Do Sky Clubs Ever Let in Cute 7 Year Olds for Free?
#61
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,613
It is less about the guest consuming $29 worth of products and more about keeping the flow of people down. The JFK lounge in the late afternoon/early evening looks like a refugee camp with the amount of people in it. Sometimes there are less people in the terminal than in the lounge.
The $29 charge serves the purpose of reducing the number of guests
The $29 charge serves the purpose of reducing the number of guests
To Be Clear: I am a Physician and Physicians are notoriously poor business people, I know that I am, so my thoughts could be completely off base here.
I have trouble seeing some DELTA Manager going, lets institute a fee for guests to combat overcrowding. To my brain, I have an easier time seeing some DELTA Manager saying, the new free food and better alcohol is more expensive and thus to cover our costs and potentially make a little $$$$ lets take away free guests and instead add a fee for guests.
The going theory on Flyertalk as best I understand is that the airlines have become about REVENUE above all else, REVENUE above loyalty, REVENUE above, customer service, etc. Thus, maybe it is a simple as a DELTA Manager being told to find more $$$$ and a SkyClub Manager said, geez we include two guests complimentary with each membership, what if we added a fee, now we can monitize guests. Win Win!
Could the fee be used to reduce the number of guests, sure, it just seems that DELTA has other priorities.
#62
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: HH Diamond, Delta Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 239
Nope. At least not in MSP.
When I travel I'm either alone or with my husband or with the whole family. But today I'm taking a pleasure trip with my son for his 10th birthday gift.
I have club access with my Delta Reserve card, and my husband has a lifetime membership so I've never NOT brought our kids into the club. They've been well trained. 😋 They know they are to sit quietly or they don't get to stay.
Today we were denied because kids over 2 have to pay $29 with the reserve card access. We are flying on 2 FC tickets, the lounge was empty, it was 6 am and our flight was delayed. But she wasn't going to budge.
My son wasn't going to eat anything (he has a nut allergy) and I as the frequent traveler just wanted to relax and grab a light breakfast. Who is the only person Delta inconvenienced? Me, because I can't very well leave my child outside alone.
I totally understand the guest fee for another adult, but it's only negatively impacting the adult "loyal member" when you deny access for their child. And, asking me to pay $29 for him to sit in a chair next to me and play on his iPad is just silly.
We'll see how it goes in SFO.
I have club access with my Delta Reserve card, and my husband has a lifetime membership so I've never NOT brought our kids into the club. They've been well trained. 😋 They know they are to sit quietly or they don't get to stay.
Today we were denied because kids over 2 have to pay $29 with the reserve card access. We are flying on 2 FC tickets, the lounge was empty, it was 6 am and our flight was delayed. But she wasn't going to budge.
My son wasn't going to eat anything (he has a nut allergy) and I as the frequent traveler just wanted to relax and grab a light breakfast. Who is the only person Delta inconvenienced? Me, because I can't very well leave my child outside alone.
I totally understand the guest fee for another adult, but it's only negatively impacting the adult "loyal member" when you deny access for their child. And, asking me to pay $29 for him to sit in a chair next to me and play on his iPad is just silly.
We'll see how it goes in SFO.
#63
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,614
Wouldn't it be refreshing if just once, a parent or guardian would state that his/her child(ren) are mischief makers, and might need supervision?
#64
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: DL PM, 1MM, DL SC, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 2,416
If the theory is that SCs should let children in for free because they won't consume food and beverages, then I would like a pro-rated refund of my membership fee every time I go to a SC and don't eat or drink.
#65
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 461
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
I don't understand why people think their kids should get in free. If I'm travelling with a business associate and they aren't going to drink any alcohol I sure don't expect Delta to allow them in for free. The clubs are crowded enough at times and even if they aren't consuming alcohol they are still taking a chair from a paying member.
I posted in the DYKWIA threat about an incident Friday at DTW and the attendant refused to allow any Children in for free and I was glad seeing how packed the club was.
If it's that important to bring your kids in get an exec membership or pay the $29. If I'm travelling with associates who aren't members I simply cough up the $29 or don't enter.
And if they make an exception for one person, that means they should make it for all and pretty soon we'll end up with the clubs being like romper room.
I think eliminating the guesting was a great move by Delta and I suffer from it sometimes since I can't take work colleagues in with me anymore but those times it's worth it for the improvements to the food and less crowding.
I posted in the DYKWIA threat about an incident Friday at DTW and the attendant refused to allow any Children in for free and I was glad seeing how packed the club was.
If it's that important to bring your kids in get an exec membership or pay the $29. If I'm travelling with associates who aren't members I simply cough up the $29 or don't enter.
And if they make an exception for one person, that means they should make it for all and pretty soon we'll end up with the clubs being like romper room.
I think eliminating the guesting was a great move by Delta and I suffer from it sometimes since I can't take work colleagues in with me anymore but those times it's worth it for the improvements to the food and less crowding.
