Want to learn more about US airline lounges access? In my series, I’ll teach you how to access Alaska Lounges, American Admirals Clubs, Delta SkyClubs, and United Clubs.
Each airline has a different approach to offering lounge access, although Delta is in a completely different league when it comes to discouraging memberships and day passes and focusing more on offering lounge access through credit cards .
In this post I wanted to take a closer look at how Delta Air Lines lounge access works.
Delta SkyClub basics
Delta operates a network of over 50 SkyClubs around the world (all locations can be found here). In my opinion, Delta SkyClubs are superior to American Admirals Clubs and United Clubs as they generally offer much better service and significantly better free food.
I find that SkyClubs actually have decent and enjoyable food that is often better than what you will find on board (Delta’s top notch catering is pretty bad), and also better than the diced cheese and vegetables you find in many other airport lounges Find. Although the service has been scaled back due to the pandemic, you can expect it to be restored in the coming months.
Delta SkyClubs have pretty solid food
SkyClubs also offer free beer, wine, and cocktails. Premium drinks can then be purchased. Funnily enough, some of the premium drinks with miles can be great value for money.
For example, if you’re feeling extra festive, you can typically only redeem 10,000 SkyMiles for a bottle of over $ 150 worth of champagne like Dom Perignon!
I redeemed 10,000 SkyMiles for a bottle of Krug
How to access Delta SkyClubs
Of the three major US airlines, Delta would give people the most options for access to lounges, although the airline also has so many restrictions on any type of access.
I would speculate that Delta has a higher percentage of non-club members using their lounges than American or United, given the credit cards that offer SkyClub access.
Let’s take a look at all of the options for accessing SkyClubs, from membership to the right credit card to purchasing access.
Buy a Delta SkyClub Executive membership
The option to access SkyClubs with the least amount of restrictions is to purchase an Executive Membership. You can buy this for $ 845 or 84,500 SkyMiles for a year, and there is no discount if you have elite status (although there is another option to get this if you are a diamond medallion, which I will address below ).
With an Executive Membership:
- You can bring two guests or a spouse / domestic partner and children under the age of 21
- You can also bring up to two additional guests for $ 39 each per club visit
- You can only use SkyClubs if you are traveling on the same day with Delta or a partner airline
Executive membership offers guest privileges
Buy a Delta SkyClub individual membership
While Executive Membership offers the most privileges, you can also purchase individual membership for $ 545 or 54,500 SkyMiles annually. Again, there is no discount if you have elite status.
With an individual membership:
- You can’t bring guests for free, but you can pay to bring two guests for $ 39 per person per visit
- You can only use SkyClubs if you are traveling on the same day with Delta or a partner airline
Select access as a Delta Diamond Medallion Choice Benefit
Delta Diamond Medallion members can select three Choice Benefits each year. Some of them offer SkyClub access. Specifically:
- You can redeem one of your three Choice benefits for a SkyClub individual membership
- You can redeem two of your three Choice benefits for a SkyClub Executive membership
- If you already have access to SkyClub with a credit card, you can redeem one of your three Choice benefits for a guest pass so that you can always take two guests with you to SkyClubs
The same access policies apply to same-day flying with Delta or a partner airline.
Have an Amex Platinum Card
There are multiple cards that provide SkyClub access when flying Delta on the same day. Let’s start with the Amex Platinum cards, which include:
If you have one of these cards, you can access SkyClubs either on departure or on arrival, provided you have a Delta ticket for the same day. You are allowed to bring two additional guests for a fee of $ 39 per person.
The Amex Platinum is equipped with SkyClub access
Have a Delta Reserve Card
In addition to the Amex Platinum Card, the Delta Reserve cards also offer SkyClub access:
You must fly Delta the same day to access SkyClubs. However, there are a few additional things to be aware of:
- Those with the reserve card receive two SkyClub guest cards per year, which they can use to bring guests into the lounge at no additional cost (each is valid for one person for one visit).
