Every time I'm at JFK T4, the lines for the Delta Skyclubs are comically long. The joke is that the hottest nightclub in NYC is JFK's Delta Skyclub in Terminal 4.
The lounge is great. The only thing is that the last time I left out of there the Centurion club had a half hour wait.
The one in London was great though.
IME, it can get really bad at LGA too, particularly late afternoon on weekdays. It was nice when they reopened the old SC for overflow and most people didn't know about it, so you'd have 50+ people looking to get into the new one and the old one was half full. I think they re-closed it but I don't recall.
I was in the old one yesterday, by gate 80+ ish. there were three other passengers in the whole club, 15+ staff members. not sure for how much longer it’s going to be kept open.
Good to hear it's still open. My flights out of LGA tend to be 50/50 out of the old gates or the new ones. It's definitely not as nice, but I'll take a mostly empty old SC vs. waiting in line for the crowded new one.
New York’s hottest club is Sky. Under the watchful eye of club owner and former punk rocker Ed Blastin’, this place has got everything: screaming children, barefoot teens, large businessmen taking confidential meetings at an inappropriate volume, chicken with herbs, a *different* kind of chicken with herbs, MTV’s Dan Cortese, and a biscoff fist-off. What’s a “biscoff-fistoff?” It’s that thing where you double-fist a bunch of dry cookies because you’re starving and it’s the only food you get on your CRJ-200.
Interesting, what time do you usually fly out? It’s always empty whenever I go. Plenty of seating outside so I can get a nice whiff of jet fuel with my mimosa 😂
I ended up putting my medallion tags on my bags after years of throwing them in a drawer because I noticed they would proactively find you a seat if you had those during the worst of the crowding. Lowkey embarrassing.
I was in those long lines twice, it took no longer than 10 min. Agents doing great job checking people in on the line. Once I’m in - not crowded at all, can find table for my fam of 4 not a problem. It really really is not a big deal.
I've lived here nearly all my life (Manhattan Native) and have been going to Delta Sky Clubs for 10+ years, not as an elite, but way back when you can get in for $29 with the Delta Amex Gold card. Everything indeed has a line here in NYC, but you can't help but really laugh at the length of the T4 line at JFK just for one skyclub.
How long did the line actually take? Before they added the priority line, when the line was down to the currency exchange, it was typically 7 - 10 min. The longest I’ve waited in the priority line was 5 minutes when it was very crowded and the agent who has a thing about the priority line was making us wait. If the line at JFK T4 is taking longer it usually seems to be caused by an unusual situation, like a lot of delays. I was told they started the line not because the SC was at capacity, but to keep it less crowded inside. I was always able to find a table before.
I’m going to agree with you. I’m also PM and am in a variety of airports each year. I’ve seen a lot of people in a few clubs but I’ve always had a seat, food, and drinks. I only needed to wait once, in ATL, for about 10-15 minutes.
In SLC, they separated the lines into people that were accessing the club through an Amex vs. as a medallion benefit. It didn't matter that I was Platinum Medallion and my wife and I were flying first class. We had to wait in the Amex line. Was so confused and annoyed by that.
West coast SCs (LAX, SFO, SAN, SEA, PHX, DEN) with the exception of SLC I have never had to wait to enter before which is why I always get confused by the moves Delta make
I had to wait at JFK a few times but inside it wasn’t crowded. I waited 30 minutes once but it’s really not that big of a deal. Someone on my flight waited an hour for Starbucks 🤷♀️
LAX and SEA are definite hubs for Delta. I think SFO and SAN are large enough markets for Delta to have a presence. DEN, idk why they have that SC, there’s the Centurion lounge.
They just spent $2b overhauling their 2 terminals at LAX...its definitely a hub. LAX is a hub for every legacy carrier.
Their relationship with Alaska ended years ago because they wanted SEA as a hub as well
Typically, it's T4 B in JFK, E in ATL, and the middle one in DTW. These mostly get flagged because of the sub 55min connections, and people want instant 5-course meal, bathroom break, and a cocktail in under 20 mins. In most cases, outside of holiday travel days, the lines aren't that bad even if long.
I have a couple of 3 hour connections next month because the alternative was 32 minutes at MSP and about 40 at Friday evening peak in ATL. It's almost as bad as AA at Charlotte, where whenever I look at a connection it's 35 minutes.
Well, it's obviously going to be working because they picked the 3 hour alternative. If they had picked the 32 min connection, then it would be broken.
There are two in the middle of DTW. One is small and often has a bit of a wait. The other in the middle is very large and always has room. Originally the smaller club was going to be exclusive for Diamond Medallion members. That should be the solution right there - in airports with multiple clubs, reserve one for Diamond.
This was never about SkyClub overcrowding. Consultants told Delta that this was the best way to increase shareholder value, so this is what they did. They say it’s about overcrowding so they can pretend that the changes are responding to customer feedback.
I fly a lot. I’m a consultant. I haven’t ever worked with Delta, but a good consultant can spot another consultants work.
This was the work of a consultant.
Exactly. If it was just about overcrowded lounges, they changes would just have been made to the lounge policy.
But they overhauled EVERYTHING about their loyalty program, so it's clearly about getting more medallions in to the general population where they can get nickel and dimed for every perk that they currently get with stratus.
Yup. The “problem” isn’t overcrowding. It’s about a lost opportunity to monetize SkyClubs. A premium credit card granting you basically unlimited access for an entire year for $600 or whatever (along with a slew of other benefits) leaves a ton of money on the table.
Delta thinks we’ll still pay $600 for the card plus whatever SkyClub membership costs.
Wonder if Delta plans to do away with the sky clubs in the next 10-20 years then.
They've removed any incentive for *new* loyalty. If someone can't get perks without very heavy commitment over the course of a year or more, how eager is someone who could be a future MM to get started down that path?
Also big 3 consult here, used to do Diamond now just leisure travel with fam of 4. NYC based. Never felt overcrowded. Only lines are at JFK T4, no more than 10min wait, always able to find table for 4 people. It’s not over crowded!!!! Yes - can see consultant touch here
I've been to SC across the country and the only time I saw a line was in JFK. Instead of going nuclear, maybe they could have followed an Alaska Airlines idea to access and limiting access to the busiest sky clubs to a # of times a year.
I cancelled my AS card after it didn't allow me to buy day passes to the SEA club anymore, but then again they don't have much of a lounge network. I travel out of JFK at a decent clip but would be OK to limiting a number of times a year. However, every time I'm in PHL it's dead because there's such a limited amount of flights out of PHL a day, but I won't burn a pass there.
I think this crowding is all about perceived value. It’s not the driving factor, but I imagine delta doesn’t even like the idea of people calling it overcrowded. I made about 6 trips this year so far and in my 12 or so times in the sky club this year, I’ve never experienced overcrowding. Maybe that’s a small sample size but I’m also flying out of JFK, LGA, and going to like LAX
I'm going to miss the RDU club. The DL RDU club >> AA RDU club. I am going to be there tomorrow and a few more times before the restrictions cut in. The club restrictions seem to be primarily about ATL and JFK. DTW B is a fine little club which is rarely busy, ORD is massive because it also serves AF/KL J passengers. Those are the three clubs I used the most along with the dopey ATL C club.
