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 ...
I have a couple of friends who are on the road two to three weeks a month. One is a big time consultant supervisor who is always going to factories and headquarters all over the world. The other fixes big label affixing machines.
They have huge balances with airlines. I am sure their companies are paying almost that amount because their travel is rarely “planned.”
On the other hand, my son in law has the Platinum card and the access because his membership fees are reduced because he is military and first responder. He flies once a month or so.
I think it is the latter who are showing up in the clubs when they fly. The first group are just sick of “normies” who hold up the lines. LOL.
“my ... spend”
I’ve been to Delta’s lounges and they’re, in a word, abysmal. The best so far is Alaska.
A couple of issues have exacerbated Delta’s problem and these actions are a bit shortsighted. COVID led Delta to roll over miles year after year, only ending last year, so many travelers like myself that would normally qualify for Silver or Gold Medallion qualified higher the last couple of years, I had enough rollover from last year to make Platinum again for next year. I, like I’m sure others, bought the Reserve card specifically for club access the relatively few times I fly now. Next year the medallion levels will come crashing down and it will be interesting to see how Delta reacts when the cycle amplified by the pissed off decrease paid flights.
It seems to me that for a while these lounges weren’t getting all that much business.
Then they started letting people buy passes. You start letting the riff raff buy something, eventually it’s going downhill.
I think United’s lounge is $59. Not sure what you get with it, but if like to drink and eat before you get on a plane, $59 is a lit cheaper than some of the airport bars in the terminals.
I’m okay. I’m calm now. I just needed to breathe and relax. It’s all my fault. I misread the headline. I thought it said no more Mile High Club.
I cancelled my Delta AMEX card today. I just received it August 18 and I signed up for it for the access to the Sky Club. I visited the Sky Club at Logan in Boston before my return flights and it never had any lines like NYC. There’s another, more expensive card that gives access, but I am going to wait a bit to make up my mind.
Lounges are terrible now.
It works out fine to sit at an empty gate near a bathroom.
Saw an article where young people are using their credit cards to pay for everything. Story had two young 20 somethings that wracked up enough points to get a private room on an Arab airline. Had a bed, shower etc.
After the 2020 election, Georgia passed some new election laws to make it “easier to vote but harder to cheat”, including such insanity as voter ID requirements!!!! Delta, Coca Cola and Major League Baseball all stuck their noses into it, parroting the Dem’s lies and mischaracterizations of the new legislation. That was the year that MLB moved the All Star game from Atlanta to Denver to spite the new law. Idiots.
—”Only the ‘elites’ will enjoy the bennies...............”
On a good day, it is possible to receive what you paid for, sometimes.
Now, if Bob is your uncle, there are advantages.
But you would not be on a commercial flight with the proles.
Their lounges generally suck. They're overcrowded as mentioned, the food is just cheap garbage snacks, and to even get a soda you have to go to the bartender who has their hand out for a tip just to pour it. They could put a soda fountain in I wouldn't have to wait in line for 10 minutes to get a 6 oz diet coke. I just want a soda, I don't need a bartender to pour it for me.
Go to any overseas airlines lounge and you'll see how subpar the U.S. airlines lounges are. Emirates, Singapore, Cathay Pacific, etc. have lounges where you can get a fantastic meal on real china with a full self serve wet bar with top shelf liquor and wines. No waiting in line for a bartender to pour you a glass of Two Buck Chuck. They're not crowded and the people next to you are actually traveling on business and first class tickets, they're not Bubba and Cindy in flip flops with their five kids who got in because they have a certain credit card.
My Nephew gained access to the Delta LAX Lounge just last month. He asked, didn’t think it would work, but the reasoning was his five-hour flight was canceled (re-booked for a flight three hours later) And showed his Military ID (Major, just getting out of the Reserves) They said no problem.
You could have stopped right there.
Oh OK I remember that one and MLB. Also the general corporate whining, but didn’t realize Delta was part of it. Was thinking thus might be some new drama.
Delta messed up. Again. 1991 when Delta took over Pan Am domestic routes after the latter had sold international to United, those of us who were lifetime Clipper Club members were sent Delta Crown Club (now Sky Club) membership cards with a letter from the Delta CEO welcoming us, then stating that the lifetime membership was no more after April 1992 meaning we would be charged annual dues for club membership.
That lasted about six months when they realized what a bone headed decision they had made. I still have cards for both, although Delta never could replace Pan Am. Remember that they neglected to change their name to Pan Am at a time when everyone in the world knew it was the American international airline going back half a century plus. No one in Tokyo, London or Rio had much regard for an old south airline from Georgia.
Small business owners can easily exceed that if they run all of their charges through a card.
It was great. No food then but snacks and drinks and NO CROWD.
It's a zoo now! While the food is good it's like packing into a busy, busy Cheesecake Factory restaurant on Mother's Day.
Change is way overdue.
When Delta merged with Northwest I was a lifetime member of the NW Worldclub. Must have learned lessons from Pan Am as I have lifetime membership in the Skyclub.
But last time I used the club it sucked, it was so crowded that it was difficult to find 2 seats together for my bud and I. And then I needed a ticket cancelled and was told they no longer did that in the club I had to call the 800 number, total crap. I complained to Delta and the phone customer service rep did not believe the club could not support my ticket change, she was flabbergasted to find out it was true.
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