That was my point. The only time that the SkyClub membership provides a relative benefit is if you are not a GM+ and flying on a partner airline. But, even if that is the case, the Priority Pass covers you 95% of the time. So it's difficult to find a use case where you fly enough to not make STE+ while also happen to fly enough and fly enough to airports that don't have PP lounges.

Maybe Delta is doing this in an effort to get people to signup for the Reserve Card/Amex Platinum Card.

They very well might get more money from Amex than club memberships...

Nonrevs plus airline and airport employees, who aren't necessarily flying that day (on any airline).

Yes, if a GM+ is flying an international SkyTeam itinerary that day. The SkyTeam lounge access policy doesn't cover domestic SkyTeam flights.

Partners such as VA and VS that aren't SkyTeam members aren't covered by the policy either. In fact, for some cases of VA/VS lounge access PM/DM status is required IIRC.

Nonrevs have Seat Request Cards, which look like boaring passes and are probably what those on E Fares have.

Employees travelling nonrev are prohibited from using their employee ID for post-security and must use the regular TSA Lines (Usually Pre)

'Lifetime Sky Club Memberships' are Executive Memberships that have an expiration date of 12/31/2079. I'll deal with that in about 61 years.

Yes, but a working crew member, GA, ramper, etc. would be airside without boarding passes, as would be airport employees such as people with jobs at Chick-Fil-A etc. They're not supposed to use SCs (or PP lounges, etc.).

An employee can have a Sky Club Membership. The are prohibited from using it when in uniform or with airline ID showing. Delta has rules about employee members using the Club.

We go to restaurants, not the Club when we meet our employee kids if they're working. They're travelling Int'l D1 (Paid) in April and will use the Club as 'regular' D1 travelers.

Unless Chick-Fil-A has raised wages dramatically as a result of the new tax laws, I don't think that too many of their employees, or other airport retail workers, are going to spend the $$$ to join the Sky Club. Where is it written that they're not supposed to use SC's, etc? Are they second class citizens?

Most airport lounges don't want to be used as a bar for free happy hour (or free meals) for airport employees, unless of course they're traveling that day and have access.

1. WRT partner lounge access, perhaps DL just got tired of paying the fees imposed by the "partners" for our accessing their lounges. All pennies need to be pinched. :rolleyes:

2. More generally, these changes may portend the eventual elimination of complimentary club membership for DMs. Those of us who were PMs back in the days when PMs got complimentary membership may be faced with deja vu all over again.

Dumb question - what is current price for a day pass if I show my Delta AmEx? Last I checked was still the $29 fee. Does this allow me a free guest? Thanks!

It's $29 for you, and $29 per guest. Up to two guests allowed.

It's not a "day" pass (which no longer exist AFAIK), it's a "single visit" pass. Reports are that you can usually get them to give you a receipt to use at other SCs in the same airport where applicable (ATL/DTW/etc), but you can't use it at both your originating and connecting airports unless you pay another $29.

You'd have to pay the $29 for yourself and for each guest (and you might be limited to 2 guests, not sure).

When I'm flying international, they won't take my Amex Platinum for entry, the boarding pass alone suffices.

1. Sky Club access rules for me (Amex Platinum holder) aren't changing.
2. D1 domestic upgrades were never free (F upgrades on those routes were); D1 upgrades by RUC were something I found preferable to free F upgrades. And come April, domestic D1 upgrades will again be free.
3. On my last TATL mileage ticket, I paid taxes and government fees, no fuel surcharge.

Did they really? Delta is more generous (Amex Platinum requires same-day boarding pass, but arrival after a redeye works.)

Delta lets nonrevs (with seat request cards) into the Sky Clubs with an Amex swipe.

As long as Amex is paying for it...why does DL care?

LOL! If this is true it's got to be #1 on the "rules we ignore" list. I even know a FA who will wear a uniform when flying nonrev to make sure she gets to the front of the security lines!

For the first time ever, the Delta agent at the Washington-Dulles check-in counter told me to visit the Air France/KLM lounge. In the past, access has always been a secret, if you will. In my opinion, the Air France/KLM lounge at Dulles is the single best domestic lounge for a Delta passenger.

That's right; I was responding to someone who said he always used his Amex even when traveling internationally.

An FA or other crew can get away with it pretty easily and aren't likely to get caught, but it's still taking a chance.

This topic went dormant, but I had some questions.

I have an Amex Plat and a SkyClub membership that is paid for about another five years. I am thinking of asking DL for a refund for the membership period after 1/1/2019.

Ignoring skyteam benefits, a SC member can only access Delta lounges starting 1/1/2019 and only then if flying Delta or a partner. Does "partner" mean the entire list of 26 airlines here:

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...-partners.html

At the present, I'm a domestic flyer so having access when flying a partner means zip. As a domestic flyer, it would seem the Amex Plat membership is just as good as having the SkyClub membership.

Has anybody tried to get a membership refund based on the changed access terms?

Excellent question.

I doubt you would be given a refund unless your Amex Plat validity is also additional 5 years (although likeliness of being a member is high).

My complaint was filed to the courts in state of Georgia but didn't get enough tracking. Complaint was filed, and DL responded to both, me and the court, with a "sorry", "decisions had to be made" type letter. Court closed the case, unless further complaint or activity was warranted.

Jiburi

Has anybody else requested a refund to lifetime Executive memberships, or sued DL for this change?
As an ex-NWA Lifetime Lounge member, this is a very disappointing move, and certainty diminishes the value of the lifetime membership I purchased...

Seems like there might be some issues with breach of contracts from the time you purchased your lifetime membership. I have one too and wondering the same thing. Know any lawyers?? Probably have to wait until you are denied entrance for something you could do before...so there's damages to claim for...

I'm not a lawyer, but pretty sure there was a clause in the contract that said/says DL can make/change rules at its whimsy. Now as to whether that clause is enforceable, I have no idea.

Where this will blow up for Delta is in the court of public opinion. Fundamentally they sold something, and want to change terms of the deal after taking money. Would be very surprised if this does not become a media story either locally with "seven on your side" or nationally. Just because something is legal does not make it right.

Yes, I can just see this story on the front page of the NY Times. Clearly you have a slam dunk. What are you waiting for?

They should leave things as they were for the lifetime members, but prevent them from getting any hot food (tillamook and crackers only) and limit their free booze to Scorseby scotch since that was the deal when they bought their memberships.

Isn't there some sort of salty "nut" mix which should also be on that list?

Also members still have a lifetime membership. The benefits of that membership have changed, however they still have one. Nothing about the purchase didn't allow NW to change the house rules/terms of entry.

Finally, there's been at least 1 bankruptcy filling since then. Without reading the filings no way to know if they gave their selves an out during that process.

DL has the actual data, not just anecdotal evidence and assumptions of a rounding error

Some clubs are super crowded at peak times. Alleviating that is probably a good thing

1)these customers are likely paying full price to access a club when no other exists.
2)is exposes them to DL.
3)just because they have data doesn't mean they looked at it with all the correct variables.

I'm betting someone thought along the lines of, we impose this on all other methods of access, why not here.

On the West Coast the audience could well be more than a rounding error. The SEA and SFO SkyClubs are both phenomenal, and the PDX Club is best in that airport; Alaska will be in the same terminal at SAN soon, too. Alaska passengers might well opt for a DL membership vs an AS membership---especially because they do not really provide access to a lounge at SFO. I also prefer the DL lounge at ORD to the UA (except Polaris) or AA choices.

Aside from being an individual life club member, I have much higher priorities in life than to manage a media campaign for club access.