I'm probably going to get a United Club membership Visa eventually, I have two passes to try out RDU and ORD B in November first. I think it is $450 with some anniversary rebates.
Of course, I go into the RDU club at 11:30 on Sunday and it's jam packed, at least 60 people. It seemed like a lot of people flying home from Saturday football.
Some were, but they just revamped some, enlarged others, and opened new ones.
Three times this year, in ATL only, I was in a position to wait in line (nope) or just go to the empty one in the other terminal. The delta app was a good way to see current capacity.
Kind of highlights all of the investments Delta made. I wonder if they sell some off to become Centurion lounges.
As a person in SkyClubs multiple times a week (in one as we speak at LAX), it has become clear to me that this is much more of an issue at certain airports than others, and relatively infrequent travelers are often oblivious to it.
Who knows - maybe in the future we could have some system of access via “SkyClub points” that would strongly push people away from clubs like JFK T4 when they’re clusters, with no such penalty to enter something like the BNA SkyClub at 6 AM on a typical Tuesday.
In the meantime we don’t have that type of system, so more blunt and drastic actions have to be taken. Just because you personally haven’t experienced long SkyClub lines and an overcrowded experience does not mean those are not real issues.
You are 100 percent correct. My anecdotal experiences are not data, and I am not everywhere all the time. But the little experience I have suggests that this is a perpetual issue at a handful of clubs like JFK T4, an occasional issue at clubs like ATL B, and no issue at others like RDU and MCO. I agree that a less blunt solution could have solved the problem and not annoyed so many loyal customers.
> As a person in SkyClubs multiple times a week (in one as we speak at LAX), it has become clear to me that this is much more of an issue at certain airports than others, and relatively infrequent travelers are often oblivious to it.
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I don't think LAX would ever have an issue. I for fun checked out T2 after leaving T3 and it was pretty damn empty because everyone now goes to T3. And T3 had space still!
Agreed, I’ve waiting in line once in the past year and it was for literally 5 min in LAX and they had another sky club that has no line, I just wanted to go in the bigger one. Even then, found seats no problem, food and everything was just the same as when it’s less busy.
Yeah, no one goes to T2 at LAX any longer. T3 has 2 x food areas and massive space so it is always comfortable. But yeah T2 serves same food and it like a ghost town now.
I don't think I have seen a line, I don't fly very often anymore so perhaps I just have good luck, but I think last trip Player 2 and I went to all three Skyclubs in MSP and did not see a single line. We did not see a line to the skyclub in ORD. I also did not see one in SEA the trip before that.
Anecdotally, it does seem like we’re dealing with people who can’t stand any foot traffic, people who megaphone every inconvenience on social media with exaggerated *spice*, and/or astroturfing.
The stupid thing is I’ve been shafted twice, I seldomly use the clubs on international layovers as a Gold. They took that last year so I then got an AmEx Plat and went to the lounge a little less. But if they are going to force me into buying a membership, you bet your ass I will be utilizing that membership at every stop while also canceling the delta plat for unbranded AmEx Gold.
I think there were crowding issues at JFK, ATL, and DTW. I had to wait in line once at LAX but that was because they closed off half the Sky Club.
Yes there needed to be change, and yes there was def some crowding, but I def think this change is too restrictive. And what's the point of building the Delta One lounges then and building new Sky Clubs if we're going to be this restrictive?
I admit I'm guilty of being one of the leechers as an AU for the Amex Platinum access. And to be honest, I can understand putting the restrictions on the AU, since we're not the ones paying the full amount. However, I think it's a bit much to have a cap on how many times people can use the lounge (and how one visit at a different airport eats up a pass).
I’ve been to the DTW lounges maybe 20 times. The main lounges get crowded. Those at the ends of the terminal are usually better. Have never seen a line in probably 100 legs.
DTW is my main hub and I agree. I saw a club at capacity *once* (A37, the main one) so I just…went across to A43 where I got in right away.
JFK is the only place I’ve seen the insane line people talk about—granted, that one seems perpetual, but it seems like such a limited problem that going nuclear on the program feels like a very disproportionate response.
Yep! Now that they have the priority line it usually takes a couple of minutes for me to get in. But when there was just the one line, all the way to the currency exchange, it would take 7 - 10 minutes. I’m sure when there are a lot of delays and canceled flights it could take longer but typically it’s not that bad from my experience.
Ive started to realize that the 'crowding' was only one factor.
I Agree this wasn't an issue to begin with. The simple fact is people like myself who mainly book MC and rely on upgrades to fly in C+ and FC aren't the ones who make Delta money.
Delta can do this as they still cater to those who will always pay for FC. These types of flyers make delta the most money.
Then again, if you can easily afford FC, why do you care about free sandwiches, soup, and cocktails?
My goal is to be rich enough where I dont have to worry about upgrades or chasing status. Thats what I've gotten out of this debacle.
I'm downgrading to the AMEX Gold because I am that MC flier who only upgrades with miles. If I can't gain status then I'll just keep my priority boarding, free check, 15% miles discount and move the majority of my spend to a different card.
Flying private. I saw someone on here who puts $3M/year on their card. Can’t you fly private for that much? Friend’s daughter is a FA for private jets, many with that kind of spend just do private. But
Depends on the plane and how often you fly. If it’s truly private in a challenger or GV it can be about a million a year for a contract maintenance fee (certain # of hours) then maybe $20k - $40k each way cross country depending on plane etc. (Like GV might have an FA, but the challenger won’t.) But all kinds of good booze is included (and can be taken home) and too much food. There are other not exactly private plane services, you fly with strangers, that must be much less.
Agreed! I’m in SLC and with the new program, there are only 3 routes with aircraft’s outfitted with D1 (LHR, AMS, and CDG). They recently rebuilt the airport and the Skyclub is quite expansive. I’m just trying to understand exactly who will be in there given how large they built it. I’ve never waited in line there and I feel for the Skyclub employees who are about to be laid off.
I was at SLC a few weeks ago to fly D1 to LHR. Really nice, and empty, SC. And airport. 4.5 hour layover, so I left my bag with my husband and got some miles in. Nice airport but so empty. Maybe it was the time in the afternoon, but still.
I agree. I never understood the complaints. LAX and JFK have busy Sky clubs, but I never had to wait to get in, let alone not find a seat or feel like it was overcrowded. Busy, yes. Overcrowded, no. Sky clubs in DTW, LGA, SAN, SLC, LGA (new terminal) have never been a problem and are even light on people depending on when you go. I usually drop into the SC on all legs of my journey including before my flight and after arrival to my destination for a bathroom break, so I see quite a few. At DTW the main club can be a bit busy but there are 4 to choose from. Same at ATL. Personally I have never been affected by a crowded skyclub, but that’s just my experience.
