Gold Medallion = Free or Paid SkyTeam Lounge Access?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 5
Gold Medallion = Free or Paid SkyTeam Lounge Access?
Greetings - spent the last 5-10 minutes searching, hopefully an easy answer.
I have the Delta AMEX Platinum card and reached Gold Medallion for 2018. One of the benefits of Gold is "SkyTeam Lounge Access" -- I read this to mean I show my Delta Medallion and/or AMEX and I'd be in. "That will be $29 for the day" was an unexpected surprise when they replied to me at the lounge counter.
Can someone help me set the right expectations for what Gold Medallion and/or AMEX Platinum means for SkyTeam Lounge access?
I have the Delta AMEX Platinum card and reached Gold Medallion for 2018. One of the benefits of Gold is "SkyTeam Lounge Access" -- I read this to mean I show my Delta Medallion and/or AMEX and I'd be in. "That will be $29 for the day" was an unexpected surprise when they replied to me at the lounge counter.
Can someone help me set the right expectations for what Gold Medallion and/or AMEX Platinum means for SkyTeam Lounge access?
#2
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Greetings - spent the last 5-10 minutes searching, hopefully an easy answer.
I have the Delta AMEX Platinum card and reached Gold Medallion for 2018. One of the benefits of Gold is "SkyTeam Lounge Access" -- I read this to mean I show my Delta Medallion and/or AMEX and I'd be in. "That will be $29 for the day" was an unexpected surprise when they replied to me at the lounge counter.
Can someone help me set the right expectations for what Gold Medallion and/or AMEX Platinum means for SkyTeam Lounge access?
I have the Delta AMEX Platinum card and reached Gold Medallion for 2018. One of the benefits of Gold is "SkyTeam Lounge Access" -- I read this to mean I show my Delta Medallion and/or AMEX and I'd be in. "That will be $29 for the day" was an unexpected surprise when they replied to me at the lounge counter.
Can someone help me set the right expectations for what Gold Medallion and/or AMEX Platinum means for SkyTeam Lounge access?
The Delta Amex Platinum card gives you no lounge access privileges at all other than the discount. Not to be confused with the Amex Platinum (not Delta Platinum) which does give you lounge access (Priority Pass and Delta lounges when flying Delta metal).
#4
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Programs: HH-Diamond, IHG-Plat, DL-DM, PnF Plat, Kroger +
Posts: 514
I made the move to Reserve from AX Gold. The companion pass, bonus MQM are worth it for me since I mostly fly DL.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 5
It all depends how much you will be traveling and how much DL you will be flying. I'm assuming since you made GM you are flying enough on DL. Where are you based?
I made the move to Reserve from AX Gold. The companion pass, bonus MQM are worth it for me since I mostly fly DL.
I made the move to Reserve from AX Gold. The companion pass, bonus MQM are worth it for me since I mostly fly DL.
When you made the switch to Reserve, did you have to be careful about the timing of your companion tickets? For example, I just earned and used my companion ticket for Platinum a few months ago. I won't earn my next one till Sept 2018. If I switch to Reserve in Jan 2018, does that start a new 12 month clock to where the companion ticket won't show up until 12 months afterward?
Maybe I'll get on the phone with AMEX... thanks again for your insight.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 5
Agree when it's a new account -- not sure if you can just "upgrade" from Platinum to Reserve and keep your dates. Or if you have to finish out your year of Platinum before you can switch to Reserve. I'll post if I find out.
#8
Join Date: May 2004
Location: formerly Gold now Diamond, formerly MSY, now LAX, formerly NW, now DL
Programs: Hyatt Plat, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Delta Diamond/1MM
Posts: 4,635
Yes, and there's lots of restrictions (only 48 lower states unless you live in AK/HI) and so read the terms and conditions to see if it is truly a benefit for you.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 5
Thanks NOLA - looks like I'll probably stay with Delta AMEX Platinum. We spend $75k a year or so and my wife and I both have accounts. This lets her get the $50k = 20k MQM bonus and myself the $25k = 10k MQM. If I were to go with Reserve she wouldn't meet her MQM Silver goal with her little travel. The $195 vs. $450 annual fee means if I enter the SkyClub 8 times or less this year, I made the right call.
#10
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: 100,413
You might want to consider whether it would make sense for you to get (in addition to the DL AmEx cards) a regular AmEx Plat charge card (also about $450-500 per year, with with an annual $200 airline fee credit, lounge access including a PP membership. reimbursed GE or PreCheck fee, etc.).
#11
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Jerusalem
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,281
You have lounge access on international SkyTeam itineraries but not domestic.
The Delta Amex Platinum card gives you no lounge access privileges at all other than the discount. Not to be confused with the Amex Platinum (not Delta Platinum) which does give you lounge access (Priority Pass and Delta lounges when flying Delta metal).
The Delta Amex Platinum card gives you no lounge access privileges at all other than the discount. Not to be confused with the Amex Platinum (not Delta Platinum) which does give you lounge access (Priority Pass and Delta lounges when flying Delta metal).
#12
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,057
Canada and Mexico are included, while the Caribbean, Guam, Palau, and Saipan are excluded.
International Travel includes: Customers traveling to/from Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, Africa, Canada and Mexico (excludes travel to/from the Caribbean, Guam, Palau and Saipan).
#15
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: 100,413
You can find Delta's international inclusions and exclusions at https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...-of-terms.html
Canada and Mexico are included, while the Caribbean, Guam, Palau, and Saipan are excluded.
International Travel includes: Customers traveling to/from Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, Africa, Canada and Mexico (excludes travel to/from the Caribbean, Guam, Palau and Saipan).
Canada and Mexico are included, while the Caribbean, Guam, Palau, and Saipan are excluded.
International Travel includes: Customers traveling to/from Europe, Asia, South America, Central America, Africa, Canada and Mexico (excludes travel to/from the Caribbean, Guam, Palau and Saipan).