Delta Sky Club Access: Your Guide to Lounge Entry and Amenities in 2024
Our guide shows you how to access Delta Sky Clubs for premium food and beverages, complimentary Wi-Fi, and even showers in luxurious airport lounges.
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- Certain premium Delta credit cards let you enter exclusive Delta Sky Club airport lounges for free.
- You can also enter Delta lounges with other premium Amex cards, although the annual fees are higher.
- Delta and Amex credit cardholders will lose unlimited Sky Club access beginning February 2025.
Introduction to Delta Sky Club access
Delta Air Lines is one of the most popular U.S. carriers in the consumer airline industry and is one of the "Big 3" airlines, alongside American Airlines and United Airlines.
Like many major airlines, Delta Air Lines has its own network of airport lounges called Delta Sky Clubs. With dozens of locations throughout the U.S., Delta Sky Clubs offer travelers somewhere to relax and enjoy quiet privacy at the airport, along with free snacks, drinks, and WiFi before their flights.
Here's what you should know if you want to visit a Delta Sky Club on your next trip.
Overview of Delta Sky Clubs
Delta Sky Clubs have an air of contemporary luxury, and can be found in dozens of airports throughout the U.S. Most locations offer travelers complimentary food, drinks, alcoholic beverages, and quiet rest areas or spaces to work while waiting for your next flight. Some even feature showers.
How to gain access to Delta Sky Clubs
Delta Sky Club access is normally restricted to passengers traveling in business- or first-class seats on Delta and SkyTeam partners; certain travelers on qualifying flights who hold Delta elite status; or travelers who have purchased a Sky Club membership.
Sky Club membership options
There's quantifiable monetary value to Delta Sky Club access — Sky Club memberships begin at $695 per year, but can be worth significantly more for frequent Delta travelers.
You can also enter Delta Sky Clubs through complimentary lounge access from certain credit cards, which we'll discuss in more detail below.
Credit cards with Sky Club access
With the right credit card, you can access Delta Sky Clubs for free on many flights. The best credit card with Sky Club lounge access will depend on your other travel goals and spending habits. Here's a rundown of the differences between these cards to help you choose.
If you have the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, you can access Delta Sky Clubs if you're traveling on a Delta flight that same day. These cards also come with day-of-travel benefits on Delta flights, including a free checked bag and priority boarding for the cardholder and up to eight companions on the same reservation.
If you don't want to commit to opening a Delta co-branded credit card, there's another way to get into Delta Sky Clubs for free. The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express also come with Sky Club lounge access on travel days when you fly with Delta. These cards also provide complimentary entry to other lounges in the Amex Global Lounge Collection, including:
- Amex Centurion Lounges (some of the best airport lounges in the U.S.)
- Priority Pass** (more than 1,500 airport lounges worldwide)
- Plaza Premium lounges
- Lufthansa lounges (when flying Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, or SWISS)
Delta cards with Sky Club access
The $650-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and $650-annual-fee Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card both offer Delta Sky Club access for the primary cardholder and any additional cardholders when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.
Delta Reserve cardholders are also eligible to bring in up to two guests or immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 21 years of age) at a cost of $50 per person, per visit, provided the guests are traveling on a same-day Delta or Delta partner-operated flight.
You'll separately receive two one-time Sky Club lounge guest passes each year: When you first open your card, and each following year on your account anniversary. These can be used by guests traveling with you, as long as they're also flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight.
While the annual fees on these cards are higher than the cost of buying a Delta Sky Club lounge membership outright, a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card credit card can still provide you with more value considering all the other perks you receive. These cards are also a good choice if you want to boost your Delta SkyMiles account balance by earning miles on everyday spending.
Along with a free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta, cardholders also get access to Amex Centurion lounges when they fly Delta and use the card to pay for their ticket. Both Delta Reserve cards also come with an annual Delta companion certificate, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider, access to complimentary upgrades and upgrade priority, and a slew of other travel and purchase protections.
Amex Platinum card Delta Sky Club access
If you want Delta SkyClub access but don't want to lock yourself into a Delta co-branded card and/or earning Delta miles, Amex Platinum Card and Amex Business Platinum Card are also excellent choices. Both cards allow Delta SkyClub access for the primary cardholder and authorized users — again only if they're flying Delta that day.
With a $695 annual fee, Amex Platinum Card is pricier than either of the Delta Reserve cards. But in return, cardholders receive more comprehensive lounge access and a generous suite of perks that can more than offset the annual fee, including:
- Up to $200 per year in airline incidental fee credits** on one qualifying airline of your choice
- Up to $200 in Uber cash annually** ($15 per month plus a $20 bonus in December), which you can use toward Uber Eats orders
- Up to $200 per calendar year toward prepaid hotels that are part of Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection (minimum two-night stay).
- Up to $300 annual credits to Equinox**
- $300 in statement credits when you use your card to buy a SoulCycle at-home bike
- Up to $240 in annual digital entertainment credits (divided into monthly increments of up to $20)** toward Hulu, ESPN+, Disney+, Peacock, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal
- Up to $155 in annual statement credits toward Walmart+ (divided into monthly increments of $12.95)**.