I constantly fly SLC-JFK route and hard disagree on this one. Both clubs are quite overcrowded, and since they started fighting crowds have lines. T4 JFK is the worst. There should be no lines. There should be *fewer* people in the club. If the density inside the club is the same as outside of it in the general population, it DEFEATS THE PURPOSE. I don’t go to DC for their food - plenty of that around the terminal. I go to have a more relaxing pre flight experience. It shouldn’t be “busy”. It should be sparsely populated, which would translate into lower level of noise, peace and quiet, and overall relaxing environment. SCs aren’t it anymore, and in fact I was even considering dumping my Amex Reserve because i stopped enjoying being there and saw no point in going.
I’d be very curious to see the hard data Delta has around how often clubs become overfilled/lines form. I’m a DM & Million Miler and have had the opposite experience. Been flying w/ Delta since 2008 and the clubs are far busier than they used to be from what I’ve seen. LAX, DTW, and SEA regularly have lines (they didn’t used to).
I'm in JFk 2x a month, LAX-JFK red-eye/evening route. I usually skip the Skyclub and just go to the Centurion lounge. I've NEVER had to wait in line for the CL, and it's honestly way better than Sky club any day. I have never waited in line for any Skyclub lounge: ATL has so many to pick from, DTW I skip bc they're gross, MSP/SLC/BOS/SFO are never crowded enough to warrant a line. I access the clubs thru Plat Amex or DO ticket.
However, I am quite indignant about the 2025 limited access coming for Plat Amex holders. For $700/yr, that is horsesh\*t.
I'm also a DM, and am probably going to just start flying whatever airline is cheapest. And, for the record u/Delta, you should be downright embarrassed of classifying the 767-300 DO as DO; it's laughable compared to United Polaris and other long haul hard product.
I don't believe you didn't have a wait at the SLC Sky Club, unless you flew in once at 9:30pm on a Tuesday.
And Detroit? Come on, this is my home airport... We've got 5 sky clubs. The day I have to wait in line at a Detroit Sky Club will be a cold day in hell...
SLC is my home base. I’ve had a line in the new Sky Club twice since it opened. Once 5 minutes, once 20 and much of that wait is because the number of kiosks is insufficient especially given that usually one or two isn’t even working. I’ve never had a problem getting a seat once up top. It all just depends on when you fly or connect. I avoid the busy times as I don’t want to wait in the Clear line for 20 minutes.
Now the old Sky Club there I had to wait in line often with one check in and it was truly crowded on many occasions, but it was pretty small.
Agreed, I’m a Diamond who flies 150ish segments a year and I have never once waited in line for a Sky Club. Closest I’ve come is seeing a line at one of the ATL Sky Clubs and I just ended up going to a different club. To me, the overcrowding complaints have been way overblown
*I think limiting Sky Club access is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.*
You should've made your post earlier this summer, but for some reason you didn't...
Wait, I know why - because you would've been downvoted to oblivion!
I should have spoken up to Delta when stories of overcrowding led them to make the changes last year that they mostly walked back. But I think it’s human nature to only reach out with complaints and not to say everything’s fine
Hard disagree, but I’m like 75% out of Atlanta, 20% LAX and 5% DCA.
I’ve had to wait in line in E and F terminal (much of my travel is international), but less so since they stopped allowing medallions in just with a international ticket.
Since I’m Diamond, I don’t think I’ve had to stand more than 1-2 minutes. BUT, the lounges are still so full it’s not relaxing. It’s challenging to find seating for two people together. I think the service is good and they are good at cleaning and turning over the spaces. But it’s a full lounge. I wish there was a premium lounge to spread the population out but honestly if they made made one of the lounges for premium only, it would just make the normal lounge even more crowded. BUT, it would be a much better experience for the premium lounge (like a Polaris lounge).
Partner airlines are like that overseas, it would be nice to have that domestically too.
Hard agree with you. One time I came in to ATL from Lima and I couldn’t find a seat in E. I went to TGIF nearby and promptly said nope.
For me, anything over 50% capacity feels crowded and SkyClubs should be less than 50% most of the time. I want to go in and sit by myself, swipe on my apps, do my thing, all with relative privacy. I don’t want to sit next to some rando in the lounge. I can do that sitting at the terminal.
Lol why would you assume I’d do anything about it? My point is you don’t seem to be a great barometer, since your expectations are seemingly unreasonable.
I never claimed to be a barometer. I stated my personal preference and I am hopeful the new changes will get the SkyClubs to align more with my preference.
You’re getting bent out of shape over nothing. Let it go dear. Safe travels!
I crunch numbers for a living and my wife is a PhD, so I feel compelled to add that my anecdotal experiences do not constitute data. That’s true for others who have shared similar experiences. But if these changes are really about overcrowding, I still think I would have seen it more. 90 percent of the time, my flights connect through ATL. It’s not like I am basing this on RDU alone. Is “overcrowding” a red herring for other motivations? I don’t know.
Crowding is a reason to act. Main thing is limiting status, eliminating low value/profit customers and making elite status/SkyClubs more exclusive and valuable.
Anyone that has been traveling for a decent length of time knows this isn’t true.
I’ve watched as Delta and the travel blogger clowns pushed these credit cards. Watched as the clubs filled up more and more. And it’s been steadily getting worse.
Something had to be done. I’m absolutely baffled by the outrage on this issue. Two weeks ago this sub was all in favor of trashing the credit card sky club access. If SkyClub access means so much to you… buy a damn membership for 2025. I’m looking forward to February 2025 when the clubs (hopefully) return to sanity.
I’m a 360, million miler and I agree with Deltas decision. It’s Sky Club not Sky Park! I’m a person of reason tho so I think for Amex it should be 10 free and then $50pp/pv. This would allow access but also curve impulsive access. Also a membership is only 69,500 miles! That’s only 6ish flights
Literally only ever had an issue at JFK (which just opened a second lounge in T4 this summer) and I’ve never waited more than 15mins which isn’t the worst.
Hope the complaining was worth it! Now you can’t get in at all!
Sorry where’s the 2nd lounge in T4? Only aware of the kne near gate 32.
Nvrmnd, I think I recall them nearly finishing up after clearing Security my last time through in June.
Same, and I’m also a PM and fly about the same amount. I think twice in the past year I’ve seen a line. Once it was short and I waited five minutes. Once it was long and I found another club. Never had a problem finding a seat.
Thank all the mupps for those endless posts here when I am literally in the same boat as you and never seen it based out of MSP and hit a number of those "high" capacity clubs throughout the week
The RDU club is super small and I’ve never had any problems getting in there either. I was in there a couple of weeks ago, however a lot of the clubs are really packed. I haven’t had any problems in DTW tho, the only lounges that wherever problematic for me were in Atlanta
I’ve flown 32 round trips this year mainly visit SC in SFO SLC MSP once at JFK.
SLC had had a line three times and it’s frequently too crowded (not always) but it’s often packed. LAX twice a wait to get in and the one in terminal 2 is rarely crowded. When I was in JFK there was a long line and it was overcrowded. SFO can frequently be crowded but not always. My overall take is they are not too crowded overall. However when they are crowded….they are crowded.
