Delta Sky Club is a network of airport lounges offering special amenities, including comfortable seating, complimentary food and drinks, and Wi-Fi access, making them a great place to relax and unwind before a flight.
Whether you’re a frequent flyer looking for a little extra comfort or a one-time traveler looking to make your airport experience more enjoyable, the Delta Sky Club has something to offer.
But Delta has some of the most complex lounge access policies, so it’s hard to know when you have access.
This post will cover everything you need to know about accessing the Delta Sky Club.
What is the Delta Sky Club?
The Delta Sky Club is Delta’s own network of airline lounges with over 50 locations worldwide. They offer premium amenities to members before and between flights.
Here’s a complete list of Delta Sky Club locations.
- Free Wi-Fi
- Complimentary food or snacks
- Complimentary non-alcoholic drinks
- Complimentary alcoholic drinks
- Shower areas
- Sleeping areas
- Airport terraces
- Charging outlets
- Flight assistance
- Satellite TV
- Magazines and newspapers
Delta Sky Club Three-Hour Rule
While there’s an abundance of Delta Sky Club lounges, overcrowding is an issue at many Delta Sky Clubs, especially in hubs like Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit, and New York (JFK).
Delta has taken several steps to reduce overcrowding, including denying access to travelers more than three hours before their flight.
However, there are some exceptions to this 3-hour rule:
- Travelers at connecting airports (for example, if you have a 6-hour layover in Atlanta, you can access the Sky Club 6-hours in advance in Atlanta, but only 3-hours in advance at your starting airport).
- Lifetime Delta Sky Club Members
- Delta 360 Members (invite-only elite status)
- Holders of the Centurion® Card from American Express (the invite-only Black card).
How To Get In Delta Sky Club
Now that you know the basics, let’s look at the various ways to access Delta Sky Clubs.
1. Hold an American Express Platinum
The absolute best way to access the Delta Sky Club for free is with:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express (Review)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Review)
These cards get access anytime you fly a Delta-operated flight (Delta or Delta Connection) or a Delta-marketed flight operated by WestJet (006 ticket number).
Guests cost $39 per person, with the cost increasing to $50 on February 2, 2023.
You are also limited to two guests or immediate family members (spouse/domestic partner and kids under 21).
One very common mistake is confusing the The Platinum Card® from American Express (free access) with the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (paid access).
If your card says “Delta SkyMiles” on the front, you have to pay for access. If the front of your card has the American Express Centurion logo, then you have free access.
2. Hold the Delta Reserve Amex
Another option for free Sky Club access when flying Delta is with either:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Review)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Cardholders also get two free guest passes annually. Additional guest passes cost $39, which is increasing to $50 starting February 2, 2023.
But the American Express Platinum is a better option because it gets you to access to more airport lounges, the flexibility of transfer partners, and lots of credits to offset the annual fee.
The American Express Platinum also pairs well with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Review), allowing you to get the benefits on Delta like free bags and priority boarding.
3. Buy Access Delta Platinum Amex
The another option for access with a credit card when flying Delta is the:
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Review) or
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Review)
Both cards require a fee of $39 per visit, with the fee increasing to $50 on February 2, 2023.
Guest cost $39 per visit, with the guest fee increasing to $50 on February 2, 2023.
The Delta Platinum is designed for travelers who want access once or twice per year, versus the Platinum Card from American Express is designed for more frequent visits to the lounge.
4. SkyTeam Business or First Class
If you are traveling on a SkyTeam airline (excluding Delta) in first or business class on an international flight, you will have access to the Sky Club.
An international flight includes customers traveling to/from Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, Africa, Canada, and Mexico.
But it excludes customers traveling to/from the Caribbean, Guam, Palau, and Saipan.
For example, if you fly on a round-trip flight business class flight from New York to South Korea via Korean Air, you’ll get Sky Club access before departure from New York.
You are not allowed to bring in guests into the lounge unless they also qualify for access.
SkyTeam Airlines
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Aeroflot
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Aerolineas Argentinas
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AeroMexico
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Air Europa
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Air France
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Alitalia
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China Airlines
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China Eastern
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Czech Airlines
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Delta
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Garuda Indonesia
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Kenya Airways
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KLM
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Korean Air
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Middle East Airlines
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Saudia
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TAROM
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Vietnam Airlines
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Xiamen Air
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5. Booking A Delta One Ticket
Delta One is Delta’s lie-flat business class operating on long-haul international flights and some premium domestic routes like New York-JFK to Los Angeles (LAX).
