Few things make travel better than having access to an airport lounge. And if you're flying with Delta (or even one of Delta's Sky Team alliance partner airlines), the Delta Sky Club airport lounge is a great place to … well, lounge before or after your flight. But first, you need to get in.
There are plenty of methods and strategies to gain Delta Sky Club access. But Delta keeps making it harder to get in as it combats overcrowding, including a slate of changes that went into effect in 2022. More restrictions took effect to kick off 2024 … and the worst limits yet are coming early next year.
Flyers who bought Delta basic economy tickets or planned to buy a day pass with their *delta skymiles platinum card* can no longer get into the club, period. Travelers with unlimited Sky Club access through premium travel credit cards will eventually see their visits capped, too.
Take a look at how you can get Delta Sky Club access – today and in the future.
About the Delta Sky Club
Delta Sky Clubs are a network of airport lounges owned and operated by Delta Air Lines in airports around the world.
With over 200 locations and partner lounges worldwide, you don't have to try hard to find one if you are flying with Delta. If you're at an airport with a major (or even minor) Delta presence, odds are that you'll find one of its lounges there.
Getting into the Delta Sky Club, though, is another matter: You can't just walk into any Sky Club you find. Even a first class ticket with Delta may not get you into the Sky Club.
But these clubs aren't just the domain of business travelers and first class flyers, either. There are plenty of ways to get Sky Club lounge access … but Delta is continuously tweaking who can get in – and when. Most recently, Delta made big changes to how travelers with premium credit cards access the Sky Clubs. Some of those latest changes have taken effect with the start of 2024 while others won't kick in until early 2025.
Delta only allows flyers to enter the lounge within three hours of their departing flight. Delta instituted other restrictions that raised the cost of bringing guests into the Sky Club or buying a day pass – and even making it harder (or more expensive) for flyers with top Delta Medallion Status to get in.
Let's walk through everything you need to know about how to access the Delta Sky Club before (or after) your next trip, what it's like inside, and everything you need to know about Sky Club lounge protocols.
Read more: Why Are Delta Sky Clubs So Crowded These Days?
How to Access the Delta Sky Club: Credit Cards, Biz Class, or Status
There are many different ways to gain Delta Sky Club lounge access.
Flying business class on Delta (or their partners) can get you in for free. Or you can buy an annual lounge membership (as long as you have some level of Delta Medallion elite status) – or get it free through your top Delta Medallion Elite status.
But increasingly, holding one of the right, top-dollar travel credit cards is the best way to unlock complimentary Sky Club access… at least for now.
Follow this handy Sky Club tip to get into the Delta lounge even faster!
1. Carry the Right Credit Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
When it comes to lounge access, you won't find a better card option than *amex platinum*.
Just for holding the card, you will receive complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club when flying with Delta that day. You won't be able to bring in guests for free – you can bring up to two guests into the lounge for $50 each.
Thrifty Tip: You can cover those guest fees using the up to $200 annual Amex airline credits – just be sure to select Delta as your preferred airline in your Amex Platinum benefits section!
But this benefit is taking a big hit next year. As of Feb. 1, 2025, Platinum cardholders will be limited to visiting the Sky Club just 10 days each year. On the bright side, you'll be able to visit several Sky Clubs in the same 24-hour period – it still counts as just one of 10 Sky Club passes. Once you've used up all 10 of those days, you can buy additional access for $50 per day.
Best of all, authorized users on the Platinum Card get their own lounge allowance.
Read more: You’ve Got Questions & We’ve Got Answers: Delta Sky Club FAQs
In addition to Delta Sky Club access, The Platinum Card from American Express will get you into Amex Centurion Lounges, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, and 1,300-plus Priority Pass lounges. Unlike Sky Clubs, there won't be any access limitations for these lounges starting in 2025.
You'll also earn 5x American Express Membership Rewards points for every dollar you spend on airfare directly with an airline or through Amex's travel portal, amextravel.com, and a host of other great travel benefits.
Read our full review of the Platinum Card from American Express.
Complimentary Sky Club access is one of the reasons we think the American Express Platinum card is the best card for Delta flyers. Yes, we think it's even better than many of Delta's own co-branded credit cards.
Learn more about *amex platinum*.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Much like the Platinum Card from American Express, the *delta reserve card* or the *delta skymiles reserve business* can get you free Delta Sky Club lounge access. But once again, you have to be flying with Delta that day.
In addition to your own free pass into the Sky Club, cardholders receive four free guest passes to the Delta Sky Club each year. That means four guests can come with you into the Sky Club for free – or one guest four times. After that, you'd simply pay $50 per guest with the ability to bring up to two guests into the Sky Club at a time. Like the Platinum Card from American Express, there is no limit to how many times you can bring guests in with you.
