that I can predict the author of the post from the 3 sentence preview in the email notification. I don’t know if the negative posts drive more engagement overall, but for me, it really pushes me away.
“Looking back at DeltaPoints in 2013 and the abundance of really helpful topics, tips and tricks, things have changed quite a bit in the last several years.”
Yes, things in the points, miles, and travel world have also changed quite a bit in the past 13 years. Given the current environment, what do you want to see? What topics are we missing? What are some examples of tricks we’re missing in the Delta ecosystem where the Medallion® program went from actual miles flown (when the blog started) to revenue and miles, and now to strictly revenue? Even Southwest no longer has free bags and open seating. What do you want the blog to be renamed (again)? I’m all ears and eyes.
If people want sugar-coated, rah-rah information on Delta, here you go.
@Chad – We merged Frequentfloaters.com with EyeoftheFlyer.com a while back. If you don’t care for cruise posts – skip them! #NotHard
I was a bit tongue in cheek. I still really enjoy your blog. I just find that Rene has become a bit of a grouch and you are the guy who still enjoys the flying experience. That’s OK. I like different views. We’re flying out tomorrow and I just noticed we’re going out of D (as more and more mainline flights are these days). I guess we’ll have to see how long the line is at the Centurion.
PS – glad to know you’ve seen my blog – you’re one of dozens 🙂
Delta Sky Clubs remain head and shoulders above those of legacy carriers, so no complaints here — and that chiefly includes the food. At ATL, I now always head to the new lounge in D, after being dropped off at the international terminal. (I think ATL is a great place to get my steps in.) Beyond ATL, there are some incredible clubs, particularly in SLC and NY airports. Having come from another legacy carrier, I continue to be blown away by Sky Clubs. So, the answer is YES here!
I agree! D is very nice and I don’t mind walking a bit before a flight…before a long flight, especially. I actually find the Centurion Lounge one of the more disappointing clubs in ATL (shrug) but to each his/her own.
Just flew through ATL the other day and had an enjoyable time at the Centurion. Joined the waitlist right after I got off my arriving plane, and I was able to get in right as I made it over to the lounge by the skytrain. Delicious food, good drinks, plenty of seats.
You should see the Turkish Airlines (Priority Pass) lounge in MIA north terminal! It is sad and tired..the seats are sunken! And you’re packed side by side. Limited drinks, meh food. And you have to go up steps to enter. Yikes…
I’m with Rene on this one. My home airport is HSV so the majority of my layovers are ATL. The Clubs aren’t bad but they aren’t great either. And, unless you get the Porsche treatment, more likely than not, you will be waiting in line. Delta claims to offer an exclusive product. Standing in line is hardly exclusive. 10 years ago the lounges were a no-brainer. Today I find myself looking for alternatives more and more. In July of last year Hauenstein promised that the overcrowding would end in two years. Only 18 more months to go!
This is what happens when you make access too easy.
I honestly and not impressed with Centurion lounges and have found Sky Clubs to be superior in food and drink. Especially the Centurion in ATL.
A lot of my Centurion visits in the past few years have the same as they were ten or whatever years ago. In fact, the food quality isn’t quite what it used to be. On the same token, maybe Centurions were a novelty back then and creamy scrambled eggs were exciting at the time 🙂
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so I am happy with breakfast offerings I have had in lounges. The best is when you are there for the end of breakfast and then get lunch too! I am easy to please though.
What happened to “Frequent Floater”?
@Mike – see other comments. We merged it with EofF. Compliance was too much with separate blogs.
I’m blonde. Keeping up with one blog is hard enough. Do you know what two did to me?! 🙂
The best Delta lounge in ATL is Terminal D. They even have real China Glassware and utensils!! The centurion clubs all have lines even if not fully crowded… You get to wait then get in and see 20 or more empty seats… The now Mini Centurion Lounge in Term 2 SFO has a real breakfast with Omelets and bacon… the best but such a small lounge since SFO decided to tear down the Term 3 area where the almost new gigantic Centurion lounge was located…!!!It will probably take years to see the Term 3 lounge and by then it will need to be redone.. Nuts that they did this… Why would AMEX expand the lounge if they knew it had to close within a year???