What Is It Like to Visit Delta’s Sky Club in Honolulu?

The Delta Sky Club in Honolulu is renowned for its warm hospitality, special cocktails, and regional food offerings. I finally had a chance to experience this unique airport lounge with my parents. Everything people said about it was true.

Location

The Sky Club is located near the F gates of Terminal 2 at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. This lounge occupies only one floor and is notable for being one of the two Sky Clubs situated outside the continental United States; the other is at Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

Access Options

There are several ways to access Delta Sky Clubs; for details, you can visit the Delta website. Purchasing a membership grants unlimited entries. However, a significant change occurred in February this year when Delta revised its credit card policy to manage capacity.

Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin Chiang

Delta Reserve American Express cardholders now receive 15 visits annually, while Platinum American Express cardholders get 10 visits annually. Each visit permits entry to one or more Sky Clubs within a 24-hour period. Once cardholders spend over $75,000, they gain unlimited access. Additionally, many Sky Clubs have banners promoting the Delta Reserve American Express card, highlighting the benefits of lounge access.

During my Hawaiian vacation, I used one of my 15 visits from the Delta Reserve American Express card. My parents are additional users on my card, so they each received 15 visits as well. We were able to access both Sky Clubs in Honolulu and Los Angeles within a 24-hour travel period.

The Lounge

Upon entering the lounge, the welcoming staff at the reception checked credentials and handed out packaged chocolate-covered macadamia nuts.

Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin Chiang

The lounge has a rectangular shape and features two large seating areas, a small bar, a buffet, and two restrooms, creating a cozy and comfortable atmosphere. Although there are no windows, the interior is decorated with artwork and flowers that reflect a tropical theme.

Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin Chiang

Most of the seating options consist of single sofas, along with small tables and dining chairs. Additionally, there is an open business center equipped with a printer and clocks displaying different time zones. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the venue, and a rack of magazines is shown behind the reception wall.

Food and Beverage

The food offered was both decent and delectable, featuring a blend of local cuisine and Asian influences. Standout dishes included Japanese-style vegetarian curry, stir-fried rice with SPAM, sweet and sour pork meatballs, fish fillet in ginger soy sauce, and, of course, white rice.

Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin Chiang

The buffet also showcased fresh fruits like papayas, pineapples, berries, and melons. Additionally, there were small bites of sandwiches and wraps, along with bowls of mixed salads, marinated cucumber slices, and seasoned edamame.

Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin Chiang

The dessert selection was impressive as well. In addition to a standard assortment of cookies and mousse, there was a freezer filled with ice cream mochi, offering delightful flavors like matcha and passion fruit. On Valentine’s Day, during our visit, the table by the entrance was transformed into a cookie decorating station.

Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin Chiang

But that’s not all—another highlight was the shaved ice machine, accompanied by four different syrups. Guests could request a bowl of finely shaved ice topped with the syrup of their choice, and the staff would diligently prepare it for them.

The beverage stations were equally well-equipped, featuring soda fountains, coffeemakers, a variety of teas, and a mini bar. A dedicated bartender was available to mix up impressive tiki cocktails, such as Mai Tai or Blue Hawaiian, served in gigantic glasses adorned with mini paper umbrellas and pineapple slices.

Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin Chiang

When I mentioned to the bartender that I had never tried a Mai Tai before, he kindly crafted a memorable drink for me, perfect for sharing on social media.

Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin Chiang

As a side note, Delta has stopped serving Mai Tais on Hawaii-bound flights since the pandemic.

Amenities

Due to space limitations, the two gendered restrooms are small. Signs on the doors suggest that patrons use public restrooms outside of the club when they are occupied. Additionally, there are no shower facilities available.

Photo: Courtesy of Benjamin Chiang

However, one of the best amenities offered is the complimentary Delta-branded postcards featuring Hawaiian scenery. Anyone can write on these postcards and drop them in an acrylic box for the staff to stamp and send for domestic delivery.

Verdict

The Delta Sky Club in Honolulu boasts some of the friendliest staff in the network, many of whom wear Hawaiian aloha shirts. One manager even walked around offering shortbread cookies from the Honolulu Cookie Company while expressing gratitude to guests. This lounge is not only adorable but also incredibly relaxing, and I sincerely hope it remains this way.