Delta SkyClub Lounge Crowds Are About to Dwindle – Restrictions Coming in 2019!

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On the heels of American Airlines limiting entry to their lounges, Delta is following with new restrictions to access Sky Club lounges, effective January 1, 2019.  While limits suck, they’ll hopefully thin out the hordes for a more peaceful lounge experience – when you can get in.

I’ll share what’s going on!

New Delta Sky Club Lounge Restrictions in 2019

If you have a paid membership to Delta Sky Clubs, Delta says:

Effective January 1, 2019, Delta Sky Club members may only use the Club in conjunction with same-day ticketed air travel on Delta or its partner airlines and will no longer have access to partner lounges.

Before, having a paid membership was enough to enter the lounges.  And you could also use partner lounges, like those operated by Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic.  That’s going away in 2019, too.

And for anyone who wants to enter Delta Sky Club lounges in 2019 using certain cards, like the AMEX Centurion card or The Platinum Card® from American Express, nothing is changing with how you access the the lounges.  But your guests will need a Delta or Delta-marketed boarding pass for a flight that day and you’ll pay $29 per guest.

If you’re flying on a Delta partner airline and have the Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express, you can pay $29 for lounge entry.  And you’ll get free entry if you’re flying with Delta or on a Delta marketed flight.

Those with a Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express or Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card from American Express (or their small business version) can pay $29 to enter the lounges, but you must be flying Delta that day.  Previously, you could be flying any airline.

While these changes are an overall negative, especially if you were used to entering Sky Clubs while flying other airlines, I wonder how many people will feel the effects of these new limits.

It seems Delta is targeting guests of folks with certain credit cards, and paid members who weren’t flying Delta or their partner airlines.

This is all the more reason to have backup lounge access offered with other premium credit cards.  And if you’re flying Delta and want to enter the Sky Clubs, for the most part, nothing is changing in 2019.  Except maybe there will be extra seats when you’re visiting a Delta lounge!

What do you think of these new limitations?  Will they affect how you travel?