If you rely on an AMEX Platinum or Delta Reserve card to enjoy Delta Sky Club lounges, here’s a reminder: starting February 1, 2025, unlimited Sky Club access is no longer guaranteed. These changes could significantly affect your travel experience, especially if you’re a frequent Delta flyer.
With the initial announcement in September 2023—and a few adjustments made in October following customer backlash—it’s easy to lose track of what’s actually changing. Let’s break down the new rules to help you navigate what’s ahead.
Platinum Cardholders
For AMEX Platinum Personal and Business cardholders, Delta is introducing a strict cap of 10 Sky Club visits per year. After you hit that limit, you’ll still be able to access the lounges, but each visit will cost $50.
While Delta and AMEX have not provided clear guidance to date, it’s reasonable to assume that additional cardholders on your account will also receive 10 visits.
What Counts as a “Visit”?
Delta defines a “visit” as entry to one or more Sky Clubs—or usage of the “Grab and Go” feature—within a 24-hour period. A single visit allows:
- Access to multiple Sky Clubs during the 24-hour window (a recent improvement after customer feedback).
- A single fee for combined lounge and Grab and Go usage on the same day.
However, you can’t re-enter the same Grab and Go location within three hours of your last use at the same airport.
Guest Access
Guest access is not included in the 10 free visits. Instead:
- You can bring up to two guests or your immediate family (spouse/domestic partner and children under 21) for $50 per guest, per location.
- Unlike cardholder visits, the $50 fee only covers one location—subsequent lounge visits on the same day will require additional guest fees.
- Children under 2 years old may enter for free.
- Guests must be flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight (or a Delta partner airline flight) and be accompanied by the cardholder.
Unlock Unlimited Access
Cardholders who need more than 10 visits can regain unlimited Sky Club access by spending $75,000 on their AMEX Platinum card within a calendar year. Once you hit this spending threshold:
- Unlimited access is activated within 1-12 weeks of meeting the requirement.
- It remains valid for the rest of the calendar year, the following year, and through January 31 of the next year.
For example, if you hit $75,000 on May 1, 2025, your unlimited access will last through January 31, 2027.
This $75,000 threshold also unlocks two free guests at AMEX Centurion Lounges, giving frequent travelers even more value.
Delta Reserve Cardholders
Delta Reserve and Reserve Business cardholders are allowed 15 Sky Club visits per year, providing a slightly higher cap than Platinum cardholders. After the 15th visit, additional entries will cost $50 each.
What Counts as a “Visit”?
The same rules apply to Reserve cardholders:
- A “visit” includes entry to one or more Sky Clubs or Grab and Go usage within a 24-hour period.
- Multiple clubs in one day are covered by a single visit.
Guest Access
Guests are not included in the 15 free visits, but Reserve cardholders get four complimentary Sky Club guest passes per year. After using these passes, guests can enter at the following rates:
- $50 per guest, per location (this fee only covers one location, unlike cardholder visits).
- Guests must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight (or Delta partner flight) and must be accompanied by the cardholder.
Partner Airline Access
Reserve cardholders can also access Sky Clubs when flying on Delta partner airlines. For partner flights not marketed or operated by Delta, entry costs $50 per visit, and guest passes are not valid.
Unlock Unlimited Access
Reserve cardholders can regain unlimited Sky Club access by spending $75,000 on their card in a calendar year. The same rules apply as with Platinum cardholders:
- Unlimited access becomes effective within 1-12 weeks of meeting the spending requirement.
- This benefit lasts for the remainder of the calendar year, the following year, and through January 31 of the following year.
Note: Unlike Platinum cardholders, Reserve cardholders do not unlock free guest access at Centurion Lounges by meeting the $75,000 threshold.
Final Thoughts
Delta’s Sky Club access changes are an effort to reduce overcrowding but come with added complexity. Most cardholders won’t notice these changes until they approach their 10th or 15th visit in a year. Perhaps Delta plans to notify cardholders in real-time to avoid surprises at the lounge door.
Whether the $75,000 spending threshold is worth it depends on how often you travel and use Sky Clubs. While the ability to enter multiple clubs in one visit is a welcome concession, planning will be essential to make the most of these updated access policies.
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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