After a banner year of Delta Sky Club openings and expansions across Delta's network in 2022 that resulted in a record number of visits, the airline is changing some of the ways customers can access Clubs starting next year to preserve a best-in-class experience.
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- Updates to Delta Sky Club access policy to help preserve premium experience.
- Delta launches real-time occupancy tracker in the Fly Delta app.
- Eight Club openings and expansions planned for 2023.
After a banner year of Delta Sky Club openings and expansions across Delta’s network in 2022 that resulted in a record number of visits, the airline is changing some of the ways customers can access Clubs starting next year to preserve a best-in-class experience.
Since April, Delta Sky Club has opened four new Clubs, including its two largest at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Los Angeles International Airport; the airline’s only international Club at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport; and a stunning new 22,000-plus-square-foot space at Chicago-O’Hare.
Elsewhere, major expansions of existing Clubs in Nashville and Boston have significantly increased capacity at those locations. Across the network, Delta has invested heavily in its Clubs with increases to seating capacity, premium design updates, locally driven food and beverage offerings and more.
A byproduct of Delta Sky Club’s widespread popularity is visit growth that has outpaced Club capacity — resulting in frustration for some customers who find themselves waiting in lines or searching for seating once inside. To address this, important updates are being made for 2023.
“It’s incredibly important to us that Delta Sky Clubs continue to deliver an industry-leading experience for our guests,” said Dwight James, Senior Vice President – Customer Engagement & Loyalty, and CEO – Delta Vacations. “While we’re thrilled to see so many customers enjoy the fruits of our teams’ hard work, our goal now is to balance the popularity of the Clubs with the premium service and atmosphere for which they were designed – and that our guests deserve.”
Starting in 2023, with these updates, Delta Sky Club access will be available to:
Medallion Members who purchase a Sky Club membership.
- To better invest in our most loyal customers, annual Club memberships will be available for purchase by Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion members only. Effective for new membership purchases and renewals starting Jan. 1, 2023.
- The fees for an annual Club membership will increase as follows (effective Jan. 1, 2023):
- Individual: From $545 or 54,500 miles to $695 or 69,500 miles.
- Executive: From $845 or 84,500 miles to $1495 or 149,500 miles.
- The fee for companion guests will increase from $39 to $50, or from 3,900 to 5,000 miles for Club members who wish to pay with miles. Effective Feb. 2, 2023.
Diamond Medallion members who select Executive Club access via their Choice Benefits.
- Members who reach Diamond Medallion status for the 2024 Medallion Year and beyond: The cost for an Executive Membership will increase from two to three Choice Benefit selections.
- Individual Membership and Credit Card Guest Pass access will no longer be offered via Choice Benefits for the 2024 Medallion Year and beyond. Effective Feb. 1, 2023 for the 2024 Medallion Year.
Delta Sky Club members flying in Main Cabin or a more premium cabin.
- Delta Sky Club members flying on Basic Economy tickets cannot enter unless they have a benefit through an eligible American Express® Card which allows for access*. Effective Feb. 2, 2023.
Customers flying in Delta One and select Medallion members flying in Delta Premium Select internationally.
- Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion Members flying internationally in Main Cabin or Delta Comfort+ will no longer receive Delta Sky Club access, unless they have access through a different entry method (such as a Delta Sky Club membership). Effective Feb. 2, 2023.
- Diamond, Platinum, or Gold Medallion Status still permit entry to the Club if flying in Delta Premium Select internationally or in Delta One.
American Express Card Members with Delta Sky Club access.
- Note: The fee for companion guests of customers entering via an eligible* American Express card and for customers and companion guests entering via their Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express card will increase from $39 to $50. Effective Feb. 2, 2023.
There are no updates to Delta Sky Club access eligibility for: Delta 360 Members; Elite Plus members of other SkyTeam airlines; Delta and SkyTeam Elite Plus members flying in Delta Premium Select and Delta One (or partner airline equivalent) cabins; any customers in Delta One (or partner airline equivalent) cabin.
What’s next for Delta Sky Club
While Delta takes measures to curb Club overcrowding, the airline will continue to plan for major growth, with a robust expansion and opening schedule for 2023 and planned digital investments to enhance the Club experience. Here’s what Delta Sky Club customers can look forward to starting as soon as December:
Real-time Club occupancy tracker in the Fly Delta app
Delta Sky Club customers in Atlanta and Detroit can monitor Club availability via the “Delta Sky Club” section of the Fly Delta app. Clubs will display four occupancy levels ranging from “not busy” to “extremely busy,” helping customers better plan their visits.
