Delta Sky Club access: How to get in before your flight

Delta Air Lines is in the process of modernizing and expanding its Sky Club network. However, in February, the airline implemented changes that significantly limit access to the Delta Sky Club for certain travelers. Here’s everything you need to know about how to access the Delta Sky Club currently.

Access to Delta Sky Club via Credit Cards

One straightforward way to gain access to the Delta Sky Club is by holding a credit card that includes this benefit. Here’s an overview of some top cards that provide Sky Club access:

The Delta Reserve Amex offers a limited-time welcome bonus of 100,000 miles after you spend $6,000 in the first six months of membership. For those interested in a business option, the Delta Reserve Business Amex provides a welcome bonus of 110,000 miles after spending $12,000 within the same timeframe. Note that both offers expire on July 16.

Your visit grants access for 24 hours from your first entry. This means you can visit multiple Delta Sky Club and Grab and Go locations within that time frame, although utilizing a Grab and Go location means you can’t access another Grab and Go or Sky Club at the same airport for three hours.

If you exhaust your visits, you can purchase additional access for $50 per visit or $25 for Grab and Go. Furthermore, if you spend $75,000 or more in a calendar year with an eligible card, you earn unlimited Sky Club visits until January 31 of the following year.

Related: Explore Delta’s brand-new Sky Club in Atlanta, the airline’s premier facility

Be aware of some restrictions: Sky Clubs are off-limits when flying on basic economy fares, and access is only granted within three hours of your flight’s departure unless you are on an eligible arriving flight.

The aforementioned cards only permit access to the cardholder. However, you can pay $50 for each of up to two guests or your immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 21). Basic members of the Delta Reserve and Delta Reserve Business cards receive four one-time guest passes each year, allowing up to two guests per visit.

If you hold a Delta Reserve or Delta Reserve Business card and are traveling on a Delta partner airline not marketed or operated by Delta, you can access the Delta Sky Club for $50 ($25 for Grab and Go visits).

Related: Why the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card is a valuable addition to your wallet

Delta Sky Club Membership

With Delta Medallion status, you can purchase a Sky Club membership using cash or SkyMiles. Membership options include:

• Individual Membership: $695 or 69,500 SkyMiles for one year
• Executive Membership: $1,495 or 149,500 SkyMiles for one year

These memberships allow access when flying Delta or select partners, except on basic economy tickets.

An individual membership allows the member only to enter, but they can pay $50 or 5,000 miles per guest, per visit ($25 or 2,500 miles for Grab and Go). Meanwhile, an executive membership permits bringing up to two guests or immediate family for free, and allows additional guests at the same rates as individual membership.

Related: 5 tips for ensuring lounge access ahead of your next flight

Elite Status Benefits

There are various ways elite members can access the Delta Sky Club. Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can select Choice Benefits each year.

Some of these Choice Benefits include:

• Individual Membership: Obtainable via two Choice Benefit selections for Diamond Medallion members.
• Executive Membership: Obtainable via three Choice Benefit selections for Diamond Medallion members.

Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion members traveling in the same cabin with up to one guest can access Sky Club lounges when flying in:

• Premium Select internationally (excluding the Caribbean)
• Delta First to Mexico, Canada, or Central America (or its equivalent on a Delta partner flight)
• Delta One (or equivalent on a Delta partner flight)

SkyTeam Elite Plus members from other airlines can access Delta Sky Club lounges with one guest before traveling on international SkyTeam flights or domestic flights connecting to international ones.

Other airlines also provide Delta Sky Club access as an elite status benefit, including:

• LATAM: Signature Black Emerald, Black Emerald, and Platinum Sapphire members enjoy access when traveling or connecting to same-day international flights operated by Delta or LATAM.
• WestJet: Gold and Platinum members receive access when traveling on same-day transborder flights between the U.S. and Canada operated by either airline.

Related: Explore some of our favorite ways to utilize Delta SkyMiles

Access via Premium Cabin Tickets

Both domestic and international Delta One passengers can access the Sky Club lounge, regardless of elite status or membership. This also applies to anyone flying on a same-day international first-class or business-class ticket with another SkyTeam-operated flight, provided they hold confirmed seats in those classes for every journey segment.

Access is granted even for domestic Delta flights connecting to a same-day international Delta One flight. However, flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean do not qualify for lounge access.

Delta also partners with LATAM and WestJet to offer Sky Club access for their premium cabin passengers under similar terms.

Related: Check out our top Delta Sky Clubs in the U.S. and a card that provides access

Final Thought

If you fly Delta frequently or reside in a hub city, having access to the Sky Club can enhance your travel experience significantly.

Despite recent tightening of access rules, there are still numerous options for gaining entry as long as you avoid basic economy fares. Top-tier Diamond Medallion members can redeem Choice Benefits for Sky Club memberships, while other elite members can purchase memberships using cash or SkyMiles.

Additionally, premium credit cards still offer a limited number of complimentary Sky Club visits annually, with opportunities for unlimited access through meeting specific spending thresholds. Check out our selected cards and links to apply: