Jan 10, 2014, 3:20 pm
Last edit by: bgriff
Summary of Changes and Frequently Asked Questions
These changes are effective May 1, 2014
This topic is a prime candidate for Wikipost. Let's see if we can't pull one together incorporating the details of the changes, as well as DLCorpGirl's responses to some of our questions.
SkyClub membership has been split into two tiers: Executive and Individual.
Executive members may guest two individuals, or immediate family (spouse + children under 21) without additional charge. Executive members may guest up to 2 additional individuals for $29 each per visit.
Individual members must pay for all guests. Individual members may guest up to 2 individuals, or immediate family (spouse + children under 21) for $29 each per visit.
Lifetime Memberships will be converted to Lifetime Executive Memberships, per DLCorpGal.
30 Day Skyclub Pass - this has been discontinued per Delta contacts.
American Express Delta Reserve and American Express Platinum or Centurion Card (not American Express Delta Platinum co-branded credit card, but American Express non-branded Platinum Charge Card) members may guest up to 2 individuals, or immediate family (spouse + children under 21) for $29 each per visit.
The fee for the Delta Gold American Express and Delta Platinum American Express cardmembers will increase to $29 per visit, per DLCorpGal.
Diamond Medallions may upgrade to an Executive Membership as a Choice Benefit or by using miles or cash to pay the difference. No confirmation on miles, but the cash difference is confirmed to be $145 if done by 3/1/15 per DLCorpGal. NOTE: Diamond Medallions have Executive Membership until 2/28/15. After this date, they will have Individual Membership by default.
Alaska Board Room membership is a workaround as of 1/15/14 for $450 1 year - $1050 3 years and includes 2 guests FREE or family. Note, however, that the AS/DL relationship isn't as good as it used to be and there's no guarantee that the Board Room/SkyClub reciprocity relationship will continue as it currently exists. -- As of February 2015 AS club membership no longer includes guests at Delta lounges.
These changes are effective May 1, 2014
This topic is a prime candidate for Wikipost. Let's see if we can't pull one together incorporating the details of the changes, as well as DLCorpGirl's responses to some of our questions.
SkyClub membership has been split into two tiers: Executive and Individual.
Executive members may guest two individuals, or immediate family (spouse + children under 21) without additional charge. Executive members may guest up to 2 additional individuals for $29 each per visit.
Individual members must pay for all guests. Individual members may guest up to 2 individuals, or immediate family (spouse + children under 21) for $29 each per visit.
Lifetime Memberships will be converted to Lifetime Executive Memberships, per DLCorpGal.
30 Day Skyclub Pass - this has been discontinued per Delta contacts.
American Express Delta Reserve and American Express Platinum or Centurion Card (not American Express Delta Platinum co-branded credit card, but American Express non-branded Platinum Charge Card) members may guest up to 2 individuals, or immediate family (spouse + children under 21) for $29 each per visit.
The fee for the Delta Gold American Express and Delta Platinum American Express cardmembers will increase to $29 per visit, per DLCorpGal.
Diamond Medallions may upgrade to an Executive Membership as a Choice Benefit or by using miles or cash to pay the difference. No confirmation on miles, but the cash difference is confirmed to be $145 if done by 3/1/15 per DLCorpGal. NOTE: Diamond Medallions have Executive Membership until 2/28/15. After this date, they will have Individual Membership by default.
Alaska Board Room membership is a workaround as of 1/15/14 for $450 1 year - $1050 3 years and includes 2 guests FREE or family. Note, however, that the AS/DL relationship isn't as good as it used to be and there's no guarantee that the Board Room/SkyClub reciprocity relationship will continue as it currently exists. -- As of February 2015 AS club membership no longer includes guests at Delta lounges.
Updates to Delta Sky Club membership Options
Jan 10, 2014, 8:20 am
#151
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Astoria, NY: LGA, JFK
Programs: Delta PM; Sheraton's Vistana BOD; SPG Gold
Posts: 2,035
I travel either alone or with my wife. Taking away my wife's access is a slap in the face.
Wudda, shudda, cudda... Delta should have allowed one guest only with the individual membership. That would have been a fair compromise. Instead the pencil pushers decided on a plan which infuriates thousands of loyal customers and will ultimately lead to loss of revenue as memberships and credit cards are canceled.
Wudda, shudda, cudda... Delta should have allowed one guest only with the individual membership. That would have been a fair compromise. Instead the pencil pushers decided on a plan which infuriates thousands of loyal customers and will ultimately lead to loss of revenue as memberships and credit cards are canceled.
Jan 10, 2014, 8:20 am
#152
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, AA EXP, US G, SPG P, HH D, MR G, NEXUS/GE, DL AMEX Reserve
Posts: 2,035
Quote:
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
IME the AmEx Plat kids are the best of the bunch, then DM offspring and Reserve card families are about the same, then SC member offspring, and the worst are the GroupOn bunch. Maybe the problem is that those who plan to travel with large families are most likely to buy the SC membership versus the elite credit cards having financial requirements and other benefits beyond SC use by the whole gang.
Do you just type to type? This has to be one of the worst stereotype post I have ever seen unless you are asking for how people entered when you see them with kids. Thats all whole different thread then.
