What has happened to loyalty?
May 15, 2019, 8:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: Delta diamond 1MM, Hilton diamond
Posts: 7
What has happened to loyalty?
So finally made diamond for the first time and also hit 1 million miles. Used the awards to get the sky lounge pass. And also reduced my Amex from Plat to gold as I don't really pay for much myself anymore and it was a waste of money. A few weeks ago, returning from Munich I went to the lounge but was refused entrance because I was only in Comfort Plus, and this lounge was only for Delta 1st. Was then told if I had purchased the SAME ticket through KLM or Air France, I could have had access even in coach. Then to rub salt into the wound, some young guy walks up and because he had the Platinum Amex card he was allowed entry!!!. Oh and as a nice person he asked them if I could go in as his guest. And that was ok!. So Delta now puts revenue from Amex above loyalty?
May 15, 2019, 8:59 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,630
Nothing new here, it's been like this for years now. Lounge access rules are very clear on the website. If you want lounge access on a 3rd party lounge, buy Delta One, get a Priority Pass membership, or pay the lounge fee.
May 15, 2019, 8:59 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: TPA-MKE-PHX
Programs: Ex DL-DM. MM. TWA-Aviator Plat. HHonors-DVIP, MR-Gold. Nat-Emerald. Avis Chairmn.
Posts: 1,925
Nothing happened. Delta is being loyal to a partner that is giving them Billions as opposed to one giving them hundreds or thousands.
May 15, 2019, 9:29 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC, BOS, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM
Posts: 843
Which lounge were you trying to access in MUC? I think the only one accessible in the pod that Delta uses is the BA lounge but that may have changed since I was last there. Not sure how buying the ticket through AF or KL would have helped - there is an AF lounge at MUC which you would have access to as a diamond in economy, but you wouldn't have been able to get to it / it's in a different sterile area than where the DL flights leave from.
May 15, 2019, 9:45 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: Delta diamond 1MM, Hilton diamond
Posts: 7
You are correct they have a sterile are for international flights from Terminal D. They have an airline lounge where they list all the airlines who have access to it. This list included Delta, KLM, Air France etc. But each airline has it's own agreement with the company who owns the lounge.
May 15, 2019, 10:18 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,048
delta cutting access to many of the international lounges
May 15, 2019, 10:58 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
Yuck, it's because your Skyclub pass is only for Skyclubs, not partner lounges. if you are going to continue to travel internationally, it might be worth choosing a different Diamond gift if you requalify next year, and re-up your Amex Platinum... You'd still have Skyclub from them, plus Priority Pass (two options in MUC), plus Centurion, plus Escape, plus Plaza Premium, plus Airscape.
Not that this helps you for now
Not that this helps you for now
May 15, 2019, 11:49 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
Programs: AA PPro/DL PLT, PPass, Marriott / Hilton Gold, JetBlue Mosaic, Hertz Presidents Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,630
Yuck, it's because your Skyclub pass is only for Skyclubs, not partner lounges. if you are going to continue to travel internationally, it might be worth choosing a different Diamond gift if you requalify next year, and re-up your Amex Platinum... You'd still have Skyclub from them, plus Priority Pass (two options in MUC), plus Centurion, plus Escape, plus Plaza Premium, plus Airscape.
Not that this helps you for now
Not that this helps you for now
May 15, 2019, 5:13 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: DL DM 1MM
Posts: 90
If it makes you feel any better / worse, visiting https://www.delta.com/us/en/delta-sky-club/locations , selecting MUC and "Delta Skyteam Elite Plus Member (Delta Diamond, Platinum Or Gold Medallion)*" shows access to three lounges, including I think the one you were hoping for. There's no explanation for the '*' on the membership type.
May 16, 2019, 7:03 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC, BOS, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM
Posts: 843
Right I know that but buying a DL operated flight on the AF/KL codeshare would still have the customer checking in with DL and getting a DL boarding pass right? I think OP would have needed to be an elite in the AF/KL program in this situation
May 16, 2019, 7:57 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Toronto, Canada
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, National EE, AS MVP Gold 75K, AC 75K
Posts: 1,000
But OP said he/she is Diamond. Shouldn't that give Elite Plus status and be able to get into a lounge?