Tmsmedic

So for the past 3-4 weeks, I have noticed (and colleagues have mentioned) Sky Clubs with wait lines. My wife waited 30+ minutes to get into the SC on B in ATL yesterday. Today, the line out of the C SC was 8 deep outside the glass door. I went to D25 and it was busy, but not at capacity

I’ve never experienced waits to gain access to Sky Clubs in 9 years… lines yes, but never waits. Is this just due to pent up travel, or is this the new norm?

Goodoldflyer

I would think Spring Break and weather have something to do with this, but time will tell.

Seems like a good bit of the covid worry is behind us, and folks are traveling again.

DLASflyer

Fancy credit cards are becoming more and more popular. Have to believe the number of Reserve Delta Amex and Platinum/Centurion Amex cardholders is bigger than ever.

dldmfll

Is be coming a crisis midday getting into the Fort Lauderdale club.

Goodoldflyer

By definition, it can't be a crisis. If the line is too long, I'm not doing it.

emma dog

waits for all clubs has been the thing for about a year now during peak travel days. Taken increased demand with ongoing capacity restrictions.

SC waits are relatively recent. I blame capacity restrictions for this, along with long airport connections/wait times.

kavok

Less business travelers flying these days.

Formerly a business traveler, even with a lounge pass, might still opt to eat in the regular airport restaurant or bar, because work was picking up the tab. No longer the case, and the lounge food while usually technically prepaid, feels “free” in the moment.

Additionally, those terminal restaurants and bars are now short staffed, and thus have long waits,… making the quick access of the lounge even more enticing. Rather than stand 45 minutes in line for a ShakeShack burger that may cause a missed connection, more people are choosing the lounge for a quick bite.

jamesteroh

A few weeks ago there was a wait at the F/G MSP skyclub. I've encountered waits two days in a row at ORD a few months ago but there was bad weather and flights were getting cancelled like crazy and the ones that weren't cancelled were severely delayed and I think the next day were the passengers that had their flights cancelled the prior day.

I know people have been complaining on the flyer talk Delta diamond group about FLL having long waits.

I wish Delta would give priority to skyclub members and people on Delta One tickets over am ex card holders when there is a wait.

thatmikereed

Exactly my thought on a similar thread about AA clubs.

rylan

So is this becoming a chronic issue at the FLL club? That terminal was a mess and the club closed for construction for a long time... and when it finally reopened its too small?

cardsqc

I've only been in there once since they remodeled, but my experience this last Friday (which admittedly was a day that had plenty of delays going on) was that we got there, maybe 10am or so? Had to wait about 30 minutes to get in. From that point, every time I looked out the line was as long as it was when I first got there. Left around 6:45 (with the lounge theoretcially closing at 7:15) and there was still the long line waiting to get in. I'd definitely lean towards the lounge being on the small size for what's needed, but not sure how easy it would have been for them to make it larger.

That said, I will say the FLL terminal, while still undergoing construction, is a lot nicer than it used to be. Although man the airport is getting busy, arrived at 1 in the morning, and you'd have though it was peak time of the day.

ShopAround

I've seen the LGA D club turn away Amex cardholders when it was very crowded.

MSPeconomist

That seems a bit counterproductive because those entering by AmEx cards, while they don't directly pay membership fees, are likely to skew toward being CIPs for DL. My guess is that DMs are more likely to have the Reserve card, for example, than other DL customers while those who have the regular AmEx Plat or Centurion charge card traditionally have high incomes, good educations, professional employment, etc. and do lots of travel, including purchased premium cabin tickets.

steveholt

Weather has been a major problem in recent days, most notably ATL/FLL. Some lounges are closed. Some lounges have removed seating to allow for more social distancing.

This isn't a credit card or DL-specific issue. In CLT, for example, AA has closed one of their lounges and the other lounge has a perennial line.

DrMilano

One more year until AmEx opens up their largest Centurion Lounge at 26,000 sq feet in ATL in Terminal E.. Probably will be a mass exodus of the DL Reserve/Platinum/Reserve from the Sky Clubs: https://about.americanexpress.com/al...t/default.aspx

It was so nice traveling last January through March with Delta using the B17 Sky Club as the main club, was so tranquil and calm.

Delta's greed created the SkyClub overcrowding issue for Amex revenue swipes.