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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...

Delta Air Lines has been investing heavily in modernizing and expanding its network of Sky Club airport lounges...The easiest way to access any Delta Sky Club is by carrying the right credit card. [American Express cards appear to have the largest share of luxury airport lounges - annual AMEX card fees are $250-$695 - before charging anything!)

Delta employees will be barred from the airline's Sky Club lounges unless they pay for a ticket. That means flight attendants and pilots will not be permitted access when flying standby for free. The airline is working to fix long lines and overcrowding at its popular airport lounges. Delta employees will no longer be able to access the airline's popular Sky Club lounges unless traveling on a paid ticket, the airline told staff in an email sent Thursday. The controversial changes come as Delta struggles to combat overcrowding in the lounges, first announcing major restrictions on which passengers can buy...

The airline will now tighten the rules on access to its SkyClubs. If you travel a lot, one of the least aggravating ways to spend time in an airport is in an airline club or lounge. If you need a quiet place to get a little work done, have some coffee or a light meal, or just want to avoid the mass of travelers, a lounge isn't a bad place to wait for a flight. Some of them are even pretty nice. For example, Delta has recently made a big deal of the investment it is making in its lounges,...