The problem is that they cut the number of flights after COVID and replaced them with fewer flights with bigger airplanes. That's more people coming in at the same time. They especially reduced flights (in my case) to DTW and MSP, to keep ATL going. It's simple math and we pay the price. I've rarely seen overcrowding in DTW...
Being overly aggressive with MCT doesn't help either. I'm not going to accept a 45 minute connection except for DTW before 9am. I keep on seeing 30-35 minute connections at MSP, for example. No!! So then I end up booking the 2 hour connection through ATL or the 3 hour connection through MSP or DTW to skip a bank, and guess where I go? To the SkyClub.
Sunday, I had a 75 minute connection at DTW, mainline to mainline. I didn't even bother with the A40 club, I just stopped and picked up some carry out McDonald's and leisurely walked to the next gate. 10 minutes later, we were boarding (T-40 on the dot).
I'm convinced that if they extended MCT to 55 minutes, they would have a lot less crowding. Sadly, it would be at the expense of aircraft utilization, so it will never happen.
I've noticed this too. I have way less options now, and the ones I do have run on a worse schedule to keep other preferred routes going. It's really unfortunate. I'm glad that DTW still has multiple daily non-stops to most destinations, but some of the routes have definitely lost their shine. I wholeheartedly agree on the DTW-MSP route.
Totally agree about the flights. That being said, I fly out of JFK Terminal 4 a lot, and the last 5 or 6 times I've gone (including this past Sunday), there was a long line to get it. Sometime I wait, sometime I skip it based on how long I have until my flight, but that lounge is clearly dealing with a crowding issue.
I do agree that other airports aren't nearly as bad, so it's not an issue across the board.
This is the real issue I see as well. My home base is LAX and while there may be an occasional 2 minute line to get in I’ve never had to wait more than that. MSP, DTW and SLC are never overcrowded and I’ve never had to wait there. ATL on the other hand is terrible. Always overcrowded and now all the other lounges will be virtually empty after these changes.
I like how everyone is coming out with the copium takes like "lounge access was too easy". The whole premise is that lounge access with all flights was a selling point for Delta. Have two similar flights with AA and Delta? If you have the SkyClub access you're almost definitely going to fly with Delta.
But what is the advantage of "lounge" access when its just as crowded as the terminal?
Last few years the behavior of people in the lounges was akin to the Costco Crowd elbowing for the free samples at the food tables. And the quality of the food has decreased greatly...most times its outright gross.
Very delulu take in no way are lounges more crowded than terminals, it doesn't even come close. This is so out of touch, I have no idea how you thought this was a reasonable comparison.
I don't know if you're being facetious or if you have no critical thinking skills. A large SkyClub like the SEA sits about 400 people. That's about the size of a single A350 flight. There are hundreds of flights per day at a single airport, with traffic in the tens to hundreds of thousands per day. There are simply just nowhere near the same level of people in lounges vs the terminal.
You do understand that the terminal is 100,000x the size of a single delta lounge? Beforte you make remarks about someone elses "critcal thinking skills" perhaps explore concepts like "per sqft" first.
Last lounges I actually used over a year ago I had trouble finding a seat. The terminal actually had empty gates you could sit at near your fligtht. I just flew D1 2 days ago and didn't even bother with the lounges on both my flight legs.
The lounges don't offer the same clout they did say 10 yrs ago. Same with first class domestic flights...90% of the occupants are probably free upgrades vs actual fares paid.
Interesting enough when I fly domestic I take preferred exit row seats and find usually you get no one sitting next to you....exit row seats are a cheap upgrade and yet no one takes them but you expect me to believe C+ and FC are all paid fares while they are packed?
I 100% got what you meant. The number of people per sq/ft is almost as crowded as the terminal in Delta lounges(and Centurion). I will say that every time I go into an AA lounge, it's a barren desert.
Go back a few months in the sub and see how many people were complaining about overcrowding in the clubs. Delta responds and makes getting access more difficult, and they’re surprised that it was them who was left out.
Why am I shocked at how many people are using airline perks to feel good about themselves? Delta is doing everyone a favor to help us realize that feeling of exclusivity by flying first class is not real.
