Delta Air Lines Sky Club Concourse B Atlanta airport
Photograph ©2016 by Brian Cohen.
Brian Cohen·
Membership Programs
··6 Comments·7 min read

Delta Sky Club Access Becomes More Costly and Restrictive in 2023

Membership fees increase by as much as almost 77 percent.

Delta Sky Clubs are airport lounges which are operated by Delta Air Lines — and they have recently experienced overcrowding to the point where queues of people snake outside of Sky Clubs and wait as long as 30 minutes simply to gain access to what is considered to be an oasis that is a respite from the cacophony of crowded gates at the airport…

Delta Sky Club Access Becomes More Costly and Restrictive in 2023

Delta Air Lines Sky Club Concourse B Atlanta airport
Photograph ©2016 by Brian Cohen.

…and that is chiefly due to the growth of visitors, which has resulted in a record number of visits in 2022. This has led to complaints and inconveniences which are experienced by both members of Delta Sky Club and those who have access via other means.

That all changes effective in 2023 when the following changes will be implemented to Delta Sky Clubs, according to this official announcement from Delta Air Lines:

  • Annual Delta Sky Club memberships will be available for purchase only to SkyMiles members who have earned Medallion elite status — including Diamond Medallion, Platinum Medallion, Gold Medallion, and Silver Medallion effective for purchases and renewals of new memberships effective as of Sunday, January 1, 2023.
  • Fees will increase for an annual Sky Club membership effective as of Sunday, January 1, 2023:
    • Individual: From $545.00 or 54,500 SkyMiles to $695.00 or 69,500 SkyMiles — an increase of greater than 27.52 percent.
    • Executive: From $845.00 or 84,500 SkyMiles to $1,495.00 or 149,500 SkyMiles — an increase of greater than 76.92 percent.
    • Companion guests: From $39.00 or 3,900 SkyMiles to $50.00 or 5,000 SkyMiles — an increase of almost 28.21 percent which becomes effective as of Thursday, February 2, 2023. This includes 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.
  • SkyMiles members who earn Diamond Medallion elite status for the 2024 Medallion Year and beyond: The cost for an Executive Membership will increase from two to three Choice Benefit selections; and Individual Membership and Credit Card Guest Pass access will no longer be offered via Choice Benefits for the 2024 Medallion Year and beyond which becomes effective as of Wednesday, February 1, 2023 for the 2024 Medallion Year.
  • Entrance to Delta Sky Clubs will be denied to members who are traveling with Basic Economy tickets  unless they have a benefit through an eligible American Express card which allows for access effective as of Thursday, February 2, 2023. Eligible American Express Cards include the following; and access to the Delta Sky Club is subject to benefit terms and requirements of each card for access:
    • The Platinum Card from American Express for Goldman Sachs
    • The Platinum Card
    • American Express Platinum Card for Schwab
    • The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
    • Corporate Platinum Card
    • Business Platinum Card
    • Centurion Card from American Express
    • The Centurion Card from American Express for Goldman Sachs
    • Corporate Centurion Card
    • Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
    • Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card
    • Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card
    • Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
  • SkyMiles members who have earned Diamond Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Gold Medallion elite status who are traveling internationally in Main Cabin or Delta Comfort+ will no longer receive access to Delta Sky Clubs unless they have access through a different entry method — such as a Delta Sky Club membership — effective as of Thursday, February 2, 2023. The aforementioned members will still be permitted entry to Delta Sky Clubs if traveling in Delta One or internationally in Delta Premium Select.

Not affected by the aforementioned changes are members or customers of:

  • Delta 360
  • Elite Plus of other SkyTeam airlines
  • Delta Air Lines and SkyTeam Elite Plus who travel in Delta Premium Select and Delta One — or partner airline equivalent — cabins
  • Delta One — or partner airline equivalent — cabin

Rates to access Delta Sky Clubs have increased several times during the past ten years — from when a membership could be purchased for as low as $300.00 up until March 1, 2013; and then another increase in 2017, another increase in 2019, and yet another increase in 2020.

Final Boarding Call

Delta Air Lines Sky Club Concourse B Atlanta airport
Photograph ©2016 by Brian Cohen.

I have been in many Delta Sky Clubs over the years. They are nice overall, with reasonably comfortable seating, plenty of USB ports and electrical outlets, and food and beverages as some of the amenities. They do indeed usually offer what is considered to be an oasis that is a respite from the cacophony of crowded gates at the airport; and they do a good job at that.

I remember back in 2009 when an employee of Delta Air Lines who was associated with Delta Sky Clubs asked why I would not consider becoming a member — sort of a spontaneous survey in person — and I responded with the following reasons:

  • I rarely arrive for a flight long enough in advance to spend enough time to enjoy the amenities of a Delta Sky Club
  • I do not drink alcoholic beverages
  • I carry at least one portable electronic device for music — which is important to me — as well as games and other entertainment to keep my mind preoccupied
  • Although it may be slower, more and more airports are offering free Wi-Fi access to the Internet — such as in Atlanta and in New York
  • Options for admission into airport lounges which are less expensive are available; but I had never paid for those either
  • The public washrooms at airports are typically reasonably maintained, so I do not need to use a washroom inside of a Delta Sky Club; and I would personally rather shower at home or in a hotel room than at an airport lounge
  • The miscellaneous items available do not interest me, as I:
    • Typically do not need to print any documents
    • Have no interest in putting a golf ball
    • Do not hold or attend formal meetings at airports
    • Usually do not read the newspapers and magazines available
    • Rarely watch television
    • Do not drink coffee or tea
  • For the price of admission, not enough of an offering is typically available to create a meal despite the food options being more plentiful than in the past
Delta Air Lines Sky Club Concourse B Atlanta airport
Photograph ©2016 by Brian Cohen.

If I am going to eat, I would rather either eat before I arrive at the airport — which is my preferred option — or bring my own food; or dine in a restaurant at the airport. All of those options are typically significantly less expensive than admission into a Delta Sky Club. For $695.00, I can basically enjoy at least 20 meals at a restaurant at an airport — and be comfortable while I dine.

While the furniture in a Sky Club is more comfortable than the seating which is found at a typical gate at an airport — and although available electrical outlets are now plentiful — I can usually find a quiet corner of the airport where I can relax and plug in a portable electronic device to be charged prior to the flight.

See also

Financial reports will determine whether the latest price increase for admission for a person to enter into a Delta Sky Club is a good move on the part of Delta Air Lines; but I can tell you that I cannot imagine when I would pay that kind of money. I can say that with confidence because I never paid for admission at a lower rate. While that may be worth it to other people — perhaps you — it is just not worth it to me…

…but then again, I am certain that I am not part of the ideal market to whom Delta Air Lines is targeting in terms of revenue for its Delta Sky Club airport lounges.

Other articles at The Gate which pertain to Delta Sky Clubs include:

All photographs ©2016 by Brian Cohen.

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