Sky Club Airport Lounges To Implement New Admission Restrictions

Regular Delta Air Lines perks, such as complimentary food, drinks, and dedicated lounge spaces, may be drastically reduced in the near future.

Sky Club access for American Express Platinum Card and Delta Reserve American Express Card customers will be limited beginning February 1, 2025, according to the Atlanta-based carrier. There will be a maximum of six yearly trips for Platinum Card members and ten for Delta Reserve Card holders.

Starting January 1, 2024, any passengers, even those with the Delta Platinum Card or other premium credit cards, who have booked a basic economy fare would be denied access to Delta Air Line's lounges.

If you've ever waited in line to enter a Sky Club at one of Delta's busiest airports, this may not come as a surprise. However, the company is planning to establish a second lounge at Terminal 4 at JFK to accommodate the growing number of passengers using the airport's existing club.

Although it has a hefty annual fee, the American Express Platinum Card has grown very popular among Millennials and Gen Z, owing to its extensive travel benefits. American Express has relied heavily on free lounge access to Delta's Sky Clubs to justify the card's high annual cost, but the airline's decision to end the benefit has caused some cardholders to reconsider renewing their yearly memberships.

Business and first-class passengers, as well as those prepared to spend $695 annually for a membership, were the only ones permitted access to the lounge without a premium AmEx card.

American Express owns and runs 15 airport lounges under the Centurion brand, and this development does not affect their availability to Centurion cardholders.

According to a statement released by AmEx, the majority of card holders would still have access to the Sky Clubs regardless of the modifications. In addition, American Express cardholders who spend $75,000 a year, far more than the average American Express cardholder, will get limitless lounge access.

Delta isn't only reducing its lounge offerings; it is also making it harder for passengers to achieve elite status in its SkyMiles loyalty program, as the carrier has decided to switch from a mileage-based status system to one that rewards customers only for the finances they spend with the airline company.

 

Source: apnews.com