Delta One passengers get free access to the Sky Club when traveling on:
- A domestic Delta One flight OR
- Delta One on an international Delta flight or on a domestic flight connecting to/from a same-day international Delta One flight.
No guests are allowed unless they are also traveling in Delta One.
One important thing to remember is that Delta One is very different from Delta’s First Class, which primarily operates on domestic U.S. routes and shorter international flights.
A Delta First Class ticket does not get you access to the Sky Club unless it is a connecting flight to a Delta One flight.
You can tell the difference when booking tickets on Delta.com or looking at your ticket.
If your flight says you’re in “First Class,” then you don’t have access.
Delta First Class also has recliner seats versus lie-flat seats in Delta One.
6. Book A Delta Premium Select International Flight
Delta Medallion Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members can get Delta Sky Club lounge access if they travel on a Delta Premium Select international flight.
Main Cabin and Comfort Plus flights are no longer eligible for lounge access even if you have top-tier Delta status.
7. Buy An Executive Delta Sky Club Membership
If you are an elite Medallion member and want to guarantee you and your entire travel party access to Sky Club lounges globally, then the answer is an Executive Delta Sky Club Membership.
Membership costs $1,495 or 149,500 miles annually, but you still need to fly Delta or a partner airline within the same day to access the lounge.
With your membership, you can always bring two guests or a spouse/partner plus children under 21 for free.
You may be able to bring additional guests for a fee of $39 per guest (increasing to $50), depending on how busy the lounge is that day. In a way, this is like a family membership.
8. Buy An Individual Delta Sky Club Membership
Another option to purchase lounge access is the annual Delta Sky Club Individual Membership for elite Medallion members, which gets only the member access to the Sky Club when flying Delta or a partner airline.
Medallion members can purchase $695 or 69,500 miles, but at that price, you should just open the The Platinum Card® from American Express for more benefits for the same price.
Members can also bring two guests or a spouse/partner and children under 21 for $39 per guest (increasing to $50)
9. Choose Access As A Delta Diamond Medallion Choice Benefit
Delta Diamond Medallion is the highest elite status in the Delta SkyMiles Program, and one of its primary benefits is the Delta Choice Benefit.
Every calendar year, Diamond members get three Choice Benefits to choose for various perks with Delta.
Starting in February 1, 2023, Diamond Members require three choice benefits (previous only two) to purchase an Executive Sky Club Membership.
Delta is also discontinuing the Choice Benefit for Individual Sky Club Membership and Guest Pass starting February 1, 2023.
10. Fly West Jet Business Class
You can get free Delta Sky Club access if you fly on a same-day international WestJet business class flight.
Lounge access is available at departing and connecting airports. However, guests are not allowed.
11. Have A WestJet Rewards Gold or Platinum Status
WestJet Gold and Platinum members can get Delta Sky Club lounge access if they fly on a same-day transborder flight between the U.S. and Canada.
The flight must also be operated by either Delta or WestJet. Members are allowed to bring one guest for the entire duration of the lounge visit.
12. Have SkyTeam Elite Plus Status
All SkyTeam Elite Plus members (excluding Delta Medallion members) will get Delta SkyClub access if they fly on a same-day international SkyTeam flight.
This does not include access on arrival, only access at the departure airport and any connecting airports.
Members can also bring one guest with them as long as that guest is also flying on a same-day international SkyTeam flight.
For example, if were an Air France Flying Blue elite member and were flying the combination of Chicago to New York on Delta and New York to Paris on Air France, you would have access to Sky Clubs in Chicago and New York.
13. Hold Another Type of Card
Several other types of credit cards may grant you access to the Sky Club lounges. Some of these credit cards include:
- Centurion Card Members with American Express – Free access when flying on a same-day Delta flight.
- Delta SkyMiles Diners Club – Allows three visits per year (same person) or for three individuals per year.
- Delta SkyMiles TRUST CLUB Gold Visa – Allows three visits per year (same person) or for three individuals per year.
- Delta SkyMiles TRUST CLUB Platinum Visa – Allows six visits per year (same person) or for six individuals per year.
The Verdict: Is Delta Sky Club Worth It?
There are many ways to access the Delta SkyClub lounges, of which there are over 50 worldwide. If you can get access, you’ll enjoy comfortable seating, free charging stations, and food and drink to fill your belly before your long journey.
The only problem we’ve seen so far is that Delta Sky Clubs have become so overcrowded. Queues can take as long as 30 minutes.
Have you ever been to a Delta Sky Club before? Tell us about your experience.