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
IME the AmEx Plat kids are the best of the bunch, then DM offspring and Reserve card families are about the same, then SC member offspring, and the worst are the GroupOn bunch. Maybe the problem is that those who plan to travel with large families are most likely to buy the SC membership versus the elite credit cards having financial requirements and other benefits beyond SC use by the whole gang.
Do you just type to type? This has to be one of the worst stereotype post I have ever seen unless you are asking for how people entered when you see them with kids. Thats all whole different thread then.
Jan 10, 2014, 8:20 am
#153
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MLB, MCO
Programs: Delta Plat, IHG Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,315
Is the $25 for DL Amex Plat holders going up also? If not it would be cheaper for my wife to pay with her DL Plat card than it would be for me to pay the $29 guest fee as a Reserve card holder.
Jan 10, 2014, 8:20 am
#154
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ATL
Programs: DL PM, Amex DL Reserve, Starwood Gold
Posts: 2
Amex Skymiles Reserve card downgraded to Skymiles Platinum. Amex agent said their call volume this morning was spiking and was thankful that I explained to her why this is happening. Looks like Amex is a big loser for this change. Luckily the agent made the downgrade process very easy.
Jan 10, 2014, 8:21 am
#155
[INACTIVE] Company Representative - Delta Air Lines
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 150
DLCorpGal,
Thank you for the posting. What is the status of current memberships? are those memberships remaining in the Executive status through the end of the current expiration date, or are those converted into 'individual level' memberships?
(e.g. are memberships that were purchased or earned under condition "A" converted into memberships under condition "A-"?)
Thank you for the posting. What is the status of current memberships? are those memberships remaining in the Executive status through the end of the current expiration date, or are those converted into 'individual level' memberships?
(e.g. are memberships that were purchased or earned under condition "A" converted into memberships under condition "A-"?)
Jan 10, 2014, 8:21 am
#156
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,679
You can pack a Wal-Mart with as many rich businessmen as you'd like, but if the management is still pushing cheap booze and stale carrots, it's never going to be "nice."
I don't have a problem paying more for equal quality to cut down on crowding, but jacking up prices in light of the MANY recent cost cutting moves by DL is just plain skeevy.
I don't have a problem paying more for equal quality to cut down on crowding, but jacking up prices in light of the MANY recent cost cutting moves by DL is just plain skeevy.
I hardly use the clubs anymore, even though I'm entitled to them with my J tickets. When Heineken is the "best" complimentary beverage on tap I'll pass. (I'm still bitter about losing the NW craft and local beers in air and at clubs). Add to that the fact that public restaurants in the terminal are quieter and enforce keeping children in check FTW.
Maybe if the reduction in people increases the product I'll check it out again.
Jan 10, 2014, 8:21 am
#157
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: JFK
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 458
Amex Reserve card holder here...I could understand limited card holders to one guest. Gouging me for $29 each time I want my wife to be able to join me, after I'm already paying $450 is just ridiculous. Most years the 30k mqm bonus gets me to Gold status which is nearly worthless these days. I've been Gold for 2 years and have received exactly zero upgrades. I will most definitely be downgrading to the Gold card or possibly cancelling altogether. Nice job Delta.
Hitting us for $29 feels cheap, and is another reason that I am getting closer to considering other airlines for travel. Especially given the JFK T4 debacle of having to walk 20 mins to a gate and having only one club that is more of an al-la-carte restaurant with tons of staff aiming to upsell every member that goes in.
Jan 10, 2014, 8:22 am
#158
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta DM and 2 MM, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 598
From the linked page: "All current one- and three-year single or joint memberships will be considered Executive and will receive complimentary access to Delta Sky Club for the member and up to two guests or their immediate family per visit, provided that Delta determines that adequate space exists, until membership expiration."
Would be nice if DL can verify this general policy of add-on years.
Jan 10, 2014, 8:23 am
#159
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,579
I am a Platinum Medallion who holds both a Delta Reserve Card and American Express Platinum Card, is there really no option for me to get my kids in when they travel with me other than paying $29 each or paying $695 a year for an Executive Membership? Seems like there should be an option for American Express Platinum and Delta Reserve card holders to 'upgrade' to Executive membership.
Jan 10, 2014, 8:23 am
#160
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,252
I purchased a SkyClub membership this Monday with the SJN10 discount so it looks like I lucked out timing wise. I realize the whole children tropic has become a bone of contention and I think many of us who do not like kids operate under the assertion (right or wrong) that Executive Lounges (be it airline or hotels) and First Class should be kid free. As a result, when we encounter children in those areas I think there is a tendancy to overstate/overdramatize it.
Jan 10, 2014, 8:23 am
#161
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: JFK
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 458
I encourage all Reserve Card holders to write in to Delta with their complaints: https://www.delta.com/contactus/page...ent_complaint/
Jan 10, 2014, 8:23 am
#162
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PBI
Programs: DL 2.8 MM/PM, AA MM/GLD, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,746
Jan 10, 2014, 8:23 am
#163
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,510
Rollover miles detonated club overcrowding. There's your #1 culprit.
Jan 10, 2014, 8:23 am
#164
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
Yeah that's how I read it as well. If they took away complementary access for the cardholder I would never fly Delta. The lounge access is the only perk for me when I'm on Delta. Though after they started charging for Sweetwater when in ATL that annoyed me. Now all I get are DL cookies.