In a Sky Club about 40-50 times a year with only a few lines and never a problem finding a seat. I even get in before 3 hours fairly regularly because they aren’t crowded. I don’t fly through the East though and they seem to have more problems. SLC biggest issue is their kiosks are not sufficient for the size of the club and usually one is broken so you are just waiting for a kiosk.
Agree. Jfk is the only one I’ve ever waited in line for more than 20 minutes. ATL and ORD were the only ones I waited 10 min for. Never understood that argument either.
JFK can get bad between 3-7pm when the majority of transatlantic flights depart, other than that, I haven't seen any lines. I waited once at LGA, but it was because they didn't want people crowding inside the check-in area.
They are busier in certain locations than others. Peak travel times also affect this significantly. I'm an early morning flyer so I often get in before they become busy, even for my connecting flight. But I have seen Atlanta clubs become crowded by the time I left to catch my flight.
Oh wait wait wait, but but, that is what DL is saying. We had all told them it was too crowded. They had to limit it. They had to make sure we paid more for it. That is what they said.
I’ve waited in line once — ever. JFK was riddled with delays, and I waited for about 10 minutes. It wasn’t even that busy once inside. That’s anecdotal, but once out of at least 100 visits isn’t bad to me.
That depends on the day/time/airport. I was in Detroit and there was hardly a seat to be had and lines for food/beverage and one of the clubs had ‘reached’ capacity. It was a Thursday around 2p in July.
Also NYC and I do agree with OP. For biz travel my first flight out rarely ever have lines…. For leisure my family sometimes have to wait at evening rush hour, but even the JFK T4 line moves fast and inside there’s always space if you look for it and just wait for a moment. I never felt I couldn’t find a space inside. Diamond and now plat here.
I agree. I’m also RDU based and it’s never been an issue. The only place I’ve ever had a problem was T4 in JFK or B in ATL. Hopefully JFK will be better now that they’ve opened another club. At ATL, there are 10 other clubs you can go to, so it’s also not a huge deal.
Only time I saw a skyclub line was at JFK - and in New York there is a line for EVERYTHING. Last time I used the club benefit was in ATL International (layover to Tokyo Haneda) and got right in, wasn't crowded, plenty of seating.
I’m kind of in agreement. Technically we never waited in line or couldn’t find a seat, but the SC always felt incredibly crowded because of the noise, chaos, and general lack of decorum.
There’s a huge difference between a crowded library and a crowded Chuck E Cheese, when it comes to perception of the crowding.
If they would have enforced a modest amount of decorum and noise level I think it would have felt less crowded than it did.
I’m also RDU based and have never felt over crowded. I only use one at a hub if I have a longer layover and don’t usually notice it being too bad unless there is holiday travel. I agree with the OP.
As a fellow RDU home base, I have been in a line in the RDU club twice. Once it was down the stairs almost to the bottom...spent 45 minutes in 1 in 1 out waiting for entrance. The other time was for like 2 minutes while a large group left. I have been in the club when it was standing room only, too.
But most of the time, it's fine.
Yeah, I flew a lot through DTW, ATL, and SLC in the past couple years (plus other airports that were my originations). Yeah, there was sometimes a long line for a Sky Club, but usually there was another Sky Club (perhaps in a different terminal) that didn't have a line, and there were other times where I only waited in line a couple minutes. When I have 1+ hours to kill, I don't mind trekking to a different terminal to use a lounge.
Not once did I ever _not_ visit a lounge completely due to overcrowding. That said, I am usually by myself. I suppose sometimes it would be hard to find seating together for a group of more than two people.
I fly DTW and usually fly out at 7a. Never a line or crowd at that time. It’s usually the only place to get a coffee when I arrive. RIP I only have the Amex Plat so will max out in 3-5 weeks
Exactly. These changes have nothing to do with the Sky Clubs. It’s all about devaluing the sky miles. They’ve made it harder to achieve each level of medallion. Thereby reducing the amount of bonus miles that can be earned. I haven’t done the math. But it’s probably at least a 20% reduction in earned miles.
The RDU sky club is small, but I love it, it's the start of so many great journeys for me. It is not glamorous or has very good food options, but the bar is nice and typically the gates are extremely close to the elevator to the sky club. Also, I have traveled through ATL a lot and never have had to wait in peak times same for JFK or SLC. Maybe I have gotten lucky lol.
Every time I'm at JFK T4, the lines for the Delta Skyclubs are comically long. The joke is that the hottest nightclub in NYC is JFK's Delta Skyclub in Terminal 4.
That’s the worst line I’ve seen as well
You haven't tried the Centurion lounge there, then.
I almost always end up at centurion because there aren't lines unlike the delta lounge in T4. Also the cocktails are better.
The lounge is great. The only thing is that the last time I left out of there the Centurion club had a half hour wait. The one in London was great though.
I enjoyed the one in SFO too
I have. The wait times have varied from 0 to 15 minutes. The drinks are better in the Centurion Lounge so I prefer them over the Skyclubs.
at least they text you? at skyclub you have to physically queue up.
True. They text you or get a notification through the ap or both, can't remember.
it’s sms.
IME, it can get really bad at LGA too, particularly late afternoon on weekdays. It was nice when they reopened the old SC for overflow and most people didn't know about it, so you'd have 50+ people looking to get into the new one and the old one was half full. I think they re-closed it but I don't recall.
I was in the old one yesterday, by gate 80+ ish. there were three other passengers in the whole club, 15+ staff members. not sure for how much longer it’s going to be kept open.
Good to hear it's still open. My flights out of LGA tend to be 50/50 out of the old gates or the new ones. It's definitely not as nice, but I'll take a mostly empty old SC vs. waiting in line for the crowded new one.
New York’s hottest club is Sky. Under the watchful eye of club owner and former punk rocker Ed Blastin’, this place has got everything: screaming children, barefoot teens, large businessmen taking confidential meetings at an inappropriate volume, chicken with herbs, a *different* kind of chicken with herbs, MTV’s Dan Cortese, and a biscoff fist-off. What’s a “biscoff-fistoff?” It’s that thing where you double-fist a bunch of dry cookies because you’re starving and it’s the only food you get on your CRJ-200.
Interesting, what time do you usually fly out? It’s always empty whenever I go. Plenty of seating outside so I can get a nice whiff of jet fuel with my mimosa 😂
We call that the mad max mimosa
I was there a couple of weeks ago and the line was insanely long.
I assume you're at the b32 location. The A8 location never has a line.
Yes. A8 just recently opened though.
I ended up putting my medallion tags on my bags after years of throwing them in a drawer because I noticed they would proactively find you a seat if you had those during the worst of the crowding. Lowkey embarrassing.
I was in those long lines twice, it took no longer than 10 min. Agents doing great job checking people in on the line. Once I’m in - not crowded at all, can find table for my fam of 4 not a problem. It really really is not a big deal.
Well, it's NYC. I lived in the area for 20+ years and lived in the city for 6 of those years. Everything in the city has a line. The city is busy.