- Up to $100 in annual credits toward Saks Fifth Avenue (divided into $50 increments — the first to be used between January and June, and the second to be used between July and December)**
**Enrollment required
If you're a small-business owner, Amex Business Platinum Card with a $695 annual fee could be a better fit. It offers the same airport lounge access as the personal Amex Platinum Card, and comes with slightly different benefits that include:
- Up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for checked baggage fees, lounge day passes, and more at one selected airline.
- Up to $400 in statement credits toward U.S. Dell purchases** each calendar year once you enroll your card (divided into two $200 credits: up to $200 between January and June, and up to $200 between July and December)
- Up to $10 per month in statement credits toward purchases made from any US wireless telephone provider (up to $120 per calendar year)
- Up to $360 per year in Indeed credits** (up to $90 per quarter)
- Up to $150 per calendar year** in statement credits toward select Adobe purchases, including business subscriptions of Adobe Creative Cloud and Acrobat Pro DC.
**Enrollment required
As of February 2024, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card no longer offer discounted Sky Club access for eligible travelers, although they still come with a free first checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights, along with other travel perks.
These cards also come with an increased $350 annual fee. So if you want Sky Club access as part of your card benefits, you may get more value out of the premium-tier Reserve cards or Amex Platinum credit cards.
You can find out more in our Delta SkyMiles Platinum review and Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business review.
Delta Sky Club amenities
Delta Sky Clubs are known for contemporary comfort, with tasteful meals, snacks, drinks, and beverages, as well as thoughtfully designed spaces. Here's what you can expect from most locations.
Food and beverage offerings
Delta Sky Clubs typically serve two sets of buffet-style offerings: Breakfast foods including pastries, hot items, cereal and milk, followed by lunch and dinner dishes around 11 a.m. every day. You may also find grab-and-go snacks such as fresh fruit, nuts or trail mix, and desserts.
Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are included in your Sky Club access, although some locations may charge a small fee for premium drinks or top-shelf liquor. You can typically expect coffee, tea, still and sparkling water, several types of carbonated drinks, and a full bar including a variety of wines, beers, and different types of liquor.
Business facilities
Many Delta Sky Clubs are relatively new or freshly renovated, and you can typically expect at least one power outlet at or near each seat. Most lounges have at least one dining area, a higher bar or two, some lounge seating, and more office-like areas for workers with desks or conference table facilities.
Relaxation and shower facilities
Some Sky Clubs have designated quiet areas or phone booths for people who need to take virtual meetings, while others feature kids' rooms or nap spaces for weary travelers to unwind over long layovers.
If the Sky Club you're visiting has shower facilities, speak with the check-in agents to see if you need to put your name down for a reservation. Some locations may allow you to walk in as needed, while others may require that you book a time slot in advance. If your layover is relatively short, it's a good idea to book your shower time as soon as you arrive to ensure you can finish up before it's time for you to board.
Tips for maximizing your Sky Club experience
In recent years, Delta has experienced significant overcrowding in Sky Clubs across the U.S., leading to stringent rules on guests, unlimited access, and other restrictions. Most lounges only allow guests to access the facilities within three hours of their upcoming flight's departure; in other words, you can't arrive at the airport at 8 a.m. and spend a full 12 hours in the Sky Club awaiting an 8 p.m. flight. But there may be some exceptions: If you visit a Sky Club during a long layover on Delta- or partner-operated flights, the Sky Club may allow you to enter if the facility isn't full.
It can be hard to predict the "best" times to visit a Sky Club, but common sense typically applies: If there are a number of weather-related flight delays, there will likely be more fellow travelers taking advantage of free cocktails alongside of you.
Conclusion: Enhancing your travel with Sky Club access
Delta Sky Club airport lounges can make your travels more comfortable and save you money on expensive airport food and drinks. And you don't have to be flying first class or have elite status to get access.
You can always pay $695 or more a year for a Delta Sky Club membership, but frequent Delta flyers can get a better deal by opening one of four cards that offer Sky Club access when you have a same-day Delta flight:
Unlimited Sky Club visits through January 2025, dropping to 15 Sky Club visits a year in February 2025:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Unlimited Sky Club visits through January 2025, dropping to 10 visits a year beginning February 2025:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Delta Sky Club access frequently asked questions
How can I get access to Delta Sky Clubs?
Access can be obtained through various means including purchasing a SkyClub membership, holding certain credit cards that offer lounge access as a benefit, achieving elite status with Delta, or purchasing a single-visit pass.
Are all travelers flying Delta eligible for Sky Club access?
Not all travelers have automatic access; eligibility depends on your ticket type, membership status, credit card benefits, or if you've purchased a day pass.
What amenities are offered in Delta Sky Clubs?
Amenities include complimentary food and beverages, Wi-Fi, business facilities, entertainment, and in some locations, shower facilities.
Can I bring guests into the Delta Sky Club?
Membership and credit card access typically include a specific guest policy. It's important to check your membership or credit card benefits for guest access rules.
Do Delta Sky Club passes have an expiration date?
Yes, single-visit passes typically have an expiration date. Check the terms and conditions of your pass for details.
Read more about Business Insider's picks for the best airline credit cards and the best travel credit cards overall.