How to access Delta Sky Club airport lounges now that entry policies are changing

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Delta Sky Club® airport lounges are a great place to relax before your flight and take advantage of complimentary Wi-Fi, snacks, and drinks, with curated menus featuring regional specialties, seasonal cocktails, and in some locations, shower facilities to keep you feeling fresh.

You can access Delta lounges with a paid Delta Sky Club® membership, with Delta elite status or if you're flying in a premium cabin with Delta or an eligible partner airline (in certain situations). An easier way to access Delta lounges has long been by taking advantage of the benefits provided by certain American Express cards. However, as part of a continued effort to combat overcrowding, Delta announced plans to further limit Sky Club access, particularly affecting access through credit cards.

Below, CNBC Select details all of the ways you can access Delta lounges and which cards to consider signing up for to make the entry process easier.

Within the U.S., there are more than 50 Delta Sky Club locations across dozens of airports. Outside the U.S., there is just one Delta Sky Club lounge at Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND). 

While most airports only have a single Delta Sky Club location, the following hub cities have several:

• Atlanta (ATL): Nine lounges
• Boston (BOS): Three lounges
• Detroit (DTW): Five lounges
• Los Angeles (LAX): Two lounges
• Minneapolis (MSP): Two lounges
• New York (JFK): Two lounges
• New York (LGA): Two lounges

Delta is also in the process of renovating existing lounges at the following airports:

• Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
• Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta (ATL)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
• Miami International Airport (MIA)

You can enter Delta Sky Club lounges up to three hours before departure, or anytime during layovers. To gain access, you'll need to be flying that day, either with Delta or a partner airline. And when lounges are near capacity, Delta will prioritize entry to eligible premium cabin passengers and top-tier elite members.

Outside of those restrictions, you can get in with a Delta Sky Club membership, or by having certain credit cards, types of elite status (in certain scenarios) or whenever you're flying in business class or first class with Delta or one of its partners on an eligible route.

Note that Delta Sky Club members don't have access to lounges when they're traveling on a basic economy ticket, and beginning Jan. 1, 2024, eligible American Express cardholders will no longer have access when traveling in basic economy either.

Cards that offer Delta lounge access

One of the easiest ways to get Delta lounge access is with a card that comes with Delta Sky Club® access, though these benefits will soon be changing.

Eligible cardholders currently receive unlimited access when traveling on a same-day flight that is operated or marketed by Delta with the following cards. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, access will no longer be available to cardholders traveling in basic economy.

Cardholders of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card receive two free guest passes each year with the option to purchase additional passes for $50 per visit from now until 12/31/23. Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available. Starting Feb. 1, 2025, Delta Reserve cardholders will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express cardholders must always pay a fee to bring guests. And starting Feb. 1, 2025, Amex Platinum cardholders will be limited to six Sky Club visits per year.

Once these changes go into effect, Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum cardholders can qualify for unlimited visits by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their eligible card in a calendar year. Access will be available for the remainder of the current program year (which ends on January 31) and for the next full program year.

Delta Reserve cardholders can also access the exclusive Amex Centurion lounges when traveling on an eligible same-day Delta flight that was purchased with a U.S.-issued American Express card and may bring up to two guests for $50 per person.

Free access

Depending on which cabin you're traveling in, you may automatically receive complimentary lounge access. Anyone flying on a domestic or international Delta One-branded business-class flight (typically premium transcontinental and long-haul international routes) can get in. The same benefit also applies to international business-class and first-class flights on a SkyTeam partner-operated flight.

Delta Medallion elite members with Gold, Platinum or Diamond status receive lounge access when they're traveling in premium economy class or higher on an international flight that's operated by Delta or an eligible partner airline. The passenger can still access Delta lounges with an economy ticket if they have another way to enter, such as a Delta Sky Club membership or an eligible American Express card. All other SkyTeam Elite Plus members still have access when traveling internationally, regardless of their cabin.

Paid access

You are only able to purchase or renew a Delta Sky Club membership if you have Delta Silver Medallion elite status or higher. There are two paid membership tiers: Individual and Executive. You can purchase a membership for the following prices:  

• Individual: $695 or 69,500 miles.
• Executive: $1,495 or 149,500 miles.

With an Individual membership, you may bring up to two guests (or your spouse or partner and children under 21) in for $50 per person. An Executive membership comes with unlimited lounge access for you and up to two guests (or your spouse or partner and children under 21), plus the ability to bring additional guests for $50 each.

Delta elite members who reach the Diamond Medallion level may use their 2023 Choice Benefit selections for an Individual Membership, Executive Membership or a guest pass. However, in 2024 the options for Delta lounge access with Choice Benefits will be limited to an Executive membership and it will cost three Choice Benefit selections.

Unlike some other airlines, Delta does not offer pay-per-visit access to Delta Sky Club® lounges unless you have either of the following co-branded cards. The cost is $50 per person and cardholders may purchase passes for themselves and up to two guests or immediate family through Dec. 31, 2023. Starting Jan. 1, 2024, Delta Platinum cardholders will no longer be able to purchase Sky Club lounge passes.

Delta has taken steps to combat the overcrowding of its popular Delta Sky Club® lounges with a series of new restrictions and by increasing the cost of paid access.

The lounge benefits available to cardholders of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express are still generous compared to other options. For example, the cost of a Delta Sky Club membership starts at $695, but you can get more robust lounge access with the Delta Reserve American Express card which only has a $550 annual fee (see rates and fees). However, there will be some significant changes on this front come February 2025.

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For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here. 

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.