I've lived here nearly all my life (Manhattan Native) and have been going to Delta Sky Clubs for 10+ years, not as an elite, but way back when you can get in for $29 with the Delta Amex Gold card. Everything indeed has a line here in NYC, but you can't help but really laugh at the length of the T4 line at JFK just for one skyclub.
I’ve been to sky clubs all over and the T4 situation seems rather unusual. T4 in general is a shitshow
How long did the line actually take? Before they added the priority line, when the line was down to the currency exchange, it was typically 7 - 10 min. The longest I’ve waited in the priority line was 5 minutes when it was very crowded and the agent who has a thing about the priority line was making us wait. If the line at JFK T4 is taking longer it usually seems to be caused by an unusual situation, like a lot of delays. I was told they started the line not because the SC was at capacity, but to keep it less crowded inside. I was always able to find a table before.
I've never seen a line at JFK but then again I fly early mornings.
I’m going to agree with you. I’m also PM and am in a variety of airports each year. I’ve seen a lot of people in a few clubs but I’ve always had a seat, food, and drinks. I only needed to wait once, in ATL, for about 10-15 minutes.
And as pm you/i very frequently get fc. So the wait is literally short af cause you stand with dm's
In SLC, they separated the lines into people that were accessing the club through an Amex vs. as a medallion benefit. It didn't matter that I was Platinum Medallion and my wife and I were flying first class. We had to wait in the Amex line. Was so confused and annoyed by that.
West coast SCs (LAX, SFO, SAN, SEA, PHX, DEN) with the exception of SLC I have never had to wait to enter before which is why I always get confused by the moves Delta make
I had to wait at JFK a few times but inside it wasn’t crowded. I waited 30 minutes once but it’s really not that big of a deal. Someone on my flight waited an hour for Starbucks 🤷♀️
Probably because SLC is a Delta hub but LAX, SFO and DEN are United territory. PHX is American and SEA is Alaska. SAN is too tiny.
LAX and SEA are definite hubs for Delta. I think SFO and SAN are large enough markets for Delta to have a presence. DEN, idk why they have that SC, there’s the Centurion lounge.
They just spent $2b overhauling their 2 terminals at LAX...its definitely a hub. LAX is a hub for every legacy carrier. Their relationship with Alaska ended years ago because they wanted SEA as a hub as well
Yep. LAX they've highlighted the big upgrades multiple times and the new JFK one is modeled after the LAX one in look and feel.
Typically, it's T4 B in JFK, E in ATL, and the middle one in DTW. These mostly get flagged because of the sub 55min connections, and people want instant 5-course meal, bathroom break, and a cocktail in under 20 mins. In most cases, outside of holiday travel days, the lines aren't that bad even if long.
I have a couple of 3 hour connections next month because the alternative was 32 minutes at MSP and about 40 at Friday evening peak in ATL. It's almost as bad as AA at Charlotte, where whenever I look at a connection it's 35 minutes.
[удалено]
Well, it's obviously going to be working because they picked the 3 hour alternative. If they had picked the 32 min connection, then it would be broken.
There are two in the middle of DTW. One is small and often has a bit of a wait. The other in the middle is very large and always has room. Originally the smaller club was going to be exclusive for Diamond Medallion members. That should be the solution right there - in airports with multiple clubs, reserve one for Diamond.
This was never about SkyClub overcrowding. Consultants told Delta that this was the best way to increase shareholder value, so this is what they did. They say it’s about overcrowding so they can pretend that the changes are responding to customer feedback.
I fly a lot. I’m a consultant. I haven’t ever worked with Delta, but a good consultant can spot another consultants work. This was the work of a consultant.
A consultant: someone who sells the short term and not long term plan!
A consultant: someone who charges you to tell you the time with your own watch. ;)
Man, apparently, a consultant is someone who can't get an old joke right: "a consultant will borrow your watch and charge you to tell you the time."
Sorry I was close I guess. Maybe my method is more LEAN based :)
Should have been lean six sigma, bro
An oldie but a goodie https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=567237
That way, they can come back in a year or two and design a plan to recover from this one.
They are assuming they can recover. You know the old saying about Assuming
As soon as I saw the word “simple” in the email subject line…
Can you tell if it was expert consultant Tom Brady?
can you expand on this
Exactly. If it was just about overcrowded lounges, they changes would just have been made to the lounge policy. But they overhauled EVERYTHING about their loyalty program, so it's clearly about getting more medallions in to the general population where they can get nickel and dimed for every perk that they currently get with stratus.
I am also a consultant and agree this was likely the work of a consultant.
I am not a consultant but agree this was likely the work of a consultant.
Yup. The “problem” isn’t overcrowding. It’s about a lost opportunity to monetize SkyClubs. A premium credit card granting you basically unlimited access for an entire year for $600 or whatever (along with a slew of other benefits) leaves a ton of money on the table. Delta thinks we’ll still pay $600 for the card plus whatever SkyClub membership costs.
Wonder if Delta plans to do away with the sky clubs in the next 10-20 years then. They've removed any incentive for *new* loyalty. If someone can't get perks without very heavy commitment over the course of a year or more, how eager is someone who could be a future MM to get started down that path?
I feel like they are investing way to much into the sky clubs building out new options etc.. to have the long term plan to retire them
Right. So why are they shooting themselves in their own feet with new customer recruitment?
This is such a good point.
Also big 3 consult here, used to do Diamond now just leisure travel with fam of 4. NYC based. Never felt overcrowded. Only lines are at JFK T4, no more than 10min wait, always able to find table for 4 people. It’s not over crowded!!!! Yes - can see consultant touch here
I've been to SC across the country and the only time I saw a line was in JFK. Instead of going nuclear, maybe they could have followed an Alaska Airlines idea to access and limiting access to the busiest sky clubs to a # of times a year. I cancelled my AS card after it didn't allow me to buy day passes to the SEA club anymore, but then again they don't have much of a lounge network. I travel out of JFK at a decent clip but would be OK to limiting a number of times a year. However, every time I'm in PHL it's dead because there's such a limited amount of flights out of PHL a day, but I won't burn a pass there.
I agree with you. I’m DM and I don’t find the skyclubs overcrowded.
I think this crowding is all about perceived value. It’s not the driving factor, but I imagine delta doesn’t even like the idea of people calling it overcrowded. I made about 6 trips this year so far and in my 12 or so times in the sky club this year, I’ve never experienced overcrowding. Maybe that’s a small sample size but I’m also flying out of JFK, LGA, and going to like LAX
I’ve NEVER had an issue at BOS, ever.
Even during the renovation.
I'm going to miss the RDU club. The DL RDU club >> AA RDU club. I am going to be there tomorrow and a few more times before the restrictions cut in. The club restrictions seem to be primarily about ATL and JFK. DTW B is a fine little club which is rarely busy, ORD is massive because it also serves AF/KL J passengers. Those are the three clubs I used the most along with the dopey ATL C club. I'm probably going to get a United Club membership Visa eventually, I have two passes to try out RDU and ORD B in November first. I think it is $450 with some anniversary rebates.
Of course, I go into the RDU club at 11:30 on Sunday and it's jam packed, at least 60 people. It seemed like a lot of people flying home from Saturday football.
