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Spending time in an airport lounge before or after your flight is one of the easiest ways to make air travel more enjoyable. Most lounges offer a decent internet connection, free alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, snacks, and a quiet place to sit. Among the best domestic airport lounges are Delta Sky Clubs®, which are found in all Delta hubs and other major airports around the country.
Recently, Delta made it harder for Amex cardholders to access the Sky Club by limiting the number of times they can access the lounge with their card. Further, you can no longer buy a lounge pass unless you have Delta elite status, and day passes have been discontinued.
Despite these new restrictions, travelers still have a handful of ways to access Delta Sky Club lounges. Let's look at your options.
Delta Sky Club Overview
Delta Sky Clubs are a network of lounges associated with Delta Air Lines. Delta currently operates more than 50 domestic Sky Clubs, plus one international Sky Club in Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND).
Travelers can access Sky Clubs for up to three hours before the scheduled departure time — or for the length of your connection if you're between flights. Certain guests can access the Sky Club after arrival, even if they don't have an onward flight.
Since the pandemic, Delta has experienced overcrowded Sky Clubs. To help control the crowds, the airline has added new rules and reduced access, renovated and expanded existing Sky Clubs, and added new lounges to its network.
New Delta Sky Club locations and updates
Delta continues to open new locations and expand previous Sky Clubs. In 2024, it added new Sky Clubs in Charlotte (CLT) and Seattle (SEA) and expanded lounges in New York-LaGuardia (LGA) and Miami (MIA). Plus, it opened premium Delta One lounges in Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LAX), and New York-Kennedy (JFK), which are only available to Delta One passengers.
Delta Sky Club Access
One of the simplest ways to access the Delta Sky Club is to have an eligible American Express card. Each has its own set of benefits and perks related to the card. You can read this article to help you choose the right Delta card.
Effective February 1, 2025, no Delta credit card offers unlimited Sky Club access. Instead, each participating credit card gets a set number of visits annually. These “visits” are 24-hour passes that you can use to access as many Sky Clubs as you'd like, which is helpful if you have a connection or want to access a lounge on arrival. Extra Sky Club visits cost $50.
In order to unlock unlimited Sky Club access, you'll need to spend $75,000 on any of the cards below. When you do this, you'll have unlimited access for the rest of the current year and the entirety of the next status year, which ends January 31. For example, if you spend $75,000 on your card before the end of 2025, you'll have unlimited Sky Club access until January 31, 2027.
Here's a look at all the credit cards that offer Delta Sky Club access.
Best Delta credit card for Sky Club access
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card isn't for everyone, but it offers a few important perks to consider:
- 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year.
- Unlimited access after spending $75,000 in a calendar year.
- Access to American Express Centurion Lounges when flying on a same-day flight operated or marketed by Delta and using an Amex to purchase your flight.
- Receive an annual companion certificate each year on your account anniversary, which can be used for a domestic or select short-haul international round-trip ticket in First Class, Delta Comfort+, or Main Cabin. You must pay up to $80 in taxes and fees for domestic flights and up to $250 for international flights.
- Four free Sky Club guest passes per year.
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation.
- Priority boarding.
- Earn 3X miles on purchases made directly with Delta and 1 mile on all other eligible purchases.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
- Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you'll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion tier and fare class grouping when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card is the small business equivalent of the Delta Reserve with similar benefits and perks, including the same access privileges to Sky Clubs and Centurion Lounges.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Members receive 15 Visits each Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases.
- Get closer to elevated Status next Medallion® Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 on purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
- With the $240 Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
- Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
- Save 15% when booking Award Travel on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
- As a benefit of Card Membership, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
- When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge.
- Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $250 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Enjoy travel without foreign transaction fees from American Express with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
- Terms and limitations apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1.5X miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150K per calendar year
- 1 mile on every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Related: Current Welcome Offers on Delta Credit Cards
Other Delta credit cards with Sky Club access
If you want to access a Delta Sky Club, you don't need a card that says Delta on the front. Premium American Express cards offer limited Delta Sky Club access.