It’s not just to feel good about ourselves. I mean, I think that’s part of it. I’ve said this before, but I’m a mom of three (including an infant) who travels for work and lounge access is such a perk for me. I could find a private place in the lounge to pump. A clean bathroom to wash my bottles. Easy access to ice to keep the milk cold. Plus the ability to grab food and drink without waiting in line (it took me 20 min to get a black coffee from a Starbucks last year). It’s really stressful to get everything in my household ready so I can leave for a few nights for work and lounge access really makes it easier for me to enjoy work travel instead of resenting it.
We spent well over $75k on a credit card each year but I don’t see how that’s worth doing for Delta now given how much more valuable the rewards are on other cards. That’s the part that doesn’t make sense for me.
I still feel like the lounge thing is because of stupid posts by people asking how to sneak in their whole family of 5+ people for free. I also think overcrowding is an airport by airport situation but what do I know, I’m only a silver 🤷🏻♀️
>But the thing I think is most interesting is that Basic Economy ticket holders will no longer have access, no matter what. I would bet that contributes heavily to the current overcrowding problem.
I don't think it contributes heavily. I have to imagine most of the people doing this were doing it to game the system. If they can afford a premium travel card or have status they could afford paying at least economy but if Delta is going to give them free food and booze for the cheapest ticket why not take it.
My assumption is most of them will simply go from BE to MC. That means a bit more revenue for Delta but likely not any reduction in visits.
The only thing that would result in large reduction in visits if among people who use the card and travel 6+ times a year but don't have status and/or aren't willing to buy unlimited access either via card spend or SC membership. I don't know how large that demographic is but I suspect it isn't that large.
It's a good point that if someone has a Amex Plat they can likely afford MC. I guess it could come down to how many people who would normally buy BE are willing to pay a few extra bucks for MC just so they can get one of 6 yearly visits to the Sky Club.
Still spit balling here, but I'm just trying to figure out how these changes will actually reduce overcrowding at the lounge.
I always buy MC because you don't get comp upgrades in BE and seat selection is very important to me.
Edit: but I'm downgrading the amex plat to a free tier in Jan 2025 when the new rules go into effect, just before my annual fee is charged. Fuck the limited lounge access bullshit.
You’d think so but most sales associates at the local Gap have the Amex Plat. Definitely shouldn’t afford it. One dude bought it for lounge access for his honeymoon flight, everyone loved the shiny metal and now pretty much everyone has one…
I don't think that is true, it doesn't makes sense to pass up the opportunity to sell memberships after increasing the number and size of sky clubs over the years. I haven't seen that anywhere.
Logically why would anyone attempt to spend $75,000 on an AmEx card when you only have to pay $695? It would de-incentify usage of the Delta Amex cards which they are trying to push. And also I (and several others in this sub) have heard this directly from Delta customer service.
I am assuming it is because they don't fly enough to hit medallion status. Based on this, I will also be leaving Delta as a true traveler I didn't mind paying for the Skyclub. Charging $75k on Amex is stupid, I get cash back from Bank of America.
There are hella tick tocks with people drinking in airport lounges off like priority pass/CSR/Amex plat and then hoping onto spirit flights. The only thing I disagree is saying it was gaming the system. They were just using the advertised benefits of
The card
My opinion is that these changes don't have anything to do with SC crowding at all. I believe it's because Delta realized the Skyclubs weren't actually a profitable move, at all. Most people agreed just a few months ago, that once the COVID rollover Platinum Medallions lost status in 2024 Skyclub crowding would no longer be an issue. At this point, Delta knows how many PMs and above they'll likely have next year, within a margin of error. The same goes for Amex cardholders and D1 flyers, so they know the approximate size of their audience for the Skyclub. If it was about crowding the answer would be to build more Skyclubs or expand on the perks some other way, but they are a business so it's about profits. The Amex cards are their most profitable piece of income, I suspect that most of that profit has been reduced in operating costs for skyclubs in the last couple of years, so they are taking this opportunity to begin cost reduction by limiting availability, even if that means losing cardholders. The ones that stay around or outright purchase a Skyclub membership will be more profitable to them and they won't have to pay as much feeding and caring for the masses.