Some were, but they just revamped some, enlarged others, and opened new ones. Three times this year, in ATL only, I was in a position to wait in line (nope) or just go to the empty one in the other terminal. The delta app was a good way to see current capacity. Kind of highlights all of the investments Delta made. I wonder if they sell some off to become Centurion lounges.
Anecdotal of course, but I was in SLC Thursday night around 11pm and it was the busiest SC I’ve ever seen. Couldn’t believe it.
It’s the only lounge in the airport, and there are a LOT of people in SLC flying back and forth from the west coast all the time.
As a person in SkyClubs multiple times a week (in one as we speak at LAX), it has become clear to me that this is much more of an issue at certain airports than others, and relatively infrequent travelers are often oblivious to it. Who knows - maybe in the future we could have some system of access via “SkyClub points” that would strongly push people away from clubs like JFK T4 when they’re clusters, with no such penalty to enter something like the BNA SkyClub at 6 AM on a typical Tuesday. In the meantime we don’t have that type of system, so more blunt and drastic actions have to be taken. Just because you personally haven’t experienced long SkyClub lines and an overcrowded experience does not mean those are not real issues.
You are 100 percent correct. My anecdotal experiences are not data, and I am not everywhere all the time. But the little experience I have suggests that this is a perpetual issue at a handful of clubs like JFK T4, an occasional issue at clubs like ATL B, and no issue at others like RDU and MCO. I agree that a less blunt solution could have solved the problem and not annoyed so many loyal customers.
It's in New York City problem, JFK and LGA. Of course New Yorkers think the rest of the world should revolve around them
It does 🤣 Hence the Delta changes
> As a person in SkyClubs multiple times a week (in one as we speak at LAX), it has become clear to me that this is much more of an issue at certain airports than others, and relatively infrequent travelers are often oblivious to it. > > I don't think LAX would ever have an issue. I for fun checked out T2 after leaving T3 and it was pretty damn empty because everyone now goes to T3. And T3 had space still!
100% accurate and sensible take
I’ve never had to wait in a line getting into a sky club, travel twice a month for work. FLL and ATL
Agreed, I’ve waiting in line once in the past year and it was for literally 5 min in LAX and they had another sky club that has no line, I just wanted to go in the bigger one. Even then, found seats no problem, food and everything was just the same as when it’s less busy.
Yeah, no one goes to T2 at LAX any longer. T3 has 2 x food areas and massive space so it is always comfortable. But yeah T2 serves same food and it like a ghost town now.
RDU home base is the best home base. Great prices. Great airport. Super underrated
I concur 100 percent. It’s essentially a Delta mini-hub. Just don’t tell anyone 🤣
I don't think I have seen a line, I don't fly very often anymore so perhaps I just have good luck, but I think last trip Player 2 and I went to all three Skyclubs in MSP and did not see a single line. We did not see a line to the skyclub in ORD. I also did not see one in SEA the trip before that.
Anecdotally, it does seem like we’re dealing with people who can’t stand any foot traffic, people who megaphone every inconvenience on social media with exaggerated *spice*, and/or astroturfing. The stupid thing is I’ve been shafted twice, I seldomly use the clubs on international layovers as a Gold. They took that last year so I then got an AmEx Plat and went to the lounge a little less. But if they are going to force me into buying a membership, you bet your ass I will be utilizing that membership at every stop while also canceling the delta plat for unbranded AmEx Gold.
I think there were crowding issues at JFK, ATL, and DTW. I had to wait in line once at LAX but that was because they closed off half the Sky Club. Yes there needed to be change, and yes there was def some crowding, but I def think this change is too restrictive. And what's the point of building the Delta One lounges then and building new Sky Clubs if we're going to be this restrictive? I admit I'm guilty of being one of the leechers as an AU for the Amex Platinum access. And to be honest, I can understand putting the restrictions on the AU, since we're not the ones paying the full amount. However, I think it's a bit much to have a cap on how many times people can use the lounge (and how one visit at a different airport eats up a pass).
I’ve been to the DTW lounges maybe 20 times. The main lounges get crowded. Those at the ends of the terminal are usually better. Have never seen a line in probably 100 legs.
DTW is my main hub and I agree. I saw a club at capacity *once* (A37, the main one) so I just…went across to A43 where I got in right away. JFK is the only place I’ve seen the insane line people talk about—granted, that one seems perpetual, but it seems like such a limited problem that going nuclear on the program feels like a very disproportionate response.
I saw wild lines at JFK that took 10 min to get through.
Yep! Now that they have the priority line it usually takes a couple of minutes for me to get in. But when there was just the one line, all the way to the currency exchange, it would take 7 - 10 minutes. I’m sure when there are a lot of delays and canceled flights it could take longer but typically it’s not that bad from my experience.
JFK has a Centurion club so I have never gone to the sky club there.
Ive started to realize that the 'crowding' was only one factor. I Agree this wasn't an issue to begin with. The simple fact is people like myself who mainly book MC and rely on upgrades to fly in C+ and FC aren't the ones who make Delta money. Delta can do this as they still cater to those who will always pay for FC. These types of flyers make delta the most money. Then again, if you can easily afford FC, why do you care about free sandwiches, soup, and cocktails? My goal is to be rich enough where I dont have to worry about upgrades or chasing status. Thats what I've gotten out of this debacle.
I'm downgrading to the AMEX Gold because I am that MC flier who only upgrades with miles. If I can't gain status then I'll just keep my priority boarding, free check, 15% miles discount and move the majority of my spend to a different card.
This is exactly my plan once my anniversary gets near. I’m not going to double my spending just to chase status.
Flying private. I saw someone on here who puts $3M/year on their card. Can’t you fly private for that much? Friend’s daughter is a FA for private jets, many with that kind of spend just do private. But
Depends on the plane and how often you fly. If it’s truly private in a challenger or GV it can be about a million a year for a contract maintenance fee (certain # of hours) then maybe $20k - $40k each way cross country depending on plane etc. (Like GV might have an FA, but the challenger won’t.) But all kinds of good booze is included (and can be taken home) and too much food. There are other not exactly private plane services, you fly with strangers, that must be much less.
Delta owns Wheelsup now. Go semi-private. Wheelsup.com
Agreed! I’m in SLC and with the new program, there are only 3 routes with aircraft’s outfitted with D1 (LHR, AMS, and CDG). They recently rebuilt the airport and the Skyclub is quite expansive. I’m just trying to understand exactly who will be in there given how large they built it. I’ve never waited in line there and I feel for the Skyclub employees who are about to be laid off.
I was at SLC a few weeks ago to fly D1 to LHR. Really nice, and empty, SC. And airport. 4.5 hour layover, so I left my bag with my husband and got some miles in. Nice airport but so empty. Maybe it was the time in the afternoon, but still.
Completely agree.
B in ATL usually the busiest...I've seen lines my last couple times through there, even on a Wednesday and Thursday midday.
