Lounges: Now vs 10 years ago
May 4, 10, 7:56 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,327
Lounges: Now vs 10 years ago
Hey guys,
Since I am rather new to the lounges, been here for a while but never had enough for status, what would you say has changed in the lounges between now and 10 years ago?
I just wonder what have those of us have missed or rather not missed? Has there been better/more food? More/less booze?
Just wanted to hear your opinions on the matter : )
Since I am rather new to the lounges, been here for a while but never had enough for status, what would you say has changed in the lounges between now and 10 years ago?
I just wonder what have those of us have missed or rather not missed? Has there been better/more food? More/less booze?
Just wanted to hear your opinions on the matter : )
May 4, 10, 8:01 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,387
Nothing. In many cases, not even the furniture. 
Seriously (well, I was serious about the furniture), there's a bit more in the way of snacks, but not much. Many of the lounges are the same as they were back then. The Biz Class lounges have gone away, folded into the (now) SkyClubs.
Seriously (well, I was serious about the furniture), there's a bit more in the way of snacks, but not much. Many of the lounges are the same as they were back then. The Biz Class lounges have gone away, folded into the (now) SkyClubs.
May 4, 10, 8:03 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DAB
Programs: DL PM UA PSilver Marriott Lifetime Plat, AMEX Platinum, Avis PC, UA MPPPlus
Posts: 961
There's less booze and good food, but more travellers using the lounges.
I recall there being more of a professional business and First Class lounge kind of atmosphere inthe past, and now it's often just as casual and kid cluttered as the terminal gate areas at times.
I recall there being more of a professional business and First Class lounge kind of atmosphere inthe past, and now it's often just as casual and kid cluttered as the terminal gate areas at times.
May 4, 10, 8:21 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,341
... and there are fewer of them.
... and it costs you more to get less.
... and membership is no longer free for Plats (admittedly, free for Diamond, which is the new Platinum)
... and it costs you more to get less.
... and membership is no longer free for Plats (admittedly, free for Diamond, which is the new Platinum)
May 4, 10, 8:57 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles, MR, HH, ICH/PC, Avis Pref., Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,897
Ten years ago there was less automation in the ticketing process so the lounge agents were really useful and _really_ good. These were the "old Delta" people and only the best got to work in the Crown Room.
The snacks were much worse than today.
Ten years ago, CR access was a Platinum benefit so the lounges were just as crowded as today. We all thought that the lounges would empty out when they took away the Platinum benefit but, as we all know, it didn't happen.
The snacks were much worse than today.
Ten years ago, CR access was a Platinum benefit so the lounges were just as crowded as today. We all thought that the lounges would empty out when they took away the Platinum benefit but, as we all know, it didn't happen.
May 4, 10, 10:25 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,916
Originally Posted by BNAChairman
Surprised no one pointed out free WiFi.
Actually, it wasn't free at DL's clubs for all until recently. Only annual members got free wifi, not even full fare C passengers. Fortunately DL saw the error of their ways in that policy!
May 4, 10, 10:56 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: CHI/MSP
Programs: Delta Platinum, United Prem Exec
Posts: 1,334
Originally Posted by PMMMDL
More crowded, more flip flops and shorts, more sweat suites and t shirts, more kids, less decorum.
More people judging you and others on the clothing they wear while traveling.But yes, more people in general. Most clubs are stuffed to the gills, and granting free access to the top tier elites doesn't help much.
May 4, 10, 11:55 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 1,615
Have never paid for a membership, mostly accessed the old fashioned way, via premium intl tickets. I think the lounges are fine the way they are, even the overseas lounges that offer free food aren't that exciting as far as food is concerned. The thing that I like about some lounges are the showers. I like to be able to refresh myself, right in an airport. Last time, I forgot I was still in an airport!
May 4, 10, 1:56 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: Delta Diamond, Some other impressive stuff
Posts: 450
Originally Posted by PMMMDL
More crowded, more flip flops and shorts, more sweat suites and t shirts, more kids, less decorum.
May 4, 10, 2:36 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: DL SkyMiles, MR, HH, ICH/PC, Avis Pref., Hertz Gold
Posts: 2,897
Originally Posted by BNAChairman
Surprised no one pointed out free WiFi.
Ten years ago, the most common internet acccess was dialup. In a lot of the CRs back then you would frequently see the phones in various states of disassembly as people found creative ways to plug in if a RJ-11 jack was not readily accessible.
For the bulk of the time that the CRs have had TMobile, it was a $9.95 charge. It became free for direct CR members a little over two or three years ago and finally in the last year free for all guests as part of the merged NW offerings.
May 4, 10, 2:54 pm
#13
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM, UA, AA, SPG Gold, Marriott, HH, Fairmont, NYSC (Passport), 24hrFitness-Super Sport
Posts: 2,197
Originally Posted by TheMoose
More people judging you and others on the clothing they wear while traveling.But yes, more people in general. Most clubs are stuffed to the gills, and granting free access to the top tier elites doesn't help much.
May 4, 10, 5:19 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Some place in this wonderful world (usually at 39,000 ft in seat 1C)
Programs: CO Gold Elite / NW Gold Elite
Posts: 13,747
Originally Posted by Global_Hi_Flyer
Nothing. In many cases, not even the furniture.
Seriously (well, I was serious about the furniture), there's a bit more in the way of snacks, but not much. Many of the lounges are the same as they were back then. The Biz Class lounges have gone away, folded into the (now) SkyClubs.
Seriously (well, I was serious about the furniture), there's a bit more in the way of snacks, but not much. Many of the lounges are the same as they were back then. The Biz Class lounges have gone away, folded into the (now) SkyClubs.
Unfortunately in the past 3 years food has been downgraded in the WC's too but this too appears to be changing for the better
And as has been noted thankfully DL started allowing WC members free wifi in the CRC's (I think this was added about a year ago)
May 4, 10, 5:43 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA (Or on a plane going far away)
Programs: DL: DM / Royal Ambassador /PC:Plat / Hertz:5*
Posts: 617
Originally Posted by socrates
unfortunately very true about the age/condition of the clubs...most (but not all) legacy WC's are newer than the CRC's however DL is starting to update them (I heard they recently found a demolition company to take care of the dirt buildup in B10, estimates are it'll only take a few hundred cases of TNT)