- Those with the reserve card can bring up to two additional guests or immediate family members to SkyClubs for $ 39 per person per visit
Buy access for $ 39 with Delta Platinum Amex
While the Delta Platinum Amex cards don’t offer free SkyClub access, they do offer discounted access. The following two cards are eligible:
You must fly Delta the same day to access SkyClubs:
- You can purchase access for $ 39 per person per visit
- You can purchase access for up to two additional guests or immediate family members for $ 39 per person per visit
With the Delta Platinum Amex, you can purchase SkyClub access for $ 39
Book an eligible Delta One ticket
Delta One is the name for Delta’s business class experience. If you’ve booked with a Delta One ticket, you’ll get access to SkyClubs on the same day during your trip (both at your long-haul gateway and on connecting flights, although you won’t only get lounge access on arrival).
This includes domestic flights marketed as Delta One (such as New York to Los Angeles), as well as Delta One international flights, including to Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, Africa, Canada and Mexico (trips to the Caribbean, Guam), Palau and Saipan are excluded).
This means that with a standard domestic first class ticket you will not get SkyClub access, while you will get access on a flight marketed as Delta One.
Business Class passengers cannot bring guests into the lounges for free.
A Delta One ticket comes with SkyClub access
Book an eligible SkyTeam Business or First Class ticket
In addition to Delta One, you also get access to SkyClubs if you own a SkyTeam international store on the same day or a first class ticket. The definition of international is the same as for Delta One.
So when you fly from Atlanta to Paris with Air France, you get SkyClub access in Atlanta. When you fly Kenya Airways from New York to Nairobi, you get SkyClub access in New York, etc.
Business Class passengers cannot bring guests into the lounges for free.
The SkyTeam Business Class ticket gives you access to the SkyClub on the same day
Book an eligible WestJet Business Class ticket
WestJet Business Class passengers can use a WestJet International Business Class ticket to access Delta SkyClubs on the same day, even when connecting airports on an itinerary. No guests are allowed.
Be a SkyTeam Elite Plus member on an appropriate itinerary
SkyTeam Elite Plus members (including Delta Gold, Platinum and Diamond Medallion members) get SkyClub access when flying internationally on the same day. You can even take a guest into the lounge.
Access to the lounge is possible at all connection and transfer points, but not upon arrival. The only “international” flights that are not qualified are between the US and the Caribbean.
Be a Virgin Australia Velocity Gold or Platinum Member
Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum members have access to the Delta SkyClub when flying with Delta on the same day, even if they are domestic flights. These members can bring one additional guest with them free of charge.
Be a WestJet Gold or Platinum member on an appropriate itinerary
WestJet Gold and Platinum members have same day access to the Delta SkyClub with a cross-border boarding pass for Delta or WestJet. These members are allowed to take a guest into the lounge.
WestJet Elite members can access Delta SkyClubs
Delta is no longer selling SkyClub day passes
This is perhaps particularly noteworthy. Other than the eligible passengers listed above, Delta is no longer selling SkyClub day passes. If you do not have access through any of the above means, you can no longer just buy a day pass for a SkyClub.
Is Delta SkyClub Access worth $ 39?
As you can see above, many SkyClub options cost you $ 39 for guests. This rate hike is new as of 2020 as guests typically cost $ 29.
At $ 29 per person, it was easy enough to justify SkyClub access in my opinion, assuming you have a long stay or will have a few drinks.
The price increase from $ 10 to $ 39 makes it harder to justify in my opinion.
Is it worth? I would say if you have an extra long stay, are hungry, or plan to have a few drinks, it is probably still worth it. But if you only have 30 minutes to relax in the lounge I would say it’s not really worth it.
In many cases, the terminals have gotten better with more comfortable seating for power connections in gate areas and free WiFi, and I’m just as happy to sit in the gate area as I am in a lounge.
Is Delta SkyClub Access worth $ 39?
Bottom line
As you can see, Delta is unconventional when it comes to lounge access. The airline doesn’t sell day passes without the right credit card, and in many ways the airline is preventing you from getting a membership.
Suppose you are not traveling on an eligible international ticket or a SkyTeam Elite Plus member. The best way to access SkyClubs is with an Amex Platinum or Delta Reserve Card.
Hopefully, the above clears up everything you want to know about accessing the Delta SkyClub. If I missed something, please let me know.
