Delta Air Lines has tried to battle overcrowding issues at its SkyClubs by restricting access, with the most recent change going live on January 1 (read more here).
Delta pushed out the latest entry access update today, which will take effect on February 2, 2023, affecting those flying on nonrevenue and travel passes, including employees flying on company business. The change won’t affect those flying on revenue and award tickets.
You can access Delta here.
Delta’s Release To Employees:
DELTA SKY CLUB TO EMBARGO ACCESS FOR ALL NONREVENUE TRAVEL
Demand for Delta has never been stronger, thanks to the welcoming, elevated and caring service our people provide to our customers and the investments we’ve made to the customer experience. We strive to continue holding our leading position as the airline of choice, particularly among our highest valued customers.
One of our many investments has been in Delta Sky Clubs, adding premium food and beverage offerings and expanding the Club spaces. We have been thrilled to see so many customers enjoying our Club offerings. However, despite the significant improvements we’ve made in our Club experience, our investments cannot keep pace with increased customer demand.
If you’ve visited a Club recently, you may have seen lines out the door and guests including our 360 and Diamond Medallion Members – waiting for seats once inside. This is not the experience our best customers want to have, nor the one we wish to deliver.
In late November, we announced several changes to how revenue customers may access Clubs, including new Medallion status requirements, fee increases and ticket fare class restrictions. We are continuously evaluating changes to our Club access and experience, and tracking impact and continued growth to ensure that we can protect the Club experience for our valued members.
In the spirit of ensuring our most loyal and valued customers have adequate access to our best experiences, we are announcing changes to Club access that may impact you.
Beginning Feb. 2, 2023, access to Delta Sky Clubs will be embargoed for all customers and employees using nonrevenue travel passes, including leisure and company business. This embargo applies to all employees and leaders of Delta and its subsidiaries, other airline employees, as well as retirees and registered pass riders. The employee discount on Delta Sky Club memberships is also discontinued.
Those with eligible Club access may continue to use the Clubs with revenue tickets, including SkyMiles redemptions and Fly Confirmed for Less tickets, excluding Basic Economy.
Employees and retirees who have purchased Club memberships or hold qualifying American Express credit cards to access the Clubs during nonrevenue travel will have the option to request a prorated reimbursement.
Please visit Deltanet for more details and an FAQ about these changes.
While we understand that this may be disappointing, know that this decision was not made lightly. We are sure you’ll agree that delivering an elevated experience to our most loyal customers must be our priority. When we put our customers first and ensure that they have the best experience, they will continue to prefer Delta’s premium products and services-which ultimately benefits all of us.
Conclusion
The only way to reduce lines to enter SkyClubs is to limit entries on cobranded and affiliated credit cards from Amex.
This change won’t make a significant difference, although the most recent previous change affected Delta’s frequent fliers on international tickets in economy that no longer have access based on their SkyTeam Elite Plus status (Gold/Platinum/Diamond Medallion).
Delta and Amex must remove SkyClub access from some cards, or the overcrowding situation at SkyClubs will continue.