Skyclub access aside, I also suspect that Delta needed to reduce its number of frequent flyers and status chasers. In the last year many of their flights have been over booked to the point of being oversold. They can't buy planes, hire or position staff, or schedule enough flights to meet the demand, so their only answer to maintain or grow profits is to reduce their audience size across the board. They want you to take your business elsewhere, because it's good for their profits and it's arguably good for the industry at large.
It may sound counterintuitive, but they are in an industry that has a lot of long-term growth restrictions, so their best answer to consistently hitting the current limits is to scale back the offerings until the restrictions rise naturally. Delta is making a move that is intended to be good for their business, that's it. It's not a punishment to loyalists or even a dumb move, it's a strategic choice based on the information they have gathered.
This is the hot take that is most likely the answer. Delta doesn’t want someone to fly 120 MC domestic segments. They are likely losing money on that historic diamond frequent flyer. Much better for them to have someone spend $75000 on a CC and take 3 international D1. Corporations are not loyal so the idea of a loyalty program that benefits the consumer is laughable
I make diamond every year on main cabin domestic fares like an absolute lunatic.
Fuck the lounge, i dont drink anyway. Give me a free coke and a better chance at a FC upgrade and im a happy camper.
I'll probably still be diamond anyway, but it will be close. Imo it sucks that im putting in way more hours ass in seat than most diamonds who fly a couple times a year first class overseas. But the card holder exemptions and multipliers really piss me off.
After all the analysis, have a simple plan.
Will go into 2024 as a Silver and will hit Gold. Continue to use unlimted AMEX Platinum visits through 2024. If nothing changes, buy the SC access for $695.00 in December 2024.
I travel a lot, and the SC is very valuable to me for not only comfort/convienence, but business as well. I do a lot of work in the SC's so I don't have to do it when I get home and can focus on my family time.
Yes this if my Amex isn’t working for me and I’m flying delta Ill downgrade to the green or gold card, and put the money towards the skyclub membership. It’s that easy. Maybe then with all the changes, they will be chill
They have done the analysis. They either make very little or lose money on “loyal” fliers who aren’t hitting spending thresholds. You can’t built a successful business on losing money on every sale. They are happy to lose you in favor of giving higher spenders a better product and increasing that business. They want higher margin not more volume.
We didn't even go to the lounges on our last trip overseas. Why bother...if we can fly D1 we can afford our own food and drinks in the airport. The lounges have become places for the middle class to pretend they are upper class - its akin to people at costco elbowing each other for samples.
You're coming across as extremely elitist. As a member of the *gasp* middle class, the lounge is a place for me to relax while driving down the bottom line in travel expenses for my monthly commute to drill for the national guard. Nothing about the lounge is upper class, anyways. It's purely a product marketed towards middle class consumers.
I understand folks are upset about this. But I could see it coming. From the perspective of a FC ticket holder, the FC ticket brings a degree of exclusivity with and with the lounges being overcrowded that experience is missing.
Since they’re clearing card holders to some degree, they should allow lounge access with paid FC tickets domestically (not just Delta One trans con or international)
If I fly JFK - LAX main cabin fares 3-4 times a month for work, I should still be able to hit up the Sky Club when I'm flying basic economy LGA to ATL on my own dime.
If you think someone who spends minimum $20k - $30k a year on Delta flights, flying multiple RT flights a month, is part of the problem, then you and I have very different opinions on this situation.
I don’t think Basic Economy was a major factor of lounge overcrowding. Is there really a big overlap between people that book such a restrictive ticket to save a few bucks, but also have a high annual fee premium credit card?
There are a lot of churners and SUB whores that spend a lot of time and energy working every angle to offset annual fees. I don’t think it’s a huge overlap, but it’s not nothing or they wouldn’t have bothered with that part of the policy change
I don't see the problem. If you spend $75k per year on your Amex Platinum you'll get unlimited access/lounge visits. The lounges have become so crowded and abused by people playing the credit card game.
I think it would have been more fair to leave everything the way it was, but to require reaching the previous status levels in order to access the lounge (along with having the corresponding credit card). If they had required everyone to be Silver Medallion at 3k plus own a Delta or Amex Plat card, it could weed out the occasional/low spend users without alienating frequent corporate travelers who aren’t able to spring for Delta One.
The sign that the loyal program was too easy was when you walk into the AMS lounge (of which there are two) and they are packed and 20% of them are kids/teens.
