Delta Makes Major Changes to Sky Club Access for 2023
After a banner year of Delta Sky Club openings and expansions across Delta’s network in 2022 that resulted in a record number of visits, the airline is changing some of the ways customers can access Clubs starting next year to preserve a best-in-class experience.
This year, Delta has opened four new Delta Sky Clubs, including its two largest at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Los Angeles International Airport; the airline’s only international Club at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport; and a stunning new 22,000-plus-square-foot space at Chicago-O’Hare. It has also expanded existing Clubs in Nashville and Boston.
The airline says this has resulted in a record number of visits and overcrowding. To address the issue Delta is making major changes to lounge access for 2023. Medallion members and membership holders are hit the hardest by these changes, while guests who access lounges through their credit card will not see any major restrictions. Prices are also going up starting next year.
Delta Sky Club Access
Starting in 2023, with these updates, Delta Sky Club access will be available to:
Medallion Members Who Purchase a Sky Club Membership
- Annual Club memberships will be available for purchase by Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion members only. Effective for new membership purchases and renewals starting Jan. 1, 2023.
- The fees for an annual Club membership will increase as follows (effective Jan. 1, 2023):
- Individual: From $545 or 54,500 miles to $695 or 69,500 miles.
- Executive: From $845 or 84,500 miles to $1495 or 149,500 miles.
- The fee for companion guests will increase from $39 to $50, or from 3,900 to 5,000 miles for Club members who wish to pay with miles. Effective Feb. 2, 2023.
Diamond Medallions Who Select Executive Club Access Via Their Choice Benefits
- Members who reach Diamond Medallion status for the 2024 Medallion Year and beyond: The cost for an Executive Membership will increase from two to three Choice Benefit selections.
- Individual Membership and Credit Card Guest Pass access will no longer be offered via Choice Benefits for the 2024 Medallion Year and beyond. Effective Feb. 1, 2023 for the 2024 Medallion Year.
Delta Sky Club Members Flying Main Cabin or More Premium Cabin
- Delta Sky Club members flying on Basic Economy tickets cannot enter unless they have a benefit through an eligible American Express® Card which allows for access. Effective Feb. 2, 2023.
Customers Flying Delta One and Select Medallion Members Flying Delta Premium Select Intentionally
- Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion Members flying internationally in Main Cabin or Delta Comfort+ will no longer receive Delta Sky Club access, unless they have access through a different entry method (such as a Delta Sky Club membership). Effective Feb. 2, 2023.
- Diamond, Platinum, or Gold Medallion Status still permit entry to the Club if flying in Delta Premium Select internationally or in Delta One.
Amex Card Members with Delta Sky Club Access
- The fee for companion guests of customers entering via an eligible American Express card and for customers and companion guests entering via their Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express card will increase from $39 to $50. Effective Feb. 2, 2023.
There are no updates to Delta Sky Club access eligibility for: Delta 360 Members; Elite Plus members of other SkyTeam airlines; Delta and SkyTeam Elite Plus members flying in Delta Premium Select and Delta One (or partner airline equivalent) cabins; any customers in Delta One (or partner airline equivalent) cabin.
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[…] does what Delta does best, stick it to its Skymiles members: Delta Makes Major Changes to Sky Club Access for 2023. I can not believe anyone does mileage runs these days lol. Loyalty is not what it used to […]
The clubs are not that good, and are indeed crowded. But it was my impression that most of the guests are platinum card holders anyway?
What is the sense in not allowing non-elite members to purchase memberships? They fly less, so they don’t contribute to over-crowding, but surely Delta would welcome the money?
It’s infuriating that here we are in almost December, after I worked of all this whole year to achieve diamond status to receive its published benefits (SkyClub access) next year, that Delta NOW, after it has received the investment from me, says “Nevermind, we’re actually not going to give you the Diamond SkyClub access benefit that we promised and you worked to achieve. We overextended ourselves and YOU, the loyal flyer, obviously need to be the one to pay the price and punished for that. Instead, we’re going to take the earned benefit away, even though you met all the terms and conditions, and give it instead to AMEX holders. You’ve held up your end and loyally spent the money this year to receive the benefit next year, and we flat out don’t care and will gladly screw you over after the fact.”
I feel like Delta has punched me in the face, and I’m the stupid sucker for trusting them them my loyalty. I can’t express how betrayed I feel as a Diamond Medallion and how this has turned my view of Delta into nothing more than a sleazy outright scammer that has taken advantage of me. I’m hurt, frustrated, and sending out status match requests as we speak. At this point, I’ve gone from a loyal flyer to now all I can think about is how I can possibly get revenge on Delta for lying to me.
I can totally understand where you are coming from Jason and I think they should have looked at their credit cards instead of loyal flyers. I would reach out to them and ask for some type of compensation etc. and see what they say.
What took you so long?
This means bloggers will lower the Skymiles point valuation guides right?