“Empowering Delta Sky Club customers with greater visibility via the app is a small change that we believe will make a big difference,” said Claude Roussel, Managing Director – Delta Sky Club. “With a digital window into Club occupancy levels, we can give customers more control over their airport journeys and better set expectations when the airport is busy. We chose ATL and DTW for the initial rollout because of the high number of Clubs at both airports, so they can select an alternate Club if their preferred Club is at capacity.”
Most Fly Delta app users traveling through those locations will begin seeing the occupancy trackers in mid-December, as long as their app is updated to the latest version. Expansion to include all Delta Sky Clubs is planned for the first half of next year.
Prioritized entry for Delta’s most frequent fliers and Club visitors
Following a successful operational test in Atlanta over the summer, Delta Sky Club will roll out a dedicated entry lane for the airline’s most frequent fliers at high-capacity Clubs. Diamond Medallion and Delta 360 members and Delta One customers will enjoy expedited entry when Clubs are at capacity, just as they enjoy prioritized boarding on aircraft.
Continued and expanded partnership with emerging chefs nationwide
Delta Sky Club’s Local Flavor program showcases a quarterly rotation of emerging hometown chefs, highlighting some of their most popular recipes for Club customers passing through. Local Flavor is currently available in select airports and will expand to all hub locations in January 2023.
Expansion to new markets
In February, Delta Sky Club opened its first-ever location at Kansas City International Airport (MCI) as part of that airport’s $1.5 billion infrastructure overhaul. The 11,000-square-foot new Club features two all-weather Sky Decks.
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The Delta Sky Club network is deepening its Midwest ties on Tuesday with the opening of its Kansas City International Airport (MCI) lounge, the only carrier lounge at the recently transformed airport.
New Clubs and renovations in hubs & key markets
- MSP-G – The new G concourse Club at Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport will measure 21,000 square feet, nearly twice the size of the current F/G Club. The lounge will include seating for 450 guests, an indoor/outdoor bar that extends to a year-round Sky Deck, and outstanding views of the runway from the main lounge area. April 2023.
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Delta's third Sky Club at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is by far the largest at Delta's Minneapolis hub, with seating for more than 450, a first-of-its-kind Sky Deck and more. Recent renovations to Gates G18-G22, including relocated and enlarged restrooms, expanded gate seating areas and new concessions, laid the groundwork for this new Club.
- JFK-T4A – As part of Delta’s terminal move from T2 to T4, Delta opened a near-14,000-square-foot Club on T4, with planned seating for over 200 guests.
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The nearly 14,000-square-foot Club, which seats more than 250 guests and includes a covered Sky Deck, will operate alongside the Club on Terminal 4, Concourse B. Together the two Clubs will have capacity for over 800 guests simultaneously at JFK.
- FLL – An expansion of Delta Sky Club’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport location will add 2,200 square feet and 90 seats to the lounge. September 2023.
- BOS-E – The new lounge in Boston Logan International’s E Concourse adds nearly 21,000 square feet of premium space to Delta’s lounge portfolio, with seating for over 400 guests.
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The nearly 21,000-square-foot E Concourse Club seats more than 400 guests and overlooks the famous Boston Harbor. Operating alongside the two Clubs on Concourse A, Delta Sky Club will have capacity for more than 1,000 guests simultaneously at BOS.
- EWR-A – The Delta Sky Club on Terminal B of Newark Liberty international Airport relocated to Terminal A as part of Delta’s planned terminal move.
Article
Delta's stylish, new 7,000-plus-square-foot space seats over 200 guests (an increase of 50 from the Terminal B Club) and includes elevated views of the newly built Terminal A and airfield. The EWR Terminal A Club joins recently opened lounges in neighboring NYC airports.
- MIA – Following expansion of the lounge at Miami International Airport, the Club will measure over 12,000 square feet with planned seating for 320 guests. December 2023.
- ATL-E – After renovation of Hartsfield-Jackson International’s E Concourse Club, the lounge will measure over 18,000 square feet and hold 353 guests. The renovated Club will include self-serve check-in kiosks and a full-service food and beverage station for guests. Winter 2023.
*Eligible American Express Cards include the following and access to the Delta Sky Club is subject to each Card’s benefit terms and requirements for access (for example, any required fees): The Platinum Card® from American Express for Goldman Sachs, The Platinum Card®, American Express Platinum Card® for Schwab, The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley, Corporate Platinum Card®, Business Platinum Card®, Centurion® Card from American Express, The Centurion® Card from American Express for Goldman Sachs, Corporate Centurion Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.