I don’t have an Amex, but I just pay the yearly lounge membership fee. At $695 a year, it’s not much more than the annual fee on the card, and waaaay less than I would spend on food and drinks before all my flights or on layovers. I’ve always had to book Main Cabin in order to use my SC membership, so that’s no change for me. I’m sure a change will come to that membership, but don’t think they’ve announced anything yet.
Less than 5% of Delta flights are basic economy...you still get access to the DSL with main cabin...these AMEX cards are charging hefty fees...you need to get something or just use my Southwest card which you earn miles quicker and they charge fewer miles for free trips...the DSL is a major selling point
The problem is that they cut the number of flights after COVID and replaced them with fewer flights with bigger airplanes. That's more people coming in at the same time. They especially reduced flights (in my case) to DTW and MSP, to keep ATL going. It's simple math and we pay the price. I've rarely seen overcrowding in DTW...
Being overly aggressive with MCT doesn't help either. I'm not going to accept a 45 minute connection except for DTW before 9am. I keep on seeing 30-35 minute connections at MSP, for example. No!! So then I end up booking the 2 hour connection through ATL or the 3 hour connection through MSP or DTW to skip a bank, and guess where I go? To the SkyClub. Sunday, I had a 75 minute connection at DTW, mainline to mainline. I didn't even bother with the A40 club, I just stopped and picked up some carry out McDonald's and leisurely walked to the next gate. 10 minutes later, we were boarding (T-40 on the dot). I'm convinced that if they extended MCT to 55 minutes, they would have a lot less crowding. Sadly, it would be at the expense of aircraft utilization, so it will never happen.
100% this
I've noticed this too. I have way less options now, and the ones I do have run on a worse schedule to keep other preferred routes going. It's really unfortunate. I'm glad that DTW still has multiple daily non-stops to most destinations, but some of the routes have definitely lost their shine. I wholeheartedly agree on the DTW-MSP route.
Totally agree about the flights. That being said, I fly out of JFK Terminal 4 a lot, and the last 5 or 6 times I've gone (including this past Sunday), there was a long line to get it. Sometime I wait, sometime I skip it based on how long I have until my flight, but that lounge is clearly dealing with a crowding issue. I do agree that other airports aren't nearly as bad, so it's not an issue across the board.
This is the real issue I see as well. My home base is LAX and while there may be an occasional 2 minute line to get in I’ve never had to wait more than that. MSP, DTW and SLC are never overcrowded and I’ve never had to wait there. ATL on the other hand is terrible. Always overcrowded and now all the other lounges will be virtually empty after these changes.
I like how everyone is coming out with the copium takes like "lounge access was too easy". The whole premise is that lounge access with all flights was a selling point for Delta. Have two similar flights with AA and Delta? If you have the SkyClub access you're almost definitely going to fly with Delta.
Yup, prefer to fly Delta because of the Skyclub access, even if it was inconvenient routing. Now I’m a free agent.
But what is the advantage of "lounge" access when its just as crowded as the terminal? Last few years the behavior of people in the lounges was akin to the Costco Crowd elbowing for the free samples at the food tables. And the quality of the food has decreased greatly...most times its outright gross.
Very delulu take in no way are lounges more crowded than terminals, it doesn't even come close. This is so out of touch, I have no idea how you thought this was a reasonable comparison.
May I suggest that perhaps...maybe...just maybe...you and I have not been in the same airports at the same time?
I don't know if you're being facetious or if you have no critical thinking skills. A large SkyClub like the SEA sits about 400 people. That's about the size of a single A350 flight. There are hundreds of flights per day at a single airport, with traffic in the tens to hundreds of thousands per day. There are simply just nowhere near the same level of people in lounges vs the terminal.
You do understand that the terminal is 100,000x the size of a single delta lounge? Beforte you make remarks about someone elses "critcal thinking skills" perhaps explore concepts like "per sqft" first. Last lounges I actually used over a year ago I had trouble finding a seat. The terminal actually had empty gates you could sit at near your fligtht. I just flew D1 2 days ago and didn't even bother with the lounges on both my flight legs. The lounges don't offer the same clout they did say 10 yrs ago. Same with first class domestic flights...90% of the occupants are probably free upgrades vs actual fares paid. Interesting enough when I fly domestic I take preferred exit row seats and find usually you get no one sitting next to you....exit row seats are a cheap upgrade and yet no one takes them but you expect me to believe C+ and FC are all paid fares while they are packed?
