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Delta Sky Club® airport lounges are a great place to relax before your flight and take advantage of complimentary Wi-Fi, snacks, drinks and other amenities to keep you feeling fresh while traveling.
There are several ways to access Delta lounges, including with a paid Delta Sky Club® membership, certain American Express cards or if you’re flying in a premium cabin with Delta or an eligible partner airline (in certain situations).
Below, CNBC Select details all the ways to access Delta lounges and which cards to consider signing up for to make the entry process easier.
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How to access Delta Sky Club lounges
You can enter Delta Sky Club lounges up to three hours before departure, or anytime during layovers. To gain access, you need to fly that day, either with Delta or a partner airline. And when lounges are near capacity, Delta will prioritize entry to eligible premium cabin passengers and top-tier elite members.
Outside of those restrictions, you can get in with a Delta Sky Club membership, or by having certain credit cards, types of elite status (in certain scenarios) or whenever you’re flying in business class or first class with Delta or one of its partners on an eligible route.
Note that Delta Sky Club members and eligible American Express cardholders don’t receive access when traveling in basic economy.
Delta One Lounge access rules
In 2024, Delta introduced premium Delta One Lounges for premium cabin travelers. Delta One Lounges have different entry requirements than the standard Sky Club locations, and you can’t get access from a credit card or with a Delta Sky Club membership. You only can visit a Delta One location if:
- You’re traveling on a same-day Delta One ticket (arrival or departure)
- You’re flying In business or first class with an eligible partner airline
- You’re a Delta 360 member (invite-only elite status)
You can bring children under the age of two along with you at no charge, but otherwise, no guests are permitted in Delta One Lounges unless you’re a Delta 360 member. Delta 360 members can bring immediate family or up to two companions, but they’ll have to pay $100 per guest.
Cards that offer Delta lounge access
One of the easiest ways to get Delta lounge access is with a card that comes with Delta Sky Club® access but depending on what card you have, your access is changing.
Eligible cardholders currently receive unlimited access when traveling on a same-day flight operated or marketed by Delta with the following cards. However, starting Feb. 1, 2025, The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express will be limited to ten Sky Club visits per year. These cardholders must always pay a fee to bring guests and cannot access Sky Club lounges when traveling in basic economy.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,400+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass and Amex Centurion lounges (Enrollment required)
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- 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.
- 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 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- 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.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $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.
Balance transfer fee
Foreign transaction fee
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a premium business card loaded with statement credit offers for business services and travel that help justify its steep annual fee.
- Access to 1,400+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass (Enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth over $1,400 every year
- Hotel and rental car elite status perks
- Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned; Benefits may be subject to auto-renewal)
- High annual fee
- Limited bonus spending categories
- Some statement credit offers are earned in small increments or only apply to purchases from a single brand
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on 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.
- 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. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
- $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®.
- 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 03/2023.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card’s array of premium benefits make it a perfect fit for the most loyal Delta flyers, including elite status boosts, rideshare credits (enrollment required) and airport lounge access.
- Access to airport lounges, including Amex Centurion lounges
- Up to $560 in annual statement credits (Enrollment may be required)
- 15% discount for eligible Delta award flights (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)
- High annual fee
- No bonus spending categories outside of Delta purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- 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.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® when you fly Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
- Receive four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly Delta so you can share the experience with family and friends.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
- Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
- Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- $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 Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
- 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.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers airport lounge access, Delta status boost opportunities and an elevated return for certain business expenditures.
- Access to airport lounges, including Amex Centurion lounges
- Up to $610 in yearly statement credits
- Delta elite status boosts (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Weak spending bonus categories compared to other business cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- 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.
- Enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
- 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 First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- 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 – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
- 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.
Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum cardholders can qualify for unlimited visits by spending $75,000 or more in eligible purchases on their eligible card each calendar year. Access will be available for the remainder of the current calendar year, the next calendar year and through January 31 of the following calendar year.
Delta Reserve cardholders can also access the exclusive Amex Centurion lounges when traveling on an eligible same-day Delta flight purchased with a U.S.-issued American Express card and may bring up to two guests for $50 per person.
Free access
Depending on which cabin you’re traveling in, you may automatically receive complimentary lounge access. Anyone flying on a domestic or international Delta One-branded business-class flight (typically premium transcontinental and long-haul international routes) can access Sky Club or Delta One Lounges. The same benefit applies to international business-class and first-class flights on a SkyTeam partner-operated flight. However, Delta One access is limited to business- or first-class passengers flying with Air France, LATAM, KLM, Korean Air or Virgin Atlantic.
Delta Medallion elite members with Gold, Platinum or Diamond status receive Sky Club lounge access when traveling in premium economy class or higher on an international flight operated by Delta or an eligible partner airline. All other SkyTeam Elite Plus members still have access when traveling internationally, regardless of their cabin.
Paid access
You can only purchase or renew a Delta Sky Club membership if you are a Delta Medallion elite member. There are two paid membership tiers: Individual and Executive. You can purchase a membership for the following prices:
- Individual: $695 or 69,500 miles.
- Executive: $1,495 or 149,500 miles.
With an Individual membership, you may bring up to two guests (or your spouse or partner and children under 21) for an additional fee per person. An Executive membership comes with unlimited lounge access for you and up to two guests (or your spouse or partner and children under 21).
Delta elite members who reach the Diamond Medallion level may use their Choice Benefit selections for an Individual Membership or Executive Membership. An Executive membership costs three Choice Benefit selections and an Individual Membership costs two. Note that the Individual Membership will only be available as a Choice Benefit starting in 2025.
Unlike some other airlines, Delta does not offer pay-per-visit access to Delta Sky Club® lounges unless you have certain co-branded cards.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
Delta Sky Club locations
Within the U.S., there are more than 50 Delta Sky Club locations across dozens of airports. While most airports only have a single Delta Sky Club location, the following hub cities have several:
- Atlanta (ATL): Nine lounges
- Boston (BOS): Three lounges
- Detroit (DTW): Five lounges
- Los Angeles (LAX): Two lounges
- Minneapolis (MSP): Three lounges
- New York (JFK): Two lounges
Delta is also in the process of adding new locations and renovating existing lounges at the following airports:
- Charlotte (CLT) – New lounge
- New York (LGA) – Expanded lounge
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – New lounge
In addition to adding new Sky Club locations, Delta is in the process of opening more Delta One Lounges for premium cabin travelers. Three locations are up and running, with several more in the pipeline:
- New York (JFK)
- Boston (BOS)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
FAQs
Can you purchase single-use lounge passes?
You are no longer able to buy single-visit Delta lounge passes.
Who is allowed to access Delta Sky Club lounges?
You can access Delta Sky Club lounges if you have a Sky Club membership, access through a credit card benefit or if you’re flying on an eligible Delta or partner airline premium cabin ticket. You can also visit Delta Sky Club locations if you have Delta Gold Medallion status or higher and are flying on an eligible international flight.
Can anyone flying Delta use the Sky Club?
Only certain Delta flyers are eligible to enter Sky Club lounges. Having a Sky Club membership or the right credit card are two common ways to gain access. However, if you’re flying on a basic economy ticket, you aren’t able to visit Delta lounges.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card and airport lounge review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