However, starting on Feb. 1, 2025, there will also be a limit on how many times you can use your top Delta Reserve card to get into a Sky Club each year. Reserve cardholders will be able to access the Sky Club just 15 days a year – a bit more than with the (non-Delta) Amex Platinum Card mentioned above.
You can visit several Sky Clubs in the same 24-hour period and still count as just one of 15 Sky Club passes. And once you've used up all 15 of those days, you can also buy additional access for $50 per day.
If you have both a Reserve and Amex Platinum Card, you'll get a total of 25 days of Sky Club access annually. Just as with the Platinum Card, authorized users on the Reserve also get their own lounge allowance, too.
You can avoid these limits altogether by spending $75,000 per calendar year on either of the cards, starting Jan. 1, 2024. If you do so, you'll get unlimited complimentary Sky Club access for the remainder of that year and all of the following year. It's nearly identical to the way that Amex chose to limit guest access to its own Centurion Lounges a while back.
Read next: Do Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards Still Make Sense? Here's How to Decide
Learn more about the *delta reserve card*
What about the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum & Gold Cards?
For years, travelers with the *delta skymiles platinum card* in their wallets used it to get into Sky Clubs. You could buy one-time Sky Club passes for $50 per entry. You could also bring in up to two guests for another $50 each.
It was a great way for occasional travelers to get Sky Club access … but it's no longer an option.
As of Jan. 1, 2024, Delta has nixed the option for SkyMiles Platinum cardholders to buy a day pass to Sky Clubs. That's one change that Delta didn't roll back after backlash.
Cardholders with the *delta skymiles gold card* also used to be able to purchase Sky Club access. But Delta eliminated this card benefit many years ago.
Unlike other airlines, there are no day passes to the lounge available for everyday flyers – Delta eliminated that option years ago, too.
2. Travel on an International First or Business Class Ticket
You can access Delta Sky Clubs if you fly first or business class internationally with Delta or a Sky Team partner airline like Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and more.
Certain transcontinental routes within the U.S. in a Delta One business class cabin also get free Delta Sky Club access. It must be branded as a Delta One flight to get free Delta Sky Club entry. You won't be able to bring any guests with you, though.
If you're flying business class out of New York City (JFK), you can do even better: Visit the exclusive new Delta One Lounge instead! These business class-only lounges are also expected to open in Los Angeles (LAX) and Boston (BOS).
… But No Delta Sky Club Access Just for First Class
Just because you're flying up front with Delta doesn't mean you can get a free pass into the Sky Club.
Most domestic first class fares with Delta (or even to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and even some parts of South America) will not qualify for free Sky Club access. You need to fly in a Delta One cabin, domestically or internationally – or have a credit card or lounge membership that gets you access. But a standard domestic first class seat won't work.
3. Earn Delta Status
If you fly Delta a ton and make your way up to Delta's top-tier Diamond Medallion Status, you can select a complimentary Sky Club individual membership as one of their three annual choice benefits. As of 2024, there are two options for top Delta flyers.
- An Individual Sky Club membership, using two of three choice benefits for unlimited Sky Club access for the year.
- An Executive Sky Club membership, using all three choice benefits to get you and up to two guests into the Sky Club Lounges at no additional charge. You can pay for up to two more guests (for a total of four) for $50 each.
Flyers with lower levels of Delta status can get into the Sky Club, too – but only on certain flights.
As of 2024, travelers with Delta's Gold or Platinum Medallion status flying internationally in Delta Premium Select or Delta One can use the Sky Club before their flight. You can also bring one guest with you for free.
But an economy or Delta Comfort Plus seat will no longer get you into the lounge, even if you've got Delta Gold status or higher.
4. Purchase a Delta Sky Club Membership
Delta allows members to purchase an individual annual membership to the Delta Sky Club – but it'll cost you.
As of Jan. 1, 2023, that price increased from $545 to $695 (or 69,500 SkyMiles) each year. An individual membership comes with no free guest privileges. You can also purchase an executive membership for a whopping $1,495 each year (or 149,500 SkyMiles). Again, an executive membership will allow you to bring in up to two guests per visit for free.
But there is one caveat: You need to have some level of Delta Medallion elite status to buy an individual membership. So unless you have Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond Medallion status, this won't be an option.
This method makes little sense, though. For less money than you would pay for an individual Sky Club membership, you can get complimentary Sky Club access by holding either the American Express Platinum Card or the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card. Plus, both cards offer a host of other benefits that would make these worth far more than buying a Sky Club membership.
That calculus might change in 2025 once Delta starts limiting the number of times cardholders can get into the Sky Club. But for now, you're better off holding one of the cards rather than buying an individual membership.