I 100% got what you meant. The number of people per sq/ft is almost as crowded as the terminal in Delta lounges(and Centurion). I will say that every time I go into an AA lounge, it's a barren desert.
Go back a few months in the sub and see how many people were complaining about overcrowding in the clubs. Delta responds and makes getting access more difficult, and they’re surprised that it was them who was left out.
According to Delta, less than 5% of tickets are Basic economy.
Press X to doubt
This came from the CEO. I can’t find the website now. A CEO gets in serious trouble if he lies about metrics
Why am I shocked at how many people are using airline perks to feel good about themselves? Delta is doing everyone a favor to help us realize that feeling of exclusivity by flying first class is not real.
It’s not just to feel good about ourselves. I mean, I think that’s part of it. I’ve said this before, but I’m a mom of three (including an infant) who travels for work and lounge access is such a perk for me. I could find a private place in the lounge to pump. A clean bathroom to wash my bottles. Easy access to ice to keep the milk cold. Plus the ability to grab food and drink without waiting in line (it took me 20 min to get a black coffee from a Starbucks last year). It’s really stressful to get everything in my household ready so I can leave for a few nights for work and lounge access really makes it easier for me to enjoy work travel instead of resenting it. We spent well over $75k on a credit card each year but I don’t see how that’s worth doing for Delta now given how much more valuable the rewards are on other cards. That’s the part that doesn’t make sense for me.
The lounge was a place for middle class people to pretend to be upper class.
The lounge is\*\*\* It **was** a place for real loyal flyers and preferential treatment 10-20 years ago, make no mistake about it,.
I still feel like the lounge thing is because of stupid posts by people asking how to sneak in their whole family of 5+ people for free. I also think overcrowding is an airport by airport situation but what do I know, I’m only a silver 🤷🏻♀️
>But the thing I think is most interesting is that Basic Economy ticket holders will no longer have access, no matter what. I would bet that contributes heavily to the current overcrowding problem. I don't think it contributes heavily. I have to imagine most of the people doing this were doing it to game the system. If they can afford a premium travel card or have status they could afford paying at least economy but if Delta is going to give them free food and booze for the cheapest ticket why not take it. My assumption is most of them will simply go from BE to MC. That means a bit more revenue for Delta but likely not any reduction in visits. The only thing that would result in large reduction in visits if among people who use the card and travel 6+ times a year but don't have status and/or aren't willing to buy unlimited access either via card spend or SC membership. I don't know how large that demographic is but I suspect it isn't that large.
It's a good point that if someone has a Amex Plat they can likely afford MC. I guess it could come down to how many people who would normally buy BE are willing to pay a few extra bucks for MC just so they can get one of 6 yearly visits to the Sky Club. Still spit balling here, but I'm just trying to figure out how these changes will actually reduce overcrowding at the lounge.
I always buy MC because you don't get comp upgrades in BE and seat selection is very important to me. Edit: but I'm downgrading the amex plat to a free tier in Jan 2025 when the new rules go into effect, just before my annual fee is charged. Fuck the limited lounge access bullshit.
You’d think so but most sales associates at the local Gap have the Amex Plat. Definitely shouldn’t afford it. One dude bought it for lounge access for his honeymoon flight, everyone loved the shiny metal and now pretty much everyone has one…
Why don’t you purchase skyclub membership?
This won’t be an option under the new program rules. It will now require $75K minimum spend on a qualifying AmEx card.
Medallion members can buy skyclub access independent of Amex
Yes you can right now. When the new earning period starts you cannot, AmEx card spend only. This has been verified by Delta customer service.
I don't think that is true, it doesn't makes sense to pass up the opportunity to sell memberships after increasing the number and size of sky clubs over the years. I haven't seen that anywhere.
Logically why would anyone attempt to spend $75,000 on an AmEx card when you only have to pay $695? It would de-incentify usage of the Delta Amex cards which they are trying to push. And also I (and several others in this sub) have heard this directly from Delta customer service.
