Delta’s New Sky Club Entry Rules: Tips for American Express Cardholders
Find out all the details behind Delta's new Sky Club policy, including access limits for premium credit card holders
Photo: Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
In an effort to curb continuous overcrowding at its lounges, Delta announced back in 2023 that they intended to tighten their access policies to their Sky Club network.
As of February 1, 2025, the final wave of those changes is officially in effect, with annual entry limits now being placed on those who hold various premium credit cards issued by American Express.
Delta’s Cardmembers Now Have Limits
Delta passengers who hold the following credit cards will no longer have unlimited Sky Club access, but rather will be subject to an annual visit limit:
- American Express Platinum: 10 annual visits
- American Express Business Platinum: 10 annual visits
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve: 15 annual visits
- Delta SkyMiles Business Reserve: 15 annual visits
It should be noted that one “visit” encompasses all Sky Club visits within one 24-hour period beginning from the time you enter your first Sky Club of the day. For example, if you were to visit a Sky Club at your departure airport, connecting airport, and arrival all in the same day, you would only burn one “visit” from your total annual allotment.
American Express for Digitas
Cardholders of any of the above cards will still have the ability to unlock unlimited Sky Club access by spending $75,000 on the card in a calendar year. Unlimited access would be granted for the remainder of the calendar year in which it was earned, as well as the entire following calendar year.
Furthermore, if you hold more than one of these cards, the annual allotments that each card offers would stack on top of each other. For example, if you have both the Amex Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards, you would be entitled to a total of 25 visits per year: 10 from the Platinum card, and 15 from the Reserve card.
Once your annual allotment has run out, access can still be gained by paying $50 per Sky Club visit, or $25 for grab-and-go locations. Guest access policies remain the same as they were before the changes, and all passengers entering a Sky Club must still be flying on a same-day Delta-operated flight.
Previous Changes Already in Effect
The tightening of access for premium credit card holders comes on the heels of a few other changes Delta implemented last year regarding entry to its coveted Sky Clubs.
As of January 2024, cardholders of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Business Platinum cards can no longer purchase Sky Club access, whereas they used to buy a one-time entry for a cost of $50 for themselves plus two guests.
Photo: SkyClub deck, Los Angeles International Airport. Courtesy of Delta Air Lines
Back in early 2023, Delta stopped allowing access for passengers flying on Basic Economy tickets, except for those who held a previously mentioned Amex or Delta card that comes with Sky Club privileges. However, that perk also went away at the beginning of last year. As of January 2024, all passengers flying on a Basic Economy ticket no longer have access to Sky Clubs, regardless of any premium credit cards they may have open.
Overcrowding Still an Issue
It has been no secret to Delta loyalists that lounge overcrowding has remained a hot-button topic for a few years now, diluting what is intended to be a perk designated for any airline’s most loyal and high-paying customers. However, to Delta’s credit, they have remained intent on making sure that this issue is rectified sooner rather than later.
While tightening lounge access to premium credit card holders may be an unwelcome change for most, Delta continues to invest in expanding its Sky Club footprint, which should also help alleviate overcrowding with much more square footage to go around.
Photo: Delta One Lounge, Seattle. Courtesy of Delta
The latter half of 2023 brought us Delta’s first Delta One Lounges in New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and Boston (BOS), their first iteration of a business class only lounge that compares to the likes of United Polaris lounges and American Flagship lounges.
Later this year, Delta also plans to open a fourth Delta One Lounge in Seattle (SEA) and seven new, expanded, or renovated Sky Clubs across its domestic network.