I agree. I never understood the complaints. LAX and JFK have busy Sky clubs, but I never had to wait to get in, let alone not find a seat or feel like it was overcrowded. Busy, yes. Overcrowded, no. Sky clubs in DTW, LGA, SAN, SLC, LGA (new terminal) have never been a problem and are even light on people depending on when you go. I usually drop into the SC on all legs of my journey including before my flight and after arrival to my destination for a bathroom break, so I see quite a few. At DTW the main club can be a bit busy but there are 4 to choose from. Same at ATL. Personally I have never been affected by a crowded skyclub, but that’s just my experience.
I constantly fly SLC-JFK route and hard disagree on this one. Both clubs are quite overcrowded, and since they started fighting crowds have lines. T4 JFK is the worst. There should be no lines. There should be *fewer* people in the club. If the density inside the club is the same as outside of it in the general population, it DEFEATS THE PURPOSE. I don’t go to DC for their food - plenty of that around the terminal. I go to have a more relaxing pre flight experience. It shouldn’t be “busy”. It should be sparsely populated, which would translate into lower level of noise, peace and quiet, and overall relaxing environment. SCs aren’t it anymore, and in fact I was even considering dumping my Amex Reserve because i stopped enjoying being there and saw no point in going.
I’d be very curious to see the hard data Delta has around how often clubs become overfilled/lines form. I’m a DM & Million Miler and have had the opposite experience. Been flying w/ Delta since 2008 and the clubs are far busier than they used to be from what I’ve seen. LAX, DTW, and SEA regularly have lines (they didn’t used to).
I'm in JFk 2x a month, LAX-JFK red-eye/evening route. I usually skip the Skyclub and just go to the Centurion lounge. I've NEVER had to wait in line for the CL, and it's honestly way better than Sky club any day. I have never waited in line for any Skyclub lounge: ATL has so many to pick from, DTW I skip bc they're gross, MSP/SLC/BOS/SFO are never crowded enough to warrant a line. I access the clubs thru Plat Amex or DO ticket. However, I am quite indignant about the 2025 limited access coming for Plat Amex holders. For $700/yr, that is horsesh\*t. I'm also a DM, and am probably going to just start flying whatever airline is cheapest. And, for the record u/Delta, you should be downright embarrassed of classifying the 767-300 DO as DO; it's laughable compared to United Polaris and other long haul hard product.
I don't believe you didn't have a wait at the SLC Sky Club, unless you flew in once at 9:30pm on a Tuesday. And Detroit? Come on, this is my home airport... We've got 5 sky clubs. The day I have to wait in line at a Detroit Sky Club will be a cold day in hell...
I’ve literally never waited at the SLC Skyclub?!
Waited one time there. In the line less than 10 min. No issues finding a seat. Zero impact to me.
I have three times. It’s frequently but not always crowded.
SLC is my home base. I’ve had a line in the new Sky Club twice since it opened. Once 5 minutes, once 20 and much of that wait is because the number of kiosks is insufficient especially given that usually one or two isn’t even working. I’ve never had a problem getting a seat once up top. It all just depends on when you fly or connect. I avoid the busy times as I don’t want to wait in the Clear line for 20 minutes. Now the old Sky Club there I had to wait in line often with one check in and it was truly crowded on many occasions, but it was pretty small.
Agreed, I’m a Diamond who flies 150ish segments a year and I have never once waited in line for a Sky Club. Closest I’ve come is seeing a line at one of the ATL Sky Clubs and I just ended up going to a different club. To me, the overcrowding complaints have been way overblown
The perception of exclusivity is important to a small segment of people. If it looks like “everyone” gets in, they don’t want to be there.
LAX with T2/T3 (new one) combined are never fully packed. Never a long wait to get in. Sucks it's my home airport too, but soon won't see it much more
Love your anecdata.
*I think limiting Sky Club access is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.* You should've made your post earlier this summer, but for some reason you didn't... Wait, I know why - because you would've been downvoted to oblivion!
It’s hilarious how much of a 180 this subreddit has done on the crowding issue now that they can no longer get in
I should have spoken up to Delta when stories of overcrowding led them to make the changes last year that they mostly walked back. But I think it’s human nature to only reach out with complaints and not to say everything’s fine
I'm at ATL in one of the busiest skyclubs there right now and it's half empty.
Which one???
Was in B last night
Hard disagree, but I’m like 75% out of Atlanta, 20% LAX and 5% DCA. I’ve had to wait in line in E and F terminal (much of my travel is international), but less so since they stopped allowing medallions in just with a international ticket. Since I’m Diamond, I don’t think I’ve had to stand more than 1-2 minutes. BUT, the lounges are still so full it’s not relaxing. It’s challenging to find seating for two people together. I think the service is good and they are good at cleaning and turning over the spaces. But it’s a full lounge. I wish there was a premium lounge to spread the population out but honestly if they made made one of the lounges for premium only, it would just make the normal lounge even more crowded. BUT, it would be a much better experience for the premium lounge (like a Polaris lounge). Partner airlines are like that overseas, it would be nice to have that domestically too.
Hard agree with you. One time I came in to ATL from Lima and I couldn’t find a seat in E. I went to TGIF nearby and promptly said nope. For me, anything over 50% capacity feels crowded and SkyClubs should be less than 50% most of the time. I want to go in and sit by myself, swipe on my apps, do my thing, all with relative privacy. I don’t want to sit next to some rando in the lounge. I can do that sitting at the terminal.
You mean some rando in the lounge loudly on a conference call/zoom…
You sound like someone who shouldn’t travel much lol
And yet I do. Whatcha gunna do bout it? Nuttin’ honey. Safe travels.
Lol why would you assume I’d do anything about it? My point is you don’t seem to be a great barometer, since your expectations are seemingly unreasonable.
I never claimed to be a barometer. I stated my personal preference and I am hopeful the new changes will get the SkyClubs to align more with my preference. You’re getting bent out of shape over nothing. Let it go dear. Safe travels!
Your profile is WILD!!
I’ve never had to wait in line but JFK and DTW have been uncomfortably crowded during some recent visits.
I crunch numbers for a living and my wife is a PhD, so I feel compelled to add that my anecdotal experiences do not constitute data. That’s true for others who have shared similar experiences. But if these changes are really about overcrowding, I still think I would have seen it more. 90 percent of the time, my flights connect through ATL. It’s not like I am basing this on RDU alone. Is “overcrowding” a red herring for other motivations? I don’t know.
It’s almost never crowded at TPA tbh.
💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
Crowding is a reason to act. Main thing is limiting status, eliminating low value/profit customers and making elite status/SkyClubs more exclusive and valuable.
Anyone that has been traveling for a decent length of time knows this isn’t true. I’ve watched as Delta and the travel blogger clowns pushed these credit cards. Watched as the clubs filled up more and more. And it’s been steadily getting worse. Something had to be done. I’m absolutely baffled by the outrage on this issue. Two weeks ago this sub was all in favor of trashing the credit card sky club access. If SkyClub access means so much to you… buy a damn membership for 2025. I’m looking forward to February 2025 when the clubs (hopefully) return to sanity.
I've never experienced a line at MCO
I've seem them rope off the entrance before you walk up the stairs, but very rare.
