SkyTeam lounge access policy changes effective April 2025 have been officially announced for customers who have earned Elite Plus status or have purchased tickets in the First Class cabin or Business Class cabin — and although the changes are designed to improve the travel experience, the changes are mixed.
SkyTeam Lounge Access Policy Changes Effective April 2025
- Domestic Lounge Access — For the very first time, SkyTeam will offer lounge access to Elite Plus customers traveling on domestic flights as an additional benefit. Separate domestic lounge access policies may apply to members of Aerolineas Argentinas Aerolineas Plus membership program and Delta Air Lines SkyMiles membership program. Domestic lounge access will initially be available at selected lounges of Air France, China Eastern, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, SAS, Saudia, and Vietnam Airlines. SkyTeam and its members plan to gradually widen domestic lounge access to more lounges in the future. Access for Elite Plus customers traveling on domestic flights will not be available at all SkyTeam member lounges.
- Elite Plus Guest Changes — Elite Plus customers are entitled to bring one guest into the lounge with them. All guests must be traveling on the same SkyTeam-operated flight as the Elite Plus customer.
- 3-Hour Lounge Access on Departure — To help deliver a more relaxing pre-flight experience for eligible Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers on departure, a 3-hour lounge access will be introduced at more lounges. Elite Plus customers transferring between two SkyTeam-operated flights will continue to enjoy same-day or 24-hour access at the point of connection.
Airport lounges that are eligible for domestic access effective as of Tuesday, April 1, 2025 include:
| Name of Airport | IATA Code | Provider of Lounge | Lounge Name | Location of Lounge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Charles de Gaulle | CDG | Air France | Air France Lounge — Terminal 2F | After security check on the right-hand side, next to Gate 50 |
| Paris Charles de Gaulle | CDG | Air France | Air France Lounge — Terminal 2G |
After security check, first floor |
| Paris Orly | ORY | Air France | Air France Lounge | Terminal 2 — Boarding gates C |
| Bordeaux | BOD | Air France | Air France Lounge | Hall B |
| Geneva | GVA | Air France | Air France Lounge | Terminal 1, second floor |
| Boston | BOS | Air France | Air France Lounge | Terminal E, next to Gate E3B |
| Washington Dulles | IAD | Air France | Air France Lounge | Terminal A, in front of Gate 20 |
| Houston | IAH | Air France | Air France Lounge | Terminal D, Gate D12 |
| Houston | IAH | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | KLM Crown Lounge | Terminal D, in front of Gate D7 |
| New York | JFK | Air France | Air France Lounge | Terminal 1, after security check, by Gate 1 |
| San Francisco | SFO | Air France | Air France Lounge | International Terminal A, first right after security check |
| Los Angeles | LAX | Air France | KLM Crown Lounge | Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) |
| Jakarta | CGK | Garuda Indonesia | Garuda Indonesia Lounge | Terminal 3 Domestic, Mezzanine Floor |
| Bali — Denpasar | DPS | Garuda Indonesia | Garuda Indonesia Lounge | Domestic area, near Gate 1C – 2 |
| Nairobi | NBO | Kenya Airways | Msafiri Lounge | Terminal 1D — Domestic Terminal |
| Shanghai Pudong | PVG | China Eastern | No. 35 Lounge | Close to domestic departure security, near Gate 15 |
| Shanghai Hongqiao | SHA | China Eastern | V28 China Eastern First & Business Lounge |
Near Gate 61, Terminal 2 |
| Shanghai Hongqiao | SHA | China Eastern | V23 China Eastern First & Business Lounge |
Near Gate 56, Terminal 2 |
| Shanghai Hongqiao | SHA | China Eastern | V2 Shanghai Airlines Lounge | Near Gate 40, Terminal 2 |
| Stockholm Arlanda | ARN | Scandinavian Airlines | SAS Lounge | Near Gate E1, Terminal 5 — after security in the Schengen area |
| Copenhagen | CPH | Scandinavian Airlines | SAS Lounge | Terminal 3 — after security in the Schengen area |
| Newark | EWR | Scandinavian Airlines | SAS Lounge | Near Gate 60 in B3 in Terminal B |
| Gothenburg | GOT | Scandinavian Airlines | SAS Lounge | Near Gate 18 |
| Oslo | OSL | Scandinavian Airlines | SAS Domestic Lounge | Opposite Gate A2 |
| Chicago | ORD | Scandinavian Airlines | SAS Lounge | Gates M19-20 in Terminal 5 |
| Jeddah | JED | Saudia | Alfursan Domestic Lounge | Terminal 1 Domestic, near gate A05 |
| Riyadh | RUH | Saudia | Alfursan Domestic Lounge | Terminal 5 Air Side — Left Area near Gate 508A |
| Hanoi | HAN | Vietnam Airlines | Lotus Lounge | Terminal 1, third floor |
Final Boarding Call
One of the aspects I liked about SkyTeam lounges versus Priority Pass lounges was that no time limit was detailed versus three hours — but then again, most of the time, I wanted more than three hours of time in an airport lounge while transferring between two flights that were operated by members of the SkyTeam alliance; so this change in policy really should not affect me all that much.
I also do not need more than one guest to accompany me in those airport lounges; so this change in policy should also not affect me all that much — and I cannot recall a time when I flew on a domestic flight on an airline which is a member of the SkyTeam alliance — other than Delta Air Lines, of course.
Still, I am not sure I am initially all that happy with the changes — but I suppose time will tell…
Please read about my experience at the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in New York, which is one of greater than 750 SkyTeam airport lounges worldwide. Photograph ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
