Introduction

If you’ve been following the aviation blogger scene, you may have noticed an influx of Delta posts and how their restructuring their elite status. Now, Delta has announced more changes to their Sky Clubs.

Flying basic economy? No access.

Got the Delta Reserve/Platinum Cards? No longer eligible down the line.

Got the Amex Platinum Card? Limited to 6 visits per year starting Feb 1st, 2025.

Details

Amex Delta Skymiles Reserve Card

Starting January 1 2024: No Sky Club access when flying Basic Economy.
Starting Feb 1 2025: Limited to 10 Delta Sky Club visits per Medallion year (e.g. Feb 1 to Jan 31).
- The 10 visit allotment cannot be shared with guests. However, the Delta Reserve card will still come with two one-time guest passes each year.
- The card member cannot pay for additional Sky Club visits once their 10 visit allotment is used.
Earn unlimited Sky Club access with $75K calendar year spend. Unlimited Sky Club access will be valid for the rest of the current calendar year, all of the next year, and through January of the year after that. Tracking of $75K spend will begin January 1, 2024.
During a Sky Club visit, card members can continue to pay for guest entry for up to 2 guests, or their immediate family (spouse/domestic partner and children under 21). The cost per guest is $50 per person for Sky Club access or $25 per person for Grab and Go access.
If I was a Delta Reserve cardholder right now, I’d be fuming - this is their top tier card and they simple just hacked it to 10 uses only. - Chris

Platinum Card from American Express Cardmembers

Starting January 1 2024: No Sky Club access when flying Basic Economy.
Starting Feb 1 2025: Limited to 6 Delta Sky Club visits per Medallion year (e.g. Feb 1 to Jan 31).
- The 6 visit allotment cannot be shared with guests.
- The card member cannot pay for additional Sky Club visits once their 6 visit allotment is used.
Earn unlimited Sky Club access with $75K calendar year spend. Unlimited Sky Club access will be valid for the rest of the current calendar year, all of the next year, and through January of the year after that. Tracking of $75K spend will begin January 1, 2024.
During a Sky Club visit, card members can continue to pay for guest entry for up to 2 guests, or their immediate family (spouse/domestic partner and children under 21). The cost per guest is $50 per person for Sky Club access or $25 per person for Grab and Go access.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Cardmembers

Starting January 1, 2024: Paid access to Sky Clubs will no longer be offered.
The worth of the Credit Card is diminished with this loss - Chris

Basic Economy Flyers

Anyone flying Basic Economy (or the equivalent of Basic Economy with a partner airline)

American Express Card Members traveling on a Basic Economy ticket or an equivalent ticket with a partner airline will not receive Delta Sky Club Access effective January 1, 2024.

Conclusion

To tackle overcrowding amongst various airline lounges, airlines have resorted to curbing their club access via credit cards and ticket purchases. This announcement is clearly intended to help reduce the problem, though it remains to be seen if it actually makes a difference. American Express did the same with their Centurion Lounge and it’s just as crowded here at SFO.

Personally, I feel the changes isn’t that negative considering that a lot of us only travel once in a while. With the Amex Platinum Card, 6 times a year is more than sufficient for me, and I rarely book on basic economy. For the airports that I go to, Centurion Lounge is still my top pick first.