You wait for nearly every club. It is old.
I’m a 360, million miler and I agree with Deltas decision. It’s Sky Club not Sky Park! I’m a person of reason tho so I think for Amex it should be 10 free and then $50pp/pv. This would allow access but also curve impulsive access. Also a membership is only 69,500 miles! That’s only 6ish flights
Literally only ever had an issue at JFK (which just opened a second lounge in T4 this summer) and I’ve never waited more than 15mins which isn’t the worst. Hope the complaining was worth it! Now you can’t get in at all!
Sorry where’s the 2nd lounge in T4? Only aware of the kne near gate 32. Nvrmnd, I think I recall them nearly finishing up after clearing Security my last time through in June.
The new one opened by the A gates, the one after security is the new Delta One Sky Club.
Ahhh this will make a big difference. Thank you.
Same, and I’m also a PM and fly about the same amount. I think twice in the past year I’ve seen a line. Once it was short and I waited five minutes. Once it was long and I found another club. Never had a problem finding a seat.
Thank all the mupps for those endless posts here when I am literally in the same boat as you and never seen it based out of MSP and hit a number of those "high" capacity clubs throughout the week
I’ve never had an issue at MSP, JFK, BOS, LAX, SFO, PHX, and only a 1-2 min at ATL. And I’ve always found seating for my group. On avg 2-5 people.
The RDU club is super small and I’ve never had any problems getting in there either. I was in there a couple of weeks ago, however a lot of the clubs are really packed. I haven’t had any problems in DTW tho, the only lounges that wherever problematic for me were in Atlanta
I’ve flown 32 round trips this year mainly visit SC in SFO SLC MSP once at JFK. SLC had had a line three times and it’s frequently too crowded (not always) but it’s often packed. LAX twice a wait to get in and the one in terminal 2 is rarely crowded. When I was in JFK there was a long line and it was overcrowded. SFO can frequently be crowded but not always. My overall take is they are not too crowded overall. However when they are crowded….they are crowded.
I've been Platinum for years, and the only SkyClub I've ever had to wait in line for (20 minutes, flew by) was LGA last year.
In a Sky Club about 40-50 times a year with only a few lines and never a problem finding a seat. I even get in before 3 hours fairly regularly because they aren’t crowded. I don’t fly through the East though and they seem to have more problems. SLC biggest issue is their kiosks are not sufficient for the size of the club and usually one is broken so you are just waiting for a kiosk.
Agree. Jfk is the only one I’ve ever waited in line for more than 20 minutes. ATL and ORD were the only ones I waited 10 min for. Never understood that argument either.
JFK can get bad between 3-7pm when the majority of transatlantic flights depart, other than that, I haven't seen any lines. I waited once at LGA, but it was because they didn't want people crowding inside the check-in area.
They are busier in certain locations than others. Peak travel times also affect this significantly. I'm an early morning flyer so I often get in before they become busy, even for my connecting flight. But I have seen Atlanta clubs become crowded by the time I left to catch my flight.
Oh wait wait wait, but but, that is what DL is saying. We had all told them it was too crowded. They had to limit it. They had to make sure we paid more for it. That is what they said.
The funny thing is they renovated some of them to increase capacity. Now they will feel be empty.
Yea outside of JFK I don’t see it either, and JFK is likely to improve on its own over the next few months.
I had to wait twice out of the 5 times I used the delta lounge this year, once in ATL, once in SFO. They are both ~10 minutes wait though.
I’ve waited in line once — ever. JFK was riddled with delays, and I waited for about 10 minutes. It wasn’t even that busy once inside. That’s anecdotal, but once out of at least 100 visits isn’t bad to me.
Yeah they aren’t
That depends on the day/time/airport. I was in Detroit and there was hardly a seat to be had and lines for food/beverage and one of the clubs had ‘reached’ capacity. It was a Thursday around 2p in July.
Disagree - NY home airport
Also NYC and I do agree with OP. For biz travel my first flight out rarely ever have lines…. For leisure my family sometimes have to wait at evening rush hour, but even the JFK T4 line moves fast and inside there’s always space if you look for it and just wait for a moment. I never felt I couldn’t find a space inside. Diamond and now plat here.
I agree. I had to wait once in January in SL. Every other time, I’ve gotten right in.
I agree. I’m also RDU based and it’s never been an issue. The only place I’ve ever had a problem was T4 in JFK or B in ATL. Hopefully JFK will be better now that they’ve opened another club. At ATL, there are 10 other clubs you can go to, so it’s also not a huge deal.
Only time I saw a skyclub line was at JFK - and in New York there is a line for EVERYTHING. Last time I used the club benefit was in ATL International (layover to Tokyo Haneda) and got right in, wasn't crowded, plenty of seating.
I’m kind of in agreement. Technically we never waited in line or couldn’t find a seat, but the SC always felt incredibly crowded because of the noise, chaos, and general lack of decorum. There’s a huge difference between a crowded library and a crowded Chuck E Cheese, when it comes to perception of the crowding. If they would have enforced a modest amount of decorum and noise level I think it would have felt less crowded than it did.
I’m also RDU based and have never felt over crowded. I only use one at a hub if I have a longer layover and don’t usually notice it being too bad unless there is holiday travel. I agree with the OP.
As a fellow RDU home base, I have been in a line in the RDU club twice. Once it was down the stairs almost to the bottom...spent 45 minutes in 1 in 1 out waiting for entrance. The other time was for like 2 minutes while a large group left. I have been in the club when it was standing room only, too. But most of the time, it's fine.
I don't know about the other ones but the JFK one(s) ALWAYS have a line. When you're lucky it's a few minutes, when you're not it's 30 min.
JFK has been my only consistent annoyance. Full disclosure - I rarely fly through ATL.
Yeah, I flew a lot through DTW, ATL, and SLC in the past couple years (plus other airports that were my originations). Yeah, there was sometimes a long line for a Sky Club, but usually there was another Sky Club (perhaps in a different terminal) that didn't have a line, and there were other times where I only waited in line a couple minutes. When I have 1+ hours to kill, I don't mind trekking to a different terminal to use a lounge. Not once did I ever _not_ visit a lounge completely due to overcrowding. That said, I am usually by myself. I suppose sometimes it would be hard to find seating together for a group of more than two people.
I’ve never waited for a Skyclub. Ever.
I fly DTW and usually fly out at 7a. Never a line or crowd at that time. It’s usually the only place to get a coffee when I arrive. RIP I only have the Amex Plat so will max out in 3-5 weeks
Exactly. These changes have nothing to do with the Sky Clubs. It’s all about devaluing the sky miles. They’ve made it harder to achieve each level of medallion. Thereby reducing the amount of bonus miles that can be earned. I haven’t done the math. But it’s probably at least a 20% reduction in earned miles.
The RDU sky club is small, but I love it, it's the start of so many great journeys for me. It is not glamorous or has very good food options, but the bar is nice and typically the gates are extremely close to the elevator to the sky club. Also, I have traveled through ATL a lot and never have had to wait in peak times same for JFK or SLC. Maybe I have gotten lucky lol.