#67
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: YVR, HNL
Programs: AS 75k, UA peon, BA Bronze, AC E50k, Marriott Plat, HH Diamond, Fairmont Plat (RIP)
Posts: 7,813
99% of the time I use the SC (or any lounge for that matter), I have a Diet Coke or a cup of tea/coffee or two. I don't drink alcohol and if I do eat, it is a small snack, like carrot sticks or something. I use the lounges so I have a nice, quiet (yeah, I know ) place with internet access to wait out the time between flights. So by the theory that kids should be free because they don't consume anything, I should always get in free.
#68
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: DCA, LEX
Programs: DL Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Caesars Diamond, K Fund
Posts: 375
#69
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,613
When I travel I'm either alone or with my husband or with the whole family. But today I'm taking a pleasure trip with my son for his 10th birthday gift.
I have club access with my Delta Reserve card, and my husband has a lifetime membership so I've never NOT brought our kids into the club. They've been well trained. They know they are to sit quietly or they don't get to stay.
Today we were denied because kids over 2 have to pay $29 with the reserve card access. We are flying on 2 FC tickets, the lounge was empty, it was 6 am and our flight was delayed. But she wasn't going to budge.
My son wasn't going to eat anything (he has a nut allergy) and I as the frequent traveler just wanted to relax and grab a light breakfast. Who is the only person Delta inconvenienced? Me, because I can't very well leave my child outside alone.
I totally understand the guest fee for another adult, but it's only negatively impacting the adult "loyal member" when you deny access for their child. And, asking me to pay $29 for him to sit in a chair next to me and play on his iPad is just silly.
We'll see how it goes in SFO.
I have club access with my Delta Reserve card, and my husband has a lifetime membership so I've never NOT brought our kids into the club. They've been well trained. They know they are to sit quietly or they don't get to stay.
Today we were denied because kids over 2 have to pay $29 with the reserve card access. We are flying on 2 FC tickets, the lounge was empty, it was 6 am and our flight was delayed. But she wasn't going to budge.
My son wasn't going to eat anything (he has a nut allergy) and I as the frequent traveler just wanted to relax and grab a light breakfast. Who is the only person Delta inconvenienced? Me, because I can't very well leave my child outside alone.
I totally understand the guest fee for another adult, but it's only negatively impacting the adult "loyal member" when you deny access for their child. And, asking me to pay $29 for him to sit in a chair next to me and play on his iPad is just silly.
We'll see how it goes in SFO.
#70
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: OKC
Programs: DL DM/2.768MM, Global Entry, Titanium_Marriott, GHertz
Posts: 6,748
#71
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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: 100,298
When I travel I'm either alone or with my husband or with the whole family. But today I'm taking a pleasure trip with my son for his 10th birthday gift.
I have club access with my Delta Reserve card, and my husband has a lifetime membership so I've never NOT brought our kids into the club. They've been well trained. 😋 They know they are to sit quietly or they don't get to stay.
Today we were denied because kids over 2 have to pay $29 with the reserve card access. We are flying on 2 FC tickets, the lounge was empty, it was 6 am and our flight was delayed. But she wasn't going to budge.
My son wasn't going to eat anything (he has a nut allergy) and I as the frequent traveler just wanted to relax and grab a light breakfast. Who is the only person Delta inconvenienced? Me, because I can't very well leave my child outside alone.
I totally understand the guest fee for another adult, but it's only negatively impacting the adult "loyal member" when you deny access for their child. And, asking me to pay $29 for him to sit in a chair next to me and play on his iPad is just silly.
We'll see how it goes in SFO.
I have club access with my Delta Reserve card, and my husband has a lifetime membership so I've never NOT brought our kids into the club. They've been well trained. 😋 They know they are to sit quietly or they don't get to stay.
Today we were denied because kids over 2 have to pay $29 with the reserve card access. We are flying on 2 FC tickets, the lounge was empty, it was 6 am and our flight was delayed. But she wasn't going to budge.
My son wasn't going to eat anything (he has a nut allergy) and I as the frequent traveler just wanted to relax and grab a light breakfast. Who is the only person Delta inconvenienced? Me, because I can't very well leave my child outside alone.
I totally understand the guest fee for another adult, but it's only negatively impacting the adult "loyal member" when you deny access for their child. And, asking me to pay $29 for him to sit in a chair next to me and play on his iPad is just silly.
We'll see how it goes in SFO.
By some of the "I don't drink so I'm cheap" logic here, every time I use a SC and consume water rather than wine, I should demand to be paid $25 on the way out.
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 17,194
I don't understand why people think their kids should get in free. If I'm travelling with a business associate and they aren't going to drink any alcohol I sure don't expect Delta to allow them in for free. The clubs are crowded enough at times and even if they aren't consuming alcohol they are still taking a chair from a paying member.
#73
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA MM (former 1K) - DL PM (former DM) - Marriott Platinum
Posts: 293
I'm very curious why you think that the rules for entry shouldn't apply to parents and their offspring? The SkyClub isn't marketed as a "Family Club", and the methods for access are known by the members. Why should the fact that someone has a child entitle that person to special privilege?
Last edited by LAX-1K; Aug 17, 2016 at 1:01 pm
#74
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: DL PM, 1MM, DL SC, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 2,416
#75
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 378
That must be one nasty bathroom! "Every time I'm in the kitchen...."