Update 8/26/23: Not exactly confirming it but managing director for Sky Clubs told TPG the following:
We continue to work with our partners and continue looking at this issue. It’s not a done issue. We have to continue making progress. Our guests are telling us that. They’re telling us, listen, we love the clubs. You need to fix the crowding
Reddit user leakingtruth claims that American Express is making changes to Delta lounge access:
Prolly not exciting news, but there is a huge change coming to Amex delta cards and Plat cards in terms of lounge access.
Delta will be restricting access to Delta Plat cards, and Delta Reserve cards will still have access but greatly restricted starting on 2024-2025. Platinum card holders will also be restricted from Delta Skyclubs and will have only up to 6 complimentary access per year
Post history seems to indicate they work for American Express, but it’s always difficult to know how reliable this sort of information is. We’ve reached out to other contacts but have yet been able to confirm these details.
power users usually have more than one lounge access. just fly delta less. it is ok
Best business model here is find a way to charge travelers a fee for a service they don’t allow them to use. AmEx are masters at that. They’ll figure it out. I enjoy the convenience but it really is all about one’s “status” or perception of it.
How about limit those that don’t have status? If you have status you get unlimited access.
This is interesting my partner who has platinum status said, what if you don’t go to the lounge at least x amount of times per year then you lose the benefit.
In a comment to another article, a reader actually complained: Why is it that only the people in first class get champagne and the people in economy don’t? Another reader replied: Because they paid for it. —- Lounge access is considered a premium service. As a premium service, there needs to be a price paid for it. This is a fair expectation. It can’t be a matter of getting the Amex Platinum, zeroing out the annual fee with statement credits, and ending up with free unlimited lounge access. It seems reasonable that in the same way Amex imposed a spending requirement to obtain guest access, Amex needs to impose a spending requirement to obtain access for the primary cardholder. You have to climb the mountain if you want to enjoy the view.
I just wish the annual fee to be $3000 a year
And it happened, lounges became a corp ceo, wall street suit guy thing again. Welcome to the new 70/80s era.
Typically when I want to get into the sky club I just book a refundable Delta one flight get in before my flight and then cancel it. It can all be done through the app. Don’t even have to talk to anyone.
What in heaven’s name?
That’s ballsy.
How many times has this worked for you?
That seems like a risk to be band from the airline. Almost similar to hidden city.
Well this will be good ammo for pushing for retention offers on my 5 biz/personal plats.
Am I the only one who doubts this will reduce the crowding in a meaningful way? These lounges aren’t packed because a bunch of power users go there every single day. The real problem is that everybody and their mothers have an Amex Plat, and I bet most of those people only fly Delta a handful of times a year.
If Costco limited warehouse access to 50 visits a year, would that reduce their crowding? Probably not by much, because the vast majority of customers are those doing their weekly shopping. All you’d accomplish is alienate your most loyal customers.
Yep. Limit Amex Plat users to 6 visits per year.
100% agree with this
the skyclub line was out of hand last week when i walked by.
We all know the problem. People that abuse club access. There are people taking a 1 hour flight and showing up at the airport 3 hours early to eat and drink for free. Just show up and go to the gate.
Nothing worse than trying to get in the lounge when you have a 3 hour layover for a connecting flight and just spent 12 hours on the international leg and there is a group of 6 going to the lounge for 3 hour before their NYC to Boston flight eating a drinking like they were homeless and let into a Golden Coral Buffet for free.
oddly specific
You sound like fun
The flip side of that is, do you know who’s recommending people show up to the airport that many hours early, and why? If I just wanted to “Just show up and go to the gate” for a “NYC to Boston flight” I’d take Amtrak.
Funny thing about this is I’ve seen something similar many times. More than once I’ve noticed people stuffing their purses and carry on bags. Strange attitude for some if it’s free it’s for me.
Anyway, it’s recommended to show up at airport at least 2 hours before the flight: “When you’re traveling within the United States, we make the suggestion to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure.” (Delta). If I arrive earlier due to absence of traffic congestion or problems with MARTA, even if have 30 mins, I will go to lounge. Because I already paid yearly fee.
I come to eat free food, but I stay to drink your tears.
Don’t call out the dark skinned snorlaxes, it is considered racist and ableist in the USA
You just described me xD
fk UUUUU Delta!!! I visit 60 times on average per year