Delta Air Lines has recently opened several new Sky Club lounges, including the new Sky Club in Boston Logan International Airport’s Terminal E and the new Sky Club in Newark Liberty International Airport’s stunning Terminal A.
However, the airline has taken multiple steps to significantly reduce how many flyers have Delta Sky Club access, with the most drastic changes set to take effect in 2025. So, here’s what you need to know about the various ways you can get Delta Sky Club access.
Credit cards
One easy way to get Delta Sky Club access is to hold a credit card that grants access. Here’s a look at when you can get access with some of the best cards for Sky Club access:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Must be traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight or Delta-marketed WestJet flight starting with a 006 ticket number for complimentary access (no access starting Jan. 1, 2024, if you’re traveling on Delta basic economy or equivalent partner fares)
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Must be traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight or Delta-marketed WestJet flight starting with a 006 ticket number for complimentary access (no access starting Jan. 1, 2024, if you’re traveling on Delta basic economy or equivalent partner fares)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight for complimentary access (no access starting Jan. 1, 2024, if you’re traveling on Delta basic economy or equivalent partner fares)
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight for complimentary access (no access starting Jan. 1, 2024, if you’re traveling on Delta basic economy or equivalent partner fares)
Note that all the above cards only provide access to the cardmember. You can add authorized users to each of these cards to get access for friends and family members, but each card charges a set fee for authorized user cards. You can also pay $50 per person, per visit ($25 per person, per visit at grab-and-go locations) to bring up to two guests or your immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 21).
However, starting Feb. 1, 2025, Delta will limit how many times you can visit a Sky Club in each program year (Feb. 1 through Jan. 31 of the following year) as follows:
- Amex Platinum and Amex Business Platinum: Six visits each program year
- Delta Reserve Amex and Delta Reserve Business Amex: 10 visits each program year (you’ll still get two Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes each year)
You’ll be able to remove the cap on Sky Club visits through the end of the following Medallion year (Jan. 31) if you spend $75,000 or more during a calendar year on one of the eligible credit cards. But that’s a lot of spending to put on one card.
If you have the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, you can currently pay $50 per person for one-time Sky Club access for yourself and up to two travel companions. However, this option is going away Jan. 1, 2024.
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Also, if you have the Delta Reserve card and travel on a Delta partner airline on flights not marketed or operated by Delta, you can enter a Sky Club for $50 per person, per visit or a grab-and-go location for $25 per person, per location.
Related: Best credit cards for airport lounge access
Paid membership
If you have elite status with Delta, you can purchase a Sky Club membership outright with cash or SkyMiles. There are two types of Sky Club memberships:
- Individual membership: One-year rate of $695 or 69,500 SkyMiles.
- Executive membership: One-year rate of $1,495 or 149,500 SkyMiles.
These memberships provide Sky Club access when flying Delta or select partners as long as you aren’t flying in basic economy.
With an individual membership, only the member can enter the Sky Club. However, the member can pay $50 per guest, per visit ($25 per guest, per visit for grab-and-go locations) for up to two guests or immediate family members.
Meanwhile, an executive membership is handy for those who anticipate frequently bringing guests with them into the club. You can bring up to two guests or your immediate family for free and up to two more guests for $50 per guest, per visit ($25 per guest, per visit for grab-and-go locations).
We currently value SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each. This means an individual membership would cost you about $834 if paid using SkyMiles, while an executive membership would cost about $1,794 worth of SkyMiles.
Related: A guide to guest policies for airport lounges
Elite status
There are several ways you might get Delta Sky Club access as a benefit of your elite status.
For example, Diamond and Platinum Medallion members get to select Choice Benefits each Medallion year. And some of the Delta Choice Benefits can provide Delta Sky Club access as follows:
- Delta Sky Club individual membership: Diamond members can obtain this benefit with one Choice Benefit selection for the 2023 Medallion year (not offered for the 2024 Medallion year)
- Delta Sky Club executive membership: Diamond members can obtain this benefit with two Choice Benefit selections for the 2023 Medallion year and with three Choice Benefit selections for the 2024 Medallion year
- Delta Sky Club guest pass: Diamond members with complimentary Delta Sky Club access via an eligible credit card can obtain this benefit with one Choice Benefit selection for the 2023 Medallion year (not offered for the 2024 Medallion year)
Delta Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members can also access Sky Club lounges when traveling in Premium Select or Delta One seats on a same-day, international itinerary. These members may also get Delta Sky Club access when traveling in first class to Mexico, Canada and Central America.
If you are a SkyTeam Elite Plus member from another airline, you can access Delta Sky Club lounges if you are traveling on a SkyTeam international flight (excluding between the U.S. and the Caribbean) or a SkyTeam domestic flight connecting to or from a SkyTeam international flight.
There are also a few airlines that give Delta Sky Club access as an elite status benefit, including:
- LATAM: Signature Black Emerald, Black Emerald and Platinum Sapphire members and up to one guest get Delta Sky Club access when traveling on or connecting to a same-day international flight operated by Delta or LATAM
- Virgin Atlantic: Gold members and up to one guest get Delta Sky Club access when traveling on or connecting to a same-day international flight operated by Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Air France or KLM
- WestJet: Gold and Platinum members and up to one guest get Delta Sky Club access when traveling on a same-day transborder flight between the U.S. and Canada operated by Delta or WestJet
Related: Delta SkyMiles changes: Airline overhauls how you earn Medallion status in biggest change yet
Premium-cabin tickets
Both domestic and international Delta One (which is different from domestic first class on Delta) passengers, as well as anyone flying on a same-day international first-class or business-class ticket on a SkyTeam-operated flight (you must be confirmed in business class or first class for every segment of your ticket), get Sky Club lounge access regardless of elite status or membership. You can enter the club even if you’re on a domestic Delta flight connecting to or from a same-day international Delta One flight.
Delta defines international travel as Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, Africa, Canada and Mexico (but not the Caribbean) for lounge access purposes.
Additionally, Delta partners with several other airlines to provide Sky Club access to their premium cabin passengers:
- LATAM: Business-class passengers can access Sky Club lounges with same-day international travel or in conjunction with a connection to or from an international flight operated by Delta or LATAM
- Virgin Atlantic: Business-class passengers can access Sky Club lounges with same-day international travel or in conjunction with a connection to or from an international flight operated by Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Air France or KLM
- West Jet: Business-class passengers can access Sky Club lounges with same-day international travel or in conjunction with a connection to or from an international flight operated by Delta or WestJet
Related: Premium economy vs. business class: Are the differences worth an upgrade?
Bottom line
If you regularly fly Delta or live in or travel to a hub city, having Sky Club access can make your travel experience much more enjoyable.
While Delta has tightened Sky Club access rules, there are still some ways to gain access — especially if you avoid booking basic economy fares. For example, top-tier Diamond Medallion members can redeem Choice Benefits for a Delta Sky Club membership, while anyone with Delta elite status can still pay cash or redeem miles for a Delta Sky Club membership.
In addition, some premium credit cards still provide complimentary lounge access, although visits will be capped starting Feb. 1, 2025, unless you meet specific spending thresholds in the 2024 calendar year.
