At airports around the country, lines wrap around the Delta Sky Club as if it were the next Berghain. While this may have been a sign of coveted exclusivity in the past, passengers are starting to get frustrated. In an effort to reduce crowds, the airline announced restrictions on Sky Club entry earlier this year. Have these restrictions caused passengers to take their loyalty elsewhere, or are we witnessing a period of revenge where those with unlimited access are making it a point to enjoy their benefits before they expire in February next year upcoming? And how will the airline’s new Delta One lounges make a difference?
Overcrowding at Delta Sky Clubs has been a hot topic for quite some time now. “I can’t remember the last time I was in a Sky Club and it wasn’t fully booked. I get in either through my American Express Platinum card or because I often fly long-haul Skyteam flights and can use my alliance to get into the clubs,” says travel influencer Paul Lucas, “It’s gotten so bad, and the lounges are so poor anyway, that I won’t bother queuing to get into a -Traveler based in USA When I travel to the USA, I will now usually fly United or American Airlines instead of Delta-they don’t have the same problems.
Last September, driven by customer demand for a desire to maintain a premium experience, the airline announced it would drop unlimited access for American Express and other premium cardholders, limiting the number of times per year that these customers can visit the salons. Since January, Delta SkyMiles Platinum, Platinum Business American Express Card members and customers traveling in economy, regardless of card type, have been unable to enjoy access to the club. Starting in February. 2025, Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express Card Members will receive 10 club visits per year, while Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card American Express Card Members will receive six club visits per year.
A spokesperson from Delta noted that policy changes that already went into effect earlier this year have helped the airline manage the volume of visits. But users on X (formerly Twitter) still complained about the lines. It seems that, at least for now, Sky Club members are still milking their access for as long as they can.
There are two ways to combat overcrowding: limiting access and investing in more salons. Delta has introduced four new Sky Clubs in 2022, five in 2023 and three new Delta One Lounges for 2024, one of which was unveiled this Tuesday at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The ultra-luxurious 38,000-square-foot space—available to select long-haul, business-class customers—features a full-service bar, a market bakery and dedicated wellness areas, from relaxation bags to in the treatment rooms. While the Delta Sky Club on Concourse B has been filled with long waits, about 35 to 40% of those customers will be moved to the Delta One Lounge, a Delta spokesperson says. Similar iterations are set to open at LAX and Boston Logan International later this year.
But not everyone is happy. While some welcome the glitzy lounges as a way to cut lines and provide a premium experience for high-paying customers, others see it as an elitist move. As TikTok comedian Matt Buechele points out, there’s a fine line between overcrowding and accessibility at airports: “If we all have TSA Precheck, then none of us have TSA Precheck.”
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