How to Get Into Delta Sky Club - NerdWallet (2024)

Airport lounges offer a convenient location to get some work done, enjoy a complimentary snack or drink, or relax before heading to the gate.

With more than 50 locations around the world, Delta’s Sky Clubs are among the best lounges anywhere. Sky Club amenities vary by location and can include free Wi-Fi, complimentary co*cktails and snacks, hot meals and, in some locations, showers.

In the past few years, Delta implemented some changes to its Sky Club access to reduce overcrowding. Unlike other airlines, Delta doesn’t sell single visit passes to its lounges. So how can you get inside a Sky Club before your next flight? We’ll cover the six ways to get in Delta’s lounge locations.

Is access to a Delta Sky Club free with a first class ticket? No, Sky Club lounge access is only included in your ticket if you fly Delta One for domestic and international travel.

If you’re traveling one of Delta's 18 partner airlines in the SkyTeam alliance, you can only get in if you're traveling internationally in first or business class for all flight segments.

All SkyTeam alliance premium cabin passengers, including passengers on Delta, get access to the SkyTeam network of more than 750 lounges across the world — even if you paid for your ticket with miles.

You can access Delta Sky Clubs if you fly internationally in first class, Delta One or premium economy (called Premium Select on Delta) and have at least Gold elite status with Delta. However, the benefit is not extended to Delta Silver members.

One guest is permitted as long as that guest is also traveling in first class or premium economy.

If you’re flying to Mexico, Canada or Central America, you can only get in if you’re flying in first class and have Gold, Platinum or Diamond status with Delta. One guest is allowed but they must also be traveling in first class.

Delta elites (with at least Gold status) cannot get into Sky Clubs if they are flying in economy (called Main Cabin or Delta Comfort Plus), but they can visit Delta partner-operated lounges or SkyTeam airline lounges.

Since Delta is a member of SkyTeam, having status with Delta will also provide benefits on other SkyTeam airlines. For example, if you have Gold status with Delta, that maps to SkyTeam Elite Plus status, which also offers lounge access on international flights.

If you hold elite status with a SkyTeam airline and that status qualifies for SkyTeam Elite Plus status, you can visit Delta Sky Club if you are flying internationally. Unlike the premium cabin requirement for Delta elites, SkyTeam Elite Plus members can visit the lounges regardless of cabin class.

One guest is permitted, and the access policy excludes flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean.

If you have elite status with LATAM, Virgin Atlantic or WestJet, you can access Delta Sky Clubs if you’re traveling on a same-day international flight (any cabin) or connecting to a same-day Delta international flight. One guest is allowed and must accompany the elite to access the lounge. The following elite status levels are permitted:

Those with Delta elite status can buy an annual membership to access Delta Sky Clubs. A standard membership costs $695 (or 69,500 miles) and lets you enter a Sky Club lounge every time you fly Delta. You can bring up to two guests for an extra $50 per guest (or 5,000 miles) per visit. An executive option priced at $1,495 (or 149,500 miles) lets you bring two guests free of charge every time you visit.

Since NerdWallet values Delta miles at 1.2 cents each, using your miles to purchase a membership is not a great value, since you’d be redeeming your miles at 1 cent each, which is below the baseline value of the miles.

For many travelers, skipping the paid annual membership and signing up for aDelta credit cardwith lounge access may be more cost effective.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

Cardholders of these two Delta cards can bring two guests at a cost of $50 per person per visit — unless visiting a Grab and Go club, which has a $25 per person per visit guest access fee.

Terms apply.

Both of these cards carry a high annual fee of $650 , but they have a host of other benefits and decent welcome offers. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card includes a welcome offer for new members: Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card has the following welcome offer: Limited Time Offer: Earn 110,000 Bonus Miles after spending $12,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 10/23/24. Terms Apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Perhaps the best deal for Sky Club lounge access is The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, both of which offer access to the cardholder or authorized users when traveling on a Delta operated or marketed flight. Each card has an annual fee of $695 and provides access options comparable to the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, plus access to AmEx’s own Centurion Lounges and the Priority Pass network (enrollment required), and a host of other benefits.

The guest policy is the same as on the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, up to two guests for a per-visit rate of $50 per person per location.

Similar to the Delta Reserve cards, the AmEx Platinum cards will also receive a limited number of visits (10 visits) per year starting in February 2025. To earn an unlimited number of visits each year, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more the previous year.

Terms apply.

The Centurion® Card from American Express and the Business Centurion® Card from American Express

Travelers lucky enough to have the Centurion Cards in their wallet also get Sky Club lounge benefits. But these cards are invitation only, meaning it’s not available to most travelers. Terms apply.

Those who carry either of the cards have the exact same access policy (including guest fee) to Delta Sky Clubs as holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles Diners Club Card or Delta SkyMiles TRUST CLUB Gold VISA Card

Those who carry either of these credit cards get three visits per year to Delta Sky Clubs as long as they are traveling on a same-day flight marketed or operated by Delta or a Delta partner (basic economy excluded).

Delta SkyMiles TRUST CLUB Platinum VISA Card

If you have this credit card, you can visit a Delta Sky Club six times per year as long as you have a ticket on a same-day Delta marketed or operated by Delta or a Delta partner (basic economy excluded).

Delta Sky Clubs are located throughout the U.S. and there is one international lounge — in Tokyo’s Haneda airport.

To see a list of all the partner and SkyTeam lounges, check out the Sky Club page of Delta’s website, where you can also see the amenities and opening hours for each lounge.

Even if you travel only occasionally, lounge access can improve your experience at the airport. Delta’s Sky Club is a great option if you fly frequently on Delta. You can access a Sky Club lounge by flying in first or business class on Delta or one of its partner airlines, attaining Delta Gold elite status (or higher), purchasing a membership to the clubs or holding one of several premium credit cards.

Not sure if your ticket will get you in? See the Sky Club access page of Delta’s website. Note that access is limited to three hours before your departing flight (excluding layovers).

(Top photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines)