Starting in 2016, Alaska Airlines Boardroom members lose Sky Club access
#47
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,110
It must be DL's latest "enhancement"... virtual lounges. You arrive at the airport, find a seat somewhere, and then pull up delta.com on your computer and experience a "360 Degree Immersion™ into a state of the art Delta Sky Club™ (offer valid for Delta 360™ and Full Fare Delta One™ passengers only).".
#48
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I'm not sure I understand how this is a program devaluation when DL has lounges in every airport where AS has a lounge. Given the recent upgrades to to the SCs they're far better than AS lounges anyway. And, IMHO, AS flyers benefited more from this than DL flyers ever did. AS got 50 lounges, most in airports where AS does not have lounges and DL got 4 lounges in cities where they already have lounges.
I would also disagree with your claim that the SCs are better. On the food side, AS BRs have the pancake machines and IME always some nice chunks of quite good real cheese, plus packages of nice crackers. The LAX BR is extremely nice; if I have time, I'll walk the tunnel round trip to use it rather than the SC in T5 unless I'm concerned about potential IROPs and want to be near DL agents.
#49
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Not true. There's no DL SC at ANC. The email only mentioned three of the four lounge locations, LAX, PDX, and SEA, but not ANC.
I would also disagree with your claim that the SCs are better. On the food side, AS BRs have the pancake machines and IME always some nice chunks of quite good real cheese, plus packages of nice crackers. The LAX BR is extremely nice; if I have time, I'll walk the tunnel round trip to use it rather than the SC in T5 unless I'm concerned about potential IROPs and want to be near DL agents.
I would also disagree with your claim that the SCs are better. On the food side, AS BRs have the pancake machines and IME always some nice chunks of quite good real cheese, plus packages of nice crackers. The LAX BR is extremely nice; if I have time, I'll walk the tunnel round trip to use it rather than the SC in T5 unless I'm concerned about potential IROPs and want to be near DL agents.
#50
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ATL
Programs: 4MM/DM, Marriott Lifetime PM, Hilton Diamond, SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,370
I don't know about you but the loss of ANC is huge. I didn't spend much time at the AS BR in SEA as it always depended on where the connecting flight left from but I'm going to miss the views from ANC.
#51
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
I think you're in the vast minority. While it's never good to lose access anywhere, I can't imagine DL has a vast base of FF's in ANC. Adding to that even fewer that would regularly use the lounge as there are obviously no DL connections from ANC. Maybe a few people with their families waiting for their flight after getting off their cruise ship.
#52
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Priority Pass will get you in if you have access to it through a credit card.
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
I think you're in the vast minority. While it's never good to lose access anywhere, I can't imagine DL has a vast base of FF's in ANC. Adding to that even fewer that would regularly use the lounge as there are obviously no DL connections from ANC. Maybe a few people with their families waiting for their flight after getting off their cruise ship.
#54
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DCA
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 320
I second the comment about the Board Room at LAX. Connected there today, in and out from T6, and there would be no way to treck through that tunnel to (the overcrowded, lackluster) SkyClub in T5 and back in the hour I had. Board Room comes in handy.
Also, those out there with an Amex Platinum card can access BR with Priority Pass, which is a free perk and often very useful outside the US.
#57
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
In general, aside from the likely small number of DL fliers that routinely go to ANC, this will have only a very marginal impact. This is a much bigger loss for AS fliers.
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,399
No. I was at the BR at LAX a few months ago and someone was connecting to a SYD flight on a J ticket (not sure of their status) and thought they had lounge access and the BR rep told them it didn't apply to the BR and they would have to go use the SC in T5. If someone is a diamond though they would still be able to access the BR right now since all skyclub members have access and diamond's get a SC membership
#59
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Good time to get an Amex Plat if you don't have one already. It comes with a Priority Pass membership which gets you BR Access even if you're not flying AS. I believe the Citi Prestige card does the same.
#60
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I think you're in the vast minority. While it's never good to lose access anywhere, I can't imagine DL has a vast base of FF's in ANC. Adding to that even fewer that would regularly use the lounge as there are obviously no DL connections from ANC. Maybe a few people with their families waiting for their flight after getting off their cruise ship.