Warning for all Medallion members traveling to Tokyo HND
Jan 2, 18, 10:51 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 1
Warning for all Medallion members traveling to Tokyo HND
Third trip to HND this year and I will never travel to this airport again.
They have changed their lounge rules and no longer except any Medallion member, regardless of tier, into the TIAT Lounge anymore. They ended Medallion privileges there as of November 2017. They will only except Delta one customers now.
Your only lounge option is the sky lounge, which you have to pay to get in, and only provide juice and tea. I am a Delta reserve card holder and the sky lounge does except access if you have an American Express, but only if it was issued in Japan?! What the heck? Only issued in Japan? That’s descrimination in my book.
For anyone traveling to Japan I suggest using NRT airport. HND is not accommodating at all to Delta Medallions anymore.
They have changed their lounge rules and no longer except any Medallion member, regardless of tier, into the TIAT Lounge anymore. They ended Medallion privileges there as of November 2017. They will only except Delta one customers now.
Your only lounge option is the sky lounge, which you have to pay to get in, and only provide juice and tea. I am a Delta reserve card holder and the sky lounge does except access if you have an American Express, but only if it was issued in Japan?! What the heck? Only issued in Japan? That’s descrimination in my book.
For anyone traveling to Japan I suggest using NRT airport. HND is not accommodating at all to Delta Medallions anymore.
Jan 3, 18, 12:46 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,578
Originally Posted by Jipper
Third trip to HND this year and I will never travel to this airport again.
They have changed their lounge rules and no longer except any Medallion member, regardless of tier, into the TIAT Lounge anymore. They ended Medallion privileges there as of November 2017. They will only except Delta one customers now.
Your only lounge option is the sky lounge, which you have to pay to get in, and only provide juice and tea. I am a Delta reserve card holder and the sky lounge does except access if you have an American Express, but only if it was issued in Japan?! What the heck? Only issued in Japan? That’s descrimination in my book.
For anyone traveling to Japan I suggest using NRT airport. HND is not accommodating at all to Delta Medallions anymore.
They have changed their lounge rules and no longer except any Medallion member, regardless of tier, into the TIAT Lounge anymore. They ended Medallion privileges there as of November 2017. They will only except Delta one customers now.
Your only lounge option is the sky lounge, which you have to pay to get in, and only provide juice and tea. I am a Delta reserve card holder and the sky lounge does except access if you have an American Express, but only if it was issued in Japan?! What the heck? Only issued in Japan? That’s descrimination in my book.
For anyone traveling to Japan I suggest using NRT airport. HND is not accommodating at all to Delta Medallions anymore.
The convenience of the airport much outweighs the lounge access. Having said that, the SkyClub at NRT is nice and it would be amazing if such a DL-branded club with that level of selection and service opened at HND.
Jan 3, 18, 2:51 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Detroit, MI USA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,229
Originally Posted by Jipper
Third trip to HND this year and I will never travel to this airport again.
They have changed their lounge rules and no longer except any Medallion member, regardless of tier, into the TIAT Lounge anymore. They ended Medallion privileges there as of November 2017. They will only except Delta one customers now.
Your only lounge option is the sky lounge, which you have to pay to get in, and only provide juice and tea. I am a Delta reserve card holder and the sky lounge does except access if you have an American Express, but only if it was issued in Japan?! What the heck? Only issued in Japan? That’s descrimination in my book.
For anyone traveling to Japan I suggest using NRT airport. HND is not accommodating at all to Delta Medallions anymore.
They have changed their lounge rules and no longer except any Medallion member, regardless of tier, into the TIAT Lounge anymore. They ended Medallion privileges there as of November 2017. They will only except Delta one customers now.
Your only lounge option is the sky lounge, which you have to pay to get in, and only provide juice and tea. I am a Delta reserve card holder and the sky lounge does except access if you have an American Express, but only if it was issued in Japan?! What the heck? Only issued in Japan? That’s descrimination in my book.
For anyone traveling to Japan I suggest using NRT airport. HND is not accommodating at all to Delta Medallions anymore.
Why would a serious traveler to whom time is money avoid HND over lounge use? When compared to location and ease, it's barely an issue. This is where there is a FT disconnect with how business operates.
Jan 3, 18, 3:57 am
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MEL
Programs: VA-PLT, DL-GM, QF-GLD, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 7,916
I can see why you might change airline loyalty over this... DL isn't giving their best product to their elites, and it is just to save DL money. Not competitive in the marketplace and below expectations. If you were flying AA or UA (or their partners) to HND, you'd have lounge access.
