The Sky Club doesn't seem to be very pleasurable experience these days
Jul 21, 2017, 10:19 am
#31
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The only real solution is expansion. Attempting to limit the access of people who already have it doesn't work. They will just find another way to get it or take their business elsewhere.
That said, business/first class lounges should always be a separate product from a paid membership club. IMO the Qantas setup is one of the best models out there. For a business class lounge, packed or empty, the SkyClub is an inadequate product and does not achieve the industry standard.
That said, business/first class lounges should always be a separate product from a paid membership club. IMO the Qantas setup is one of the best models out there. For a business class lounge, packed or empty, the SkyClub is an inadequate product and does not achieve the industry standard.
Jul 21, 2017, 10:20 am
#32
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The only real solution is expansion. Attempting to limit the access of people who already have it doesn't work. They will just find another way to get it or take their business elsewhere.
That said, business/first class lounges should always be a separate product from a paid membership club. IMO the Qantas setup is one of the best models out there. For a business class lounge, packed or empty, the SkyClub is an inadequate product and does not achieve the industry standard.
That said, business/first class lounges should always be a separate product from a paid membership club. IMO the Qantas setup is one of the best models out there. For a business class lounge, packed or empty, the SkyClub is an inadequate product and does not achieve the industry standard.
Jul 21, 2017, 10:22 am
#33
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I don't have a good answer for that. My best guess would be because AA and UA retain first class, and thus for a while kept dedicated F lounges. As both transition away from F, we've seen the lounges realigned to serve as dedicated J and F lounges.
Jul 21, 2017, 10:25 am
#34
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We're talking about a handful of clubs, at a narrow window each day. Sure, it's probably a hit, but nowhere near enough to warrant a return to how things were. Who's to say that the revenue wouldn't be made up by people choosing to buy memberships, or getting the Reserve card as a result of this change?
Jul 21, 2017, 10:27 am
#35
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We don't know about those on Amex swipes. Many could be loyalists, or merely free-agents flying on the best fare. We don't have access to that data.
Jul 21, 2017, 10:33 am
#36
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Then again this is true for most North American carrier lounges. U.S. airline executives should spend time in foreign airline lounges, particularly the LH F terminal or the Gulf carrier lounges to see what real F/J lounges should be. Then again U.S airlines are more about selling memberships than accommodating premium fliers. It's good too see United trying to catch up with their one Polaris lounge but still U.S. airlines have a long way to go.
Jul 21, 2017, 10:41 am
#37
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It would reasonable to limit access to some clubs to prevent AMEX Platinum card holders at peak international J times if they are not also at least Silver Medallion or on a paid domestic F ticket. I'm not sure about JFK T4, but both at DTW A40 and ATL E and F there are still other clubs very close by that could be used.
Jul 21, 2017, 10:50 am
#38
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The root of exclusive is exclude. When the OP got excluded he could offer another entirely non-specific criticism, aka whine.
Jul 21, 2017, 12:53 pm
#39
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Nature abhors a vacuum. And one must expect that DL abhors a club that is not filled to capacity.
Larger clubs would just mean that DL would search for other ways to monetize the practice of keeping clubs overcrowded.
Just keep in mind that the prime reason for the clubs is not to provide you a comfortable place to wait for flights. The prime reason is to generate income.
The current dynamics will remain so long as the concourse is a more miserable place to wait and folks are willing to pay for an escape offering incremental improvements.
Larger clubs would just mean that DL would search for other ways to monetize the practice of keeping clubs overcrowded.
Just keep in mind that the prime reason for the clubs is not to provide you a comfortable place to wait for flights. The prime reason is to generate income.
The current dynamics will remain so long as the concourse is a more miserable place to wait and folks are willing to pay for an escape offering incremental improvements.
Jul 21, 2017, 1:47 pm
#40
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Nature abhors a vacuum. And one must expect that DL abhors a club that is not filled to capacity.
Larger clubs would just mean that DL would search for other ways to monetize the practice of keeping clubs overcrowded.
Just keep in mind that the prime reason for the clubs is not to provide you a comfortable place to wait for flights. The prime reason is to generate income.
The current dynamics will remain so long as the concourse is a more miserable place to wait and folks are willing to pay for an escape offering incremental improvements.
Larger clubs would just mean that DL would search for other ways to monetize the practice of keeping clubs overcrowded.
Just keep in mind that the prime reason for the clubs is not to provide you a comfortable place to wait for flights. The prime reason is to generate income.
The current dynamics will remain so long as the concourse is a more miserable place to wait and folks are willing to pay for an escape offering incremental improvements.
OTOH, I do see what you mean when I visit ATL. The new B club just isn't as nice as the SFO and SEA clubs, which is odd since ATL is Delta's home. Plus, the food really does look picked over.
I'm hoping that when SLC is built, that they will put in a club on the order of SFO and SEA. I'm assuming they are going to get a new club there. Anyone know that for sure?
Jul 21, 2017, 2:01 pm
#41
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I'm not so sure. The new clubs built in SFO and SEA are actually quite nice and I've never seen the SEA club crowded in the thirty or so times I have visited it. There is never a problem finding a place to sit and the food options don't look picked over.
OTOH, I do see what you mean when I visit ATL. The new B club just isn't as nice as the SFO and SEA clubs, which is odd since ATL is Delta's home. Plus, the food really does look picked over.
I'm hoping that when SLC is built, that they will put in a club on the order of SFO and SEA. I'm assuming they are going to get a new club there. Anyone know that for sure?
OTOH, I do see what you mean when I visit ATL. The new B club just isn't as nice as the SFO and SEA clubs, which is odd since ATL is Delta's home. Plus, the food really does look picked over.
I'm hoping that when SLC is built, that they will put in a club on the order of SFO and SEA. I'm assuming they are going to get a new club there. Anyone know that for sure?
Jul 21, 2017, 2:34 pm
#42
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Hell it's a beatdown to do anything in the A and B terminals (restroom, food, cocktail).
Jul 21, 2017, 3:01 pm
#44
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I really enjoy the KAL lounge in TBIT @ LAX. Hardly anyone ever there, better food than the LAX Skyclub previously and currently has, and all you can drink!
I read somewhere else that the catering sucks, but I don't find it to be a problem. I prefer to just be left alone. And with no one ever there I can really just lounge.
If Delta rolls out a Skyclub in TBIT and we lose access to the KAL lounge, that will be a terrible day.
I read somewhere else that the catering sucks, but I don't find it to be a problem. I prefer to just be left alone. And with no one ever there I can really just lounge.
If Delta rolls out a Skyclub in TBIT and we lose access to the KAL lounge, that will be a terrible day.