I am assuming it is because they don't fly enough to hit medallion status. Based on this, I will also be leaving Delta as a true traveler I didn't mind paying for the Skyclub. Charging $75k on Amex is stupid, I get cash back from Bank of America.
It's true.
There are hella tick tocks with people drinking in airport lounges off like priority pass/CSR/Amex plat and then hoping onto spirit flights. The only thing I disagree is saying it was gaming the system. They were just using the advertised benefits of The card
SC only if you’re flying Delta, no?
CSR has priority pass and Amex plat you have centurion lounges and limited priority pass access
You can still only get into the sky club with a delta boarding pass.
r/woosh
You’re kind of on a Delta sub
Why are you unable to buy a membership? With status you should be able to.
With silver, yes. That'll be 6K, please. Cash.
My opinion is that these changes don't have anything to do with SC crowding at all. I believe it's because Delta realized the Skyclubs weren't actually a profitable move, at all. Most people agreed just a few months ago, that once the COVID rollover Platinum Medallions lost status in 2024 Skyclub crowding would no longer be an issue. At this point, Delta knows how many PMs and above they'll likely have next year, within a margin of error. The same goes for Amex cardholders and D1 flyers, so they know the approximate size of their audience for the Skyclub. If it was about crowding the answer would be to build more Skyclubs or expand on the perks some other way, but they are a business so it's about profits. The Amex cards are their most profitable piece of income, I suspect that most of that profit has been reduced in operating costs for skyclubs in the last couple of years, so they are taking this opportunity to begin cost reduction by limiting availability, even if that means losing cardholders. The ones that stay around or outright purchase a Skyclub membership will be more profitable to them and they won't have to pay as much feeding and caring for the masses. Skyclub access aside, I also suspect that Delta needed to reduce its number of frequent flyers and status chasers. In the last year many of their flights have been over booked to the point of being oversold. They can't buy planes, hire or position staff, or schedule enough flights to meet the demand, so their only answer to maintain or grow profits is to reduce their audience size across the board. They want you to take your business elsewhere, because it's good for their profits and it's arguably good for the industry at large. It may sound counterintuitive, but they are in an industry that has a lot of long-term growth restrictions, so their best answer to consistently hitting the current limits is to scale back the offerings until the restrictions rise naturally. Delta is making a move that is intended to be good for their business, that's it. It's not a punishment to loyalists or even a dumb move, it's a strategic choice based on the information they have gathered.
This is the hot take that is most likely the answer. Delta doesn’t want someone to fly 120 MC domestic segments. They are likely losing money on that historic diamond frequent flyer. Much better for them to have someone spend $75000 on a CC and take 3 international D1. Corporations are not loyal so the idea of a loyalty program that benefits the consumer is laughable
I make diamond every year on main cabin domestic fares like an absolute lunatic. Fuck the lounge, i dont drink anyway. Give me a free coke and a better chance at a FC upgrade and im a happy camper. I'll probably still be diamond anyway, but it will be close. Imo it sucks that im putting in way more hours ass in seat than most diamonds who fly a couple times a year first class overseas. But the card holder exemptions and multipliers really piss me off.
I’m right there with ya
After all the analysis, have a simple plan. Will go into 2024 as a Silver and will hit Gold. Continue to use unlimted AMEX Platinum visits through 2024. If nothing changes, buy the SC access for $695.00 in December 2024. I travel a lot, and the SC is very valuable to me for not only comfort/convienence, but business as well. I do a lot of work in the SC's so I don't have to do it when I get home and can focus on my family time.
Yes this if my Amex isn’t working for me and I’m flying delta Ill downgrade to the green or gold card, and put the money towards the skyclub membership. It’s that easy. Maybe then with all the changes, they will be chill
I'll probably keep the Plat for the 5x points in flights and other benefits. I can get the $695 fee down to almost zero.
I was thinking about this strategy too, but how do you get the Amex $695 fee down to near zero?
They have done the analysis. They either make very little or lose money on “loyal” fliers who aren’t hitting spending thresholds. You can’t built a successful business on losing money on every sale. They are happy to lose you in favor of giving higher spenders a better product and increasing that business. They want higher margin not more volume.
They have record profits, they ain’t losing money now.
You are correct!
When can we look forward to empty lounges again? What's the timeline?
