Delta limits Sky Club access and introduces Delta One Club: Travel Weekly

Beginning June 1, Delta will limit Sky Club entry to three hours prior to a scheduled flight and will make the clubs off-limits to flyers who have arrived at their final destination.

The carrier also announced Wednesday that it will begin opening a network of Delta One Clubs beginning in 2023.

In a letter to Sky Club members, Sky Club managing director Claude Roussel explained that Delta is implementing the new entry restrictions in an effort to limit crowding as more people return to the skies.

Related On the Record: Delta’s Claude Roussel on opening the biggest lounge to date

“Our goal is to ensure that the best club experience remains available to you, while making certain you can enjoy the service and exclusive atmosphere you’ve come to expect through the Delta Sky Club,” the letter reads. “As we continue to invest in our long-term growth with bigger and better clubs across our network, we appreciate your understanding as we strive to balance the popularity of our clubs with the elevated experience you deserve.”

Under the new rules, connecting flyers will still be able to enter Sky Clubs whenever their incoming flight arrives. In addition, when itineraries are delayed, customers will still be allowed to enter a Sky Club within three hours of the originally scheduled departure time. 

Related: Airport lounges slowly reopening for domestic flyers

Though most people who have arrived at their final destination won’t be allowed Sky Club entry, an exception will be in place for Delta One business-class customers. 

Delta One customers will also begin having their own exclusive lounges next year, joining business-class customers at United and American, who respectively have access to those carriers’ Polaris and Flagship lounge networks.  

The first Delta One lounge, a 36,000-square-foot facility, is slated to open sometime next year in New York-JFK’s Terminal 4. Delta plans to open the second Delta One Club in 2024 in LAX’s Terminal 3. The 10,000-square-foot club will be connected to the recently opened Sky Club in LAX Terminal 3. 

“At both clubs, visitors can expect a dedicated level of service that elevates the lounge experience for Delta One customers,” the carrier said.

Source: Read Full Article