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- With American Express Global Lounge Collection® eligible Card Members can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Use the dedicated CLEAR Lane to confirm your identity without taking out your passport or ID - this can mean shorter lines, less waiting. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.¤
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
With The Platinum Card® from American Express, if eligible, you can access numerous lounges as part of the Global Lounge Collection benefit. On the Delta Sky Club side, you get 10 visits per year when you're flying Delta, with the ability to unlock unlimited visits when you spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year. You can also access Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, certain Lufthansa lounges, and others. At Sky Clubs, you can bring up to two guests or immediate family for $50 each. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
- Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 10/2024.
- Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight + hotel packages booked at AmexTravel.com. 1X points on other eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. shipping providers.
- 1.5X earning rates are subject to a cap of $2 million in purchases per calendar year.
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express offers the same lounge benefits as its counterpart above. Guest prices at the Delta Sky Club are the same, at $50 per guest.
If you have any of the cards above, getting into Sky Club is pretty simple. Present your card, same-day Delta boarding pass, and government-issued I.D. at the Sky Club check-in.
You can visit the Sky Club if you're flying Delta One domestically or internationally — or are on a domestic flight that connects to an international Delta One flight — but you can't bring a guest. You also can visit if you're traveling in first class or business class with a Sky Team partner. This doesn't include travel to the Caribbean, however.
If you're flying in business class with LATAM, you can visit the Sky Club before your flight or before a connecting flight onward to your international flight with LATAM. You can't bring any guests into the lounge.
WestJet passengers in business class or connecting to an international business-class flight with Delta or WestJet can visit the Sky Club but can't bring guests.
Gain Delta Sky Club access with elite status
Delta Gold, Platinum, or Diamond Medallion elite status gives you access to the Delta Sky Club when flying internationally in Delta Premium Select or Delta One.
When flying internationally in Delta Premium Select or Delta One (or an equivalent cabin on a partner airline), Gold Medallion and higher can enter the Sky Club with one guest (who must meet the same cabin criteria). This access also extends to elites flying in First Class to Mexico, Canada, or Central America. One guest is permitted. Note that travel to the Caribbean does not count.
If you have SkyTeam Elite Plus status from another airline, you can access the Sky Club with one guest when traveling on a SkyTeam international flight (in any cabin) or on a domestic flight that connects to an international flight. However, you cannot visit Sky Clubs upon arrival at the end of your journey.
If you have LATAM Pass Signature Black Emerald, Black Emerald, or Platinum Sapphire status, you can visit the lounge when traveling in any cabin if you're flying with Delta or LATAM internationally that same day. This also includes access before your domestic connecting flight to get you to the airport for the international leg. You can bring one guest.
If you have WestJet Gold or Platinum status and are flying between the U.S. and Canada on a WestJet or Delta flight, you can visit the Sky Club and bring a guest.
Related: Delta Medallion Elite Status: How to Earn It and the Perks You’ll Enjoy
Purchase a Delta Sky Club membership
You can buy a membership to the Sky Club, but only if you're a Delta Diamond Medallion member.
- Individual membership: $695 or 69,500 miles. This membership allows you to bring up to two guests for an additional $50 (or 50,000 miles) each.
- Executive membership: $1,495 or 149,500 miles. This membership allows you to bring two guests free of charge.
Choose a Delta Sky Club membership as a Choice Benefit
Those who qualify for Diamond Medallion status can choose an individual Sky Club membership as a Choice Benefit. However, this requires using two choices (out of the three earned at this tier). Meanwhile, an Executive membership requires Diamond Medallions to use all three of their Choice Benefits.
Day passes
Unfortunately, Delta no longer sells single-day passes. You'll need one of the above access methods, or you must enter with someone with guest privileges.
Bottom Line
Delta has reduced who (and when) can access the Sky Club to combat overcrowding. The sale of memberships and day passes has been reduced, as well. On the other hand, there are still multiple ways to get into the lounge, which is nice considering Delta is continuing to open more Sky Clubs and expand existing clubs.
If you want to visit a Sky Club without paying for international Delta One business class, you'll want to get a qualifying premium Delta or Amex card. Just pay close attention to the new limits on access.
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1.5X miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150K per calendar year
- 1 mile on every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
(Terms apply)
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. shipping providers.
- 1.5X earning rates are subject to a cap of $2 million in purchases per calendar year.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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