Posted on 09/15/2023 12:34:41 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
Delta Air Lines has clamped down on access to its Sky Club for Amex card holders — a “terrible business decision” that has angry frequent flyers ready to cut up their cards and pack their bags for another airline.
“I spend at least $60k a year on the card and now I will not have access to lounges. I was mad you wanted me to pay $50. Now no access? You should be falling over backwards for my loyalty in flights and spend,” one furious user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “What a terrible business decision.”
“I will be taking my business elsewhere,” another tweeted. “As a Platinum member who frequently travels internationally, I am disappointed with the new lounge and miles standards.”
Delta’s new terms affect travelers with American Express’ Platinum, Business Platinum, Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business cards who, as of Feb. 1, 2025, will no longer get unlimited access to the airline’s airport lounges in the three hours leading up to departure.
Delta Reserve and Delta Business Reserve cardholders, who pay a $550 annual fee, will be restricted to 10 visits to Delta’s Sky Club per year, though infinite access can be unlocked by spending $75,000 within one year.......
Though the airline hasn’t disclosed the reason for the changes, Delta has struggled to handle overcrowding at popular lounges at Delta’s major hubs like JFK Airport or Atlanta, which have become beloved for offering free food and beverages, more comfortable seating and greater security.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
IMHO AA's Admirals Club is starting to get too crowded.
Sheesh talk about a first world problem.
Only the ‘elites’ will enjoy the bennies...............
Yes and no. I bet many of the people wanting in the special airport lounges are trying to stay away from the 3rd world airport mob activity in our airports.
“It’s a ‘Big Club’, and you ain’t in it!” - George Carlin..................
Too much ‘hoi polloi’....................
More separation! Heading towards a caste system.
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/06/29/attitudes-about-caste/#:~:text=The%20caste%20system%20has%20existed,including%20whom%20they%20can%20marry.
What if they just make it whites only?
It’s true with all the clubs - Amex Centurion Lounges included, they’re all overpacked.
But I don’t know who can afford to plunk down $75k a year in spending on a card. I certainly can’t.
What fun is being an elite if you can’t use the bennies?
When I was working all my travel expenses went on a CC, easily over $50K a year, reimbursed by my employer. I’m sure it is that way with a lot of travelers.
And escape the many low life travelers. I’d be pissed. There was a point in my career when I averaged 35 weeks on the road, with each week consisting of a minimum of four flights. Free food and beverages in an airline longe didn’t mean a thing to me or other frequent travelers. Airport longes are about comfort, having a quiet place to talk on the phone and to do business. I mostly parked myself in a work area to do work.
The problem is the whole model has changed since Covid - most of the employees (like 90%) are STILL remote and travel is minimal, even among the marketers and sales teams. I’m sure this will solve the problem of overcrowding but it may hurt their ticket sales over all.
They redefine ‘elite’ upwards to exclude the social climbers and uppity people...................
I spent a lot of time in Western Airlines Horizon Club back in the ‘80s. It was a great place to wait to board.
“Elites” don’t fly commercial.
THE LOWER ECHELONS OF ‘ELITES’..............
I closed my Delta Amex account when they decided to tell Georgia how to run its elections. The more people who choose another airline, the better.
Ding, ding, ding!!
I stopped worrying about SC access a few years ago. They were getting more crowded than a lot of the restaurants, and I tended to drink too much because it was there for free.
After years of using them, I realized it just wasn’t that great. I was sometimes in the MSP one and I often had to wait in line to get in for 15 minutes, then I was almost stepping over people. It was so crowded on one occasion, that I said, “screw this”, left, and plopped myself down for 2 hours at the Chili’s bar down the terminal. I had a great time, got some work done and had some nice conversations.
That was when I first realized, I was done chasing SC access.
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