1st look: Inside Delta’s gorgeous new Sky Membership in Minneapolis

Inside Delta’s new Minneapolis Sky Club

Delta’s new Sky Club in Minneapolis is in Concourse G, between gates 17 and 18, and it’s open daily from 4:30 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. All Delta gates at MSP are connected post-security, so assuming you don’t mind a little walking, you can use the lounge before any Delta flight departing from the airport.

The entrance is located on the ground level of the central rotunda, and it’s nearly impossible to miss because of the wood-grain wall and backlit Delta Sky Club branding.

Once inside, there are two elevators and a staircase to take you to the lounge. Delta does a great job with the details. Thanks to some colorful artwork, a beautiful chandelier and spacious elevators, this entrance area feels more like a five-star hotel lobby than an airport hold room.

After ascending one level, you’ll find yourself in the 21,000-square-foot lounge. There are three self-service check-in kiosks, as well as one agent-staffed reception desk, to help you get registered.

This area is also home to my favorite artwork in the entire space, “Minneapolis.” I’m a fan of calling cities by their airport codes, and Dennis Kalow’s take on Minneapolis incorporates a large M, S and P interwoven in enameled wood and painted in red, white and gold.

After completing the entry formalities, you’ll pass by two agent-staffed help desks, where you can go for assistance during irregular operations or to ask any other travel questions.

This part of the lounge is shaped like a semi-circle that spans the perimeter of the central rotunda area. The couches lining the glass walls are sure to be popular with groups who want to relax near the lounge entrance.

While Delta has really elevated the Sky Club experience in recent years, I love the color palette the airline chose for this outpost. Since Minnesota is the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” designers chose to include copper, bronze and sage green accents throughout the space to evoke summer sunsets in the Great Lakes region.

That said, you’ll still find a pop of Delta signature colors throughout the lounge, including on the red-lined chairs that make up the visually appealing U-shaped sitting nook near the bar.

“We are happy to not do cookie cutter,” Claude Roussel, Delta’s managing director for Sky Clubs, said about the lounge design in an interview with TPG. “This lounge, like all of our other new Sky Clubs, is really curated for the city,” he added.

You’ll find the lounge’s signature bar just as you enter the main relaxation area. It’s easily one of the largest in the Sky Club network, and the bronze finishes contrast perfectly with the dark-green barstools and the gold lights hanging from the ceiling.

As with other Sky Clubs, there’s a menu of complimentary spirits, and travelers can purchase premium beverages using cash or SkyMiles.

In addition to barstools, you’ll find individual chairs and two-top bench seats in the bar area.

The bar gives way to the lounge’s main relaxation area which is split between a business center and a large room better suited for families and friends traveling together. The lounge has space for a whopping 450 passengers.

The business center features four rows of individual cubicles, a coworking table and three Framery phone booths, one of which can accommodate travelers who use a wheelchair. These phone booths have been popping up at Sky Clubs nationwide, but I wish Delta added more of them in Minneapolis — I can’t imagine finding an empty one during the week.

The business center is also home to the lounge’s shared wireless printer.

A small walk-up Starbucks coffee bar separates the business center from the rest of the relaxation area.

Throughout the relaxation zone, you’ll find plenty of seating choices that range from shared couches (that serve as natural room dividers) to individual chairs to velvet seats along the perimeter of this space.

No matter where you sit, you’ll never be more than an arm’s reach from a power outlet. Most seats also have access to USB-A ports, and some even have newer USB-C charging ports nearby.

The lounge’s buffet is at the back of the relaxation area. The marble-clad action stations don’t just look great — their culinary offerings are also some of the best you’ll find in any airport lounge.

This includes charcuterie plates and cheese boards (that look nothing like the depressing cheese cubes you’ll find in Admirals Clubs), a cold salad station, four rotating entrees, a dessert bar and much more.

At the outset, Delta is partnering with Bravo’s “Top Chef” alum and Twin Cities native Justin Sutherland to curate the lounge’s food program. It will include chicken and andouille gumbo, shrimp and grits, pimento cheeseburger sliders and banana pudding through mid-July.

As with its other clubs, the airline will rotate the lounge menu and chef partnership every few months as part of its so-called Local Flavor program.

While you might be focused on grabbing some food (or catching a flight), you may want to take a moment to appreciate the design of the dining room. One highlight is the artwork hanging next to the buffet — “Seagulls Have No Use for Satellites” — that encourages viewers to slow down from all the distractions in their lives.

The lounge features two main dining areas right next to each other. There are various seating choices and configurations, including plenty of high-top tables with just one stool — perfect for solo travelers.

The dining room is also where you’ll find the lounge’s main beverage station, which features a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, Bevi water dispenser, Starbucks coffee and two Eversys coffee machines.

My favorite amenity in the entire lounge is the year-round Sky Deck, which can fit a whopping 110 passengers.

While some Sky Decks are seasonal and just feature chairs and tables, this one is designed for every climate and style of traveler.

The Sky Deck features glass partitions that can be closed depending on the weather, as well as a heating and cooling system. It boasts fantastic views of the G concourse and runway 12R in the distance.

There are outdoor-themed chairs and couches, as well as two Tilt-a-Whirl-shaped cars — a nod to the iconic carnival game invented in Minnesota.

Moreover, you can pick up a drink from the outdoor bar without needing to head back inside. I was particularly impressed with the lounge’s signature peppermint espresso martini crafted with liquor from a local distillery.

Bottom line

Delta’s new Minneapolis Sky Club has been years in the making, and it’s one that frequent flyers will surely enjoy.

From the eye-catching design to the top-notch catering to the year-round Sky Deck, there’s something for everyone inside this brand-new lounge. Plus, with 21,000 square feet and capacity for 450 passengers, overcrowding hopefully won’t be an issue on most days.