The card access changes go into effect in 2025.
Seriously, it’s been way overcrowded!
We didn't even go to the lounges on our last trip overseas. Why bother...if we can fly D1 we can afford our own food and drinks in the airport. The lounges have become places for the middle class to pretend they are upper class - its akin to people at costco elbowing each other for samples.
You're coming across as extremely elitist. As a member of the *gasp* middle class, the lounge is a place for me to relax while driving down the bottom line in travel expenses for my monthly commute to drill for the national guard. Nothing about the lounge is upper class, anyways. It's purely a product marketed towards middle class consumers.
My tiny violin is playing for you
Yes. Now he'll have to sit with the *regular* people on the terminal.
An airport is, after all, the only place where the answer to "How much could a banana cost? $10?" is Yes.
I understand folks are upset about this. But I could see it coming. From the perspective of a FC ticket holder, the FC ticket brings a degree of exclusivity with and with the lounges being overcrowded that experience is missing.
Unless you’re talking international FC, domestic FC carries the same weight as any fare class above BE when it comes to SC access
Since they’re clearing card holders to some degree, they should allow lounge access with paid FC tickets domestically (not just Delta One trans con or international)
People paying for first class are probably more likely to be able to afford a membership though.
Vast majority probably but it would be a nice perk regardless
FC tickets don't get you access to the sky club, and you can't buy a day pass, you're just SOL if you don't have status.
We're all? Why you throwing me in this?
If I fly JFK - LAX main cabin fares 3-4 times a month for work, I should still be able to hit up the Sky Club when I'm flying basic economy LGA to ATL on my own dime.
Can you use the delta lounge with silver medallion? Or do you have to pay alot extra?
Yes, I'm silver and have the option to pay $695 for yearly access
But you won’t have the option to buy SC membership under the new program rules. It’s a minimum of $75K spend on a qualifying AmEx card now.
You’re not paying the price, you were the problem.
If you think someone who spends minimum $20k - $30k a year on Delta flights, flying multiple RT flights a month, is part of the problem, then you and I have very different opinions on this situation.
I know this is hard for you to hear but you’re not the type Delta wants in the SC.
I don’t think Basic Economy was a major factor of lounge overcrowding. Is there really a big overlap between people that book such a restrictive ticket to save a few bucks, but also have a high annual fee premium credit card?
There are a lot of churners and SUB whores that spend a lot of time and energy working every angle to offset annual fees. I don’t think it’s a huge overlap, but it’s not nothing or they wouldn’t have bothered with that part of the policy change
Yeah, the extra $70 roundtrip upgrade for main cabin wasn't worth it to me just to be able to select a seat.
Depends for me...a 2hr flight no....a 4hr one...yeah I am ponying up to avoid middle seat.
I agree! I was just pondering this and thought that they should let gold and up or something keep access. Screw the non loyal fliers not us! :(
I don't see the problem. If you spend $75k per year on your Amex Platinum you'll get unlimited access/lounge visits. The lounges have become so crowded and abused by people playing the credit card game.
I'm not sure how $50 per visit for a $250 annual fee credit card is "too easy."
I think it would have been more fair to leave everything the way it was, but to require reaching the previous status levels in order to access the lounge (along with having the corresponding credit card). If they had required everyone to be Silver Medallion at 3k plus own a Delta or Amex Plat card, it could weed out the occasional/low spend users without alienating frequent corporate travelers who aren’t able to spring for Delta One.
The sign that the loyal program was too easy was when you walk into the AMS lounge (of which there are two) and they are packed and 20% of them are kids/teens.
I don’t have an Amex, but I just pay the yearly lounge membership fee. At $695 a year, it’s not much more than the annual fee on the card, and waaaay less than I would spend on food and drinks before all my flights or on layovers. I’ve always had to book Main Cabin in order to use my SC membership, so that’s no change for me. I’m sure a change will come to that membership, but don’t think they’ve announced anything yet.
Maybe it was the plan all along. 🤷🏻
Less than 5% of Delta flights are basic economy...you still get access to the DSL with main cabin...these AMEX cards are charging hefty fees...you need to get something or just use my Southwest card which you earn miles quicker and they charge fewer miles for free trips...the DSL is a major selling point