I spend a bunch of time in Skyclubs. Before I became a Delta Diamond Medallion, and got free access, I still got in at no charge thanks to my Delta AMEX Reserve card. I would not need to show my physical AMEX card as I correctly have it entered into “MY DELTA” so when they scanned my boarding pass they would see I was a card holder. Having this in my record correctly also ensures that I get more Delta upgrades as the Reserve card is one of the tiebreakers for upgrades 🙂 !
But I also, each time I entered a club, had to present my ID. For the longest time I just showed my digital ID in my phone that is a scan of my ID. That worked until someone sent a memo that said no more. Really frustrating. Well that frustration, and producing a “real” ID, is now over as of tomorrow.
I reached out to Delta about this change and was told:
“To improve the customer experience on Oct. 1 [2015] Delta Sky Club is modifying its requirements for entry. Customers will still be required to show a valid Delta Sky Club membership card, same-day boarding pass or other required credentials. ID checks for bar drinks will still be required.” – Anthony Black Delta Air Lines
This is a 100% KeepClimbing change and I am most pleased to see this. While I have never been “carded” at the Sky Club bar before, I have a sinking feeling that the clubs that do NOT have bar tenders (i.e. open bar) may still ask for you ID when you check-in if you look underage. Call that one developing.
Also, I am guessing, some reps may not see the memo but over the next week or so this should become common knowledge with all the Sky Club reps.
Are you as happy as I am about this, small, but time saving change? – Rene
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I think if you’re at the airport, you need to have either an ID or some VERY good reason why you don’t have ID, such as your passport was stolen– and presumably the extra screening noted on your boarding pass can then substitute for not having an ID. There is no situation where NOT having an ID should be saving time. That’s a huge security hole.
The clubs are already too busy and miserable a great deal of the time. I don’t need people getting it without proof of who they are. Sorry, this does not strike me as a good thing. I hope they change it back although I suppose it won’t happen before my next trip. 🙁
So how much time are you going to save now?
@DiscoPapa – A bunch when there are 20 wanting to get in to the club like is often the case at LAX 🙂
@peachfront — I have to agree with you on this. I can totally see this coming:
There’s someone on a 3 seg flight, traveling with 2 people who aren’t able to access the club for free. He’s got three tickets, the club is busy (as always) and there are four agents manning the counter(s) (think E Club @ ATL. One goes to middle, one goes right, one goes left. All scan almost concurrently, and now we’ve got three amigos “in da club” versus one deserving amigo who earned or payed for the right to utilize it and it’s amenities. Unless there is a security feature that alerts someone you’ve already scanned in, which I don’t think there is as I have had to leave and come back (to use the bathroom at the new club without one) in ATL and it was a different agent. She scanned and proceeded with the normal greeting, never noting I had already been in and didn’t have a bag. Or there’s the times you’ve gone to multiple clubs in the same airport because of a gate change or something. Not good, but that’s just my .02
Thanks Rene, as always, for keeping us up to date. I’ll hit you up again when I’m in SBN later this month. Maybe we ca grabs drink at the Mexican place you we were going to go to last time. – PJ
Apparently they didn’t get this memo at the depressing HNL SkyClub, where I was yesterday. This morning, the ATL F agent first said I no longer need to display ID, but then she requested it anyway as my AMEX Platinum Card does not display the full name as shown on my boarding pass. So I guess YMMV. Sure is easier going to Admirals Clubs: one swipe, done.