But changing airports? No thanks, I'll keep flying to HND. I won't take the inconvenience of NRT just for a bit of lounge time.
You seem angry at HND. HND hasn't done anything wrong. Blame DL (and AMEX), they make up the rules.
But changing airports? No thanks, I'll keep flying to HND. I won't take the inconvenience of NRT just for a bit of lounge time.
You seem angry at HND. HND hasn't done anything wrong. Blame DL (and AMEX), they make up the rules.
Jan 3, 18, 4:26 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 1MM, BA Silver
Posts: 10,170
Delta changed the policy for third-party lounge access for Medallions (not flying D1) on DL-operated flights quite awhile ago.
If flying a SkyTeam partner, GM/PM/DM can still gain lounge access (ST or third-party) as a ST Elite/Elite+.
If flying a SkyTeam partner, GM/PM/DM can still gain lounge access (ST or third-party) as a ST Elite/Elite+.
Jan 3, 18, 6:14 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tokyo
Programs: DL Diamond, ANA Platinum
Posts: 1,436
You may not get access, but you will save 1.5-2 hours and a considerable amount of cash thanks to HND’s convenience. Spend the savings at one of the nice restaurants in the terminal.
As a DL GM/PM/DM, you’d still get lounge access if you were flying KE, AF, CI, etc.
Jan 3, 18, 6:38 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 13,290
The DL Amex Reserve card only includes access to actual DL operated Sky Clubs. It does not include access to any third party lounges. This is quite clear in the T&C's. The non-branded US Platinum Amex card includes Priority Pass which gets you into a large number of third party lounges internationally (in addition to DL Sky Clubs when flying DL). However, there do not appear to be any Priority Pass lounges in HND (only NRT). In short, there are a number of different Amex card products and the benefits all vary depending on which type of Amex card you have and where the Amex card is issued. You should carefully read the T&C's before assuming the particular Amex card you have will get you into lounges at airports you frequent on a regular basis.
Jan 3, 18, 6:40 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: DL DM 1MM, Marriott LT Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,755
It is pretty crappy... they are marketing HND as the alternative to NRT, but treating it like the red headed stepchild for benefits. Getting lounge access at what is supposed to be a focus city and near a hub should be expected.
The problem is that DL is stripping away lounge benefits even at key JV partners like KL in AMS. I think its not until 2019, but no more crown lounge unless you're in D1. Effectively they are making SC membership domestic only for DL lounges and no intl partner access... so at that point might as well just use the Reserve or Amex Plat card and not bother with a SC membership.
The problem is that DL is stripping away lounge benefits even at key JV partners like KL in AMS. I think its not until 2019, but no more crown lounge unless you're in D1. Effectively they are making SC membership domestic only for DL lounges and no intl partner access... so at that point might as well just use the Reserve or Amex Plat card and not bother with a SC membership.
Jan 3, 18, 6:49 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 13,290
Originally Posted by rylan
It is pretty crappy... they are marketing HND as the alternative to NRT, but treating it like the red headed stepchild for benefits. Getting lounge access at what is supposed to be a focus city and near a hub should be expected.
The problem is that DL is stripping away lounge benefits even at key JV partners like KL in AMS. I think its not until 2019, but no more crown lounge unless you're in D1. Effectively they are making SC membership domestic only for DL lounges and no intl partner access... so at that point might as well just use the Reserve or Amex Plat card and not bother with a SC membership.
The problem is that DL is stripping away lounge benefits even at key JV partners like KL in AMS. I think its not until 2019, but no more crown lounge unless you're in D1. Effectively they are making SC membership domestic only for DL lounges and no intl partner access... so at that point might as well just use the Reserve or Amex Plat card and not bother with a SC membership.
Last edited by LBJ; Jan 3, 18 at 8:48 am
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Jan 3, 18, 8:23 am
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 48,768
Looking at DL's website lounge finder, it shows access for D1 only. If you check the box for ST E+, including the specific definition, it blanks out the two available lounges. So, either the website is wrong or DL has indeed stopped paying for its elites to access those two third-party lounges.
Jan 3, 18, 8:56 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 13,290
Originally Posted by Often1
Looking at DL's website lounge finder, it shows access for D1 only. If you check the box for ST E+, including the specific definition, it blanks out the two available lounges. So, either the website is wrong or DL has indeed stopped paying for its elites to access those two third-party lounges.
Here's the first announcement for access between Oct 30, 2016 - Apr 30, 2017 --
Delta is offering Medallions third-party lounge access in HND
And the subsequent extension through Oct 31, 2017 --
https://pro.delta.com/content/agency...promotion.html
