flyerCO

Outright Paid F also gets in. It's an argument only for those that see it as an arguement. DL Corporate has confirmed, DL SC managers have confirmed, and station managers have confirmed that Canada/Mexico F still gets access. When you scan your BP it tells the agents if you qualify. Scan the BP for the Canada/Mexico leg confirmed in F and in you go.

Don't ask if you get access, don't scan another BP, just scan the BP for the qualifying leg and in you go. The fact that DL employees are confused after a policy change is nothing new. Also, as I noted above, agents have wrongly insisted for years that Canada F doesn't get SC access.

WillBarrett_68

I don't see how the SkyTeam rule is really binding on DL if they have excluded Caribbean flights this long.

In any case, even if that rule actually does obligate them and if they actually do want to exclude Mexico and Canada, they'll just rebrand that cabin to Premium Select as they have with routes to Iceland etc.

emma69

Hi, a data point from me flying to Canada this week.

I flew in paid First two nights ago, Atlanta to Toronto. I went to the SC in the international terminal (F), and upon scanning my boarding pass, the agent told me that flights to Canada no longer have access to the lounge due to a recent change in policy. I persisted (not actually having rechecked in the last couple of weeks since initially asking on here) insisting when I booked the ticket I absolutely had access and is why I selected Delta over another carrier, and she relented, and told me I could have access 'just this once' as it was such a recent change, but in future I would not be allowed.

defrosted

All indications are this is not the case, can you provide some recent proof of this for others to reference when they are denied access. As there are now two recent examples of denied access "due to a recent change".

Not arguing, just need some tangible evidence, because pretty sure "I read it on an internet forum" isn't going to help anyone that can't get in.

Oakshadow

Strongly disagree with the "you can afford it" justification of taking away this perk, if that's what DL's official explanation is. It's not a matter if someone can "afford" club entrance, it's that they ALREADY PAID for it in the international First Class ticket price that was several times more than the Economy tickets and that's always been one of the incentives to get people to pay more for FC. DL might as well say, "If you can afford a First Class ticket, then why would you expect a complementary meal? It's only about $10 more. If you can afford First Class, then why would you expect a complimentary checked bag? It's only $30 per bag. We think you can afford these things since you already paid us at least twice the Main economy fare, so pay for it!"

Taking this perk away is devaluing of the First Class product any way you look at it.

WillBarrett_68

While I agree that this devalues the F product, I think you're wildly overstating what an F ticket to canada costs.

mnflyer58

Just a data point. My husband and I flew paid F class from MSP to Mexico in January and were denied access to the sky club. No big deal. They said it had changed and F class on Delta metal was no longer allowed access. Our tickets were scanned. Denied. Only true D1, which Mexico most definitely is not (more like domestic first class in service).

defrosted

Not Delta's explanation.

It is obviously devaluing First Class (international) product. Something was included that no longer is.
I am not saying I agree with it.

I was pointing out that first class is clearly a luxury item, and of all the "devaluation" of products at Delta this is basically a non issue. It effects such a small group of people that in many cases have the budget for luxury items and can simply purchase additional benefits without much impact. If you have the budget for luxury items what is another half a percent increase in cost.

And to your examples, that is exactly what Delta and every other airline have been doing forever. Stop including things so they can charge for them. They are also trying to reduce crowding in Skyclubs. So this isn't surprising.

Someone made the example of death by a thousand cuts. All I am saying the percentage of Delta customers this effects is very small, and it is a very minor cut.

racklam

I'm travelling MAN-JFK-BOS soon, with MAN-JFK on Virgin Atlantic Upper Class (I'm flying on a DL flight number if that makes a difference), and JFK-BOS on Delta First.

Will I have access to the Sky Club at JFK? I don't have any status with Delta (or any other SkyTeam member).

WillBarrett_68

Yes. Delta does a poor job of documenting this on the website but any J ticket on DL or VS metal between the US and UK will get you both Sky Club and Clubhouse access.

racklam

Thanks. You're not wrong that the website doesn't make things easy!

Oakshadow

Akiestar

I think AmEx Platinum cardholders get access to the VS Clubhouse at LAX, no? I remember seeing a sign at the counter which points this out.

flyerCO

They do via Priority Pass I know. However hours are limited to morning before VS flights.

WillBarrett_68

Assuming no status, by the letter of the policy, no. I would guess you might be able to find an agent who would let you in if you have an 006 ticket, but even that seems unlikely.