ekozie

h/t to ClipperDelta

The following pictures are from the slideshow at a JFK outreach event. "Delta One" could be a mistake meant to read SkyClub, or it could be an unofficial premature announcement of the very first premium-tier DL lounge.

ClipperDelta

It is a new premium (D1) lounge at 36,000 square feet that will be built in the expanded headhouse near the B concourse. The new Sky Club will be in Concourse A.

The presenter even mentioned this when discussing the various phases of this project.

Crossinator

https://onemileatatime.com/news/delta-one-lounge/

kavok

So I am very curious about what this “Premium” lounge may eventually entail. In the referenced video, the presenter calls it a “premium” lounge while the slide calls it “Delta One”. Interesting that different terms were used.

At 36k square feet, it seems a bit too big if only Delta One (and partner equivalence) customers can utilize it. So again, I will be curious what this lounge entails. Not surprised that JFK could have such a lounge, but again the size seems too big if it is premium customers only.

Take it with a grain of salt, but when I travelled through DTW earlier this month, all the agents referred to the new DTW Sky Club (A43) that just opened a few weeks ago as the “premium lounge”. When I asked them what made it a “premium lounge”, the response was that new lounge had unique/fancier alcohol and drinks only available in that lounge, fancier dishwater (not paper plates), and some future unannounced perks. It was very much implied that the DTW A43 lounge going forward will offer a more premium experience relative to DTWs other clubs, beyond just fancy new decor.

Anyway, the use of the word “premium” may just be coincidence, but in DTW, that was definitely the official term for A43. So I am curious if this new JFK “premium” lounge is more akin to UAs Polaris lounges only serving DeltaOne and partner equivalence, or if premium means more like the DTW scenario described where the lounge is still open to everyone, but with better amenities.

james318

My first thought when this thread popped up was wondering if the new DTW A43 lounge would be a Delta One lounge eventually.

dtwlarry

To echo the comments above, does inclusion of "The Bar" have something to do with the nomenclature of premium? JFK T4 and SEA bars seem to offer blah tap beer free, and all the good stuff carries a price tag. Since I was flying early a few weeks ago, didn't delve into the A43 free vs paid beers and their respective qualities.
And yes, the size of the new SC's very much plays to a nicer experience for everyone flying Delta on a given day, not just the Delta One crowd.

Crossinator

I assume that JFK probably has the most amount of D1 flights cause of LAX and TATL? So I think it's the best location for their first D1 lounge. A little late to the party as UA and AA already have their dedicated premium lounges but let's see what DL can come up with.

MSPeconomist

PreCOVID-19, the SCs with "luxury bars" (with bartenders of course) were officially at several distinct levels of luxuriousness. Different drinks menus (with prices) were posted on delta.dumb for a while, although I haven't looked for this information recently.

kavok

I agree that should a Delta One lounge concept happen, JFK is the place to do it.

LAX, despite being an obviously premium market, actually has very few Delta One flights. Delta flies no TATL from LAX, and the only two international TPAC flights are to SYD and HND (with a third to PVG if that ever comes back). Everything else, beyond a few Latin America flights, are operated by DL’s partners. So unless domestic first is also included, the customer base for a Delta One only lounge in LAX would actually be very small.

Yellowjj

LAX was actually constructing the first D1 lounge along with the new T3. Whether they scrapped or modified that plan remains to be seen.

MSPeconomist

If DL could charge its partners a lot for premium cabin passenger access, a LAX lounge could be profitable.

I was going to ask about the LAX-ICN route (to a partner hub), but then I realized that KE would operate these flights.

Especially if T3 and TBIT are connected airside, DL could sell LAX D1 lounge access to KE, AF, KLM, VA (if they return to flying TPAC), maybe MU, etc.

kavok

If DL follows the path of UA/Polaris with DeltaOne only lounges, my guess is that is what happens as well. JFK becomes the launch location for the Delta One lounge. Should it be successful, the ATL F (or a new F lounge) and the DTW A43 clubs also get converted to such a purpose. My guess is SEA and LAX also would get small versions as well. (LAX at T3, SEA as part of the new A11 lounge)… and maybe MSP as part of the new G lounge. Given the domestic focus of SLC/LGA, I doubt it would make sense there. (DEN for example doesn’t have a Polaris lounge for similar reasons).

sc001

I actually think the LAX Delta One lounge will open first, and it will open next year. I was flying back from Sydney to JFK through LAX last week and, while in the SkyClub, I took a photo of the new Terminal 3 (I'm a new member so it won't let me post the photo here). There are two distinct areas with outdoor decks. One appears to be a larger, regular SkyClub, and the other could possibly be a SkyDeck for a new Delta One lounge. I have a very vested interest in a Delta One Lounge at JFK as a two-million miler who has been a Delta 360 for 7 years.

MSPeconomist

Are you assuming that 360s would get D1 lounge access whenever traveling with DL (and perhaps partners)? That would seem to correspond to the way some other airlines are treating their premium lounges, but IMO it's not guaranteed.

sc001

My guess is that it will just be for Delta One passengers. Not even 360s will get access, but I could be wrong. I do not believe United GS members get access to Polaris Lounges.