What Are Sky Clubs Like?
It depends on where you go. Every Sky Club is different.
Some Sky Clubs have standout amenities, and none are better than the outdoor Sky Decks that you'll find at lounges in Los Angeles (LAX), Salt Lake City (SLC), New York City (JFK), some Atlanta (ATL) clubs, Austin (AUS), and the new Sky Club near the G gates in Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP). The massive Sky Deck in Delta's flagship New York City (JFK) lounge is a great spot to relax with a drink for some plane spotting.
Delta is doing more and more to set its newest lounges apart with special decor touches and features. Its lounge in Austin (AUS), for example, has a signature, stylish bar in the center of the lounge where you can sample a flight of bourbon or get a specialty cocktail.
While it might not be restaurant quality, the food at Sky Clubs is often leagues better than what you'll find at other airline lounges. Think eggs and potatoes for breakfast and soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees for lunch or dinner.
Many of the newest Sky Clubs have taken their food offerings to another level. In Los Angeles (LAX), there are all the usual options like sandwiches, veggies, and snacks … plus a made-to-order taco bar with all the fixings.
At the massive new Sky Club in New York City-LaGuardia (LGA), there was even a build-your-own ramen bowl bar!
From the bar in the Sky Clubs, you can get a free glass of beer, wine, or a cocktail. There's also the option to buy upgraded cocktails or champagne for cash – or SkyMiles.
Check out Delta's current drink menu!
Self-serve coffee and espresso machines are also open for easy use.
At the end of the day, exactly what you find will vary based on what Sky Club you're visiting. Some of the newest Sky Clubs are outstanding, while older clubs can be small and fairly lackluster.
Check out our reviews of the lounge in Chicago-O'Hare (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Seattle (SEA), Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), San Francisco (SFO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Washington, D.C.-Reagan (DCA), and Tokyo-Haneda (HND) to get an idea of what the Delta Sky Club experience is like!
Delta Sky Club Locations
Delta has more than 50 Sky Clubs scattered across the country. But even more are on the way.
New & Improved Sky Club Locations On the Way
The Atlanta-based airline has laid out some big plans to open even more Sky Clubs – including several renovations, new locations, and one of its first international locations. Here's a look at what's currently open or on tap:
- An exclusive Delta One Sky Club reserved for business class passengers is now open in New York City (JFK), with future locations on tap in Los Angeles (LAX) and Boston (BOS) sometime in 2024
- Boston (BOS) and New York City (JFK) have new Sky Clubs which opened in summer 2023
- Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) now has a third Sky Club, which opened in spring 2023
- The new Sky Club in Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) is open – and it might be one of the best in the country
- Seattle (SEA) is getting a second Sky Club, though it's not expected to open until sometime in 2024 or even 2025
- The long-awaited Sky Club in Tokyo-Haneda (HND) is now open
- Sky Clubs in Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and Atlanta (ATL) are set to be expanded in 2024
Bottom Line
Delta has put more and more money into new Sky Clubs (and overhauling old ones). But just as with the travel experience as a whole, what you'll find inside Sky Clubs has changed and varies from location to location. Some are much better than others.
All the while, getting into Sky Clubs has gotten a bit harder and more confusing – and more restrictions are coming in the months ahead. Use this guide to navigate the lounge like a pro and make your pre- or post-flight experience more enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Buy a Day Pass to the Delta Sky Club?
For years, any Delta traveler could buy a single-visit pass to get into the Delta Sky Club regardless of what seat they were in or what credit card was in their wallets. Both United and American Airlines still do the same.
But they're no longer available at the Delta Sky Club. Delta stopped selling them years ago to combat overcrowding in its lounges. As of 2024, it's no longer possible to buy Delta Sky Club access, no matter which card you have.
Can You Get Delta Sky Club Access Upon Arrival?
Of course, you can get into the Sky Club before your flight. But what about upon arrival?
In the summer of 2022, Delta had planned to ban access upon arrival. But after a major uproar from some of the airline's most valued customers, Delta backtracked on that policy. That means you can still access the Sky Club upon arrival, as always.
Other lounge networks like the American Express Centurion Lounges, and Capital One Lounges have implemented restrictions that do not allow you to enter the lounge upon arrival. However, no major U.S. airlines currently set a time limit on when flyers with lounge access can use their clubs, and they do not restrict access upon arrival.
Can You Get Into the Sky Club with a Delta Basic Economy Ticket?
Flyers who buy the cheapest Delta basic economy tickets can no longer use the Sky Club, period.
As of Jan. 1, 2024, even Reserve and Platinum cardholders are no longer allowed into the Sky Club if they booked a basic economy ticket.