Sky Club Access questions (June 2022 onward)
#466
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 189
And it's a nice benefit for Delta cardholders that helps distinguish them between Platinum cardholders. Reserve cardholders can't guest in people in the Centurion Lounges and currently Centurion cardholers have guesting privlidges in those lounges so it's fair to only offer the benefit to reserve card holders
I have both a personal and business reserve card and rarely use my four passes every year.
I have both a personal and business reserve card and rarely use my four passes every year.
Complimentary Access to The Centurion Lounge
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Basic and Additional Card Members receive complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. The eligible flight must be booked on a U.S. issued American Express charge or credit Card. A Card Member may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.
#467
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 189
The 2 guest passes were added when they increased the price of guesting people in with the card as kind of an appeasement for that. I'm not overly convinced that 2 guest passes over the course of an entire year is really contributing to overcrowding in lounges.
#468
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
They can, but they have to pay a fee:
Complimentary Access to The Centurion Lounge
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Basic and Additional Card Members receive complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. The eligible flight must be booked on a U.S. issued American Express charge or credit Card. A Card Member may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.Sorry, meant for free. Currently Platinum cardholers can guest people into the CL for free (I know that is changing soon) where Delta Reserve cardholders can't. Platinum cardholders can guest people into skyclubs for the free but Reserve cardholders get two free passes a year which I think it fair seeing they raised the annual fee when the implemented that benefit.
I don't really think that is contributing much to the clubs being at capacity.
#470
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: California
Posts: 241
When I saw the subject line I thought they were doubling down. Was so glad to be wrong!
#471
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA ExPl, DL PM, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, probably some others
Posts: 4,025
You've missed the point of this post. Clearly FAs follow the outline DL sets for them. My point was that I (and others) should no longer accept COVID cutbacks as the company claws away even more benefits. I've been giving DL a pass on service and quality and will now become more vocal - phone, email, and surveys - about the experience when necessary. Delta does listen and compensate when appropriate.
#472
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA ExPl, DL PM, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, probably some others
Posts: 4,025
I'm happy that people who want arrivals access are going to get it back. I'm worried that the next change DL makes to reduce club overcrowding will be more significant and affect more people.
#473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
They can, but they have to pay a fee:
Complimentary Access to The Centurion Lounge
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Basic and Additional Card Members receive complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. The eligible flight must be booked on a U.S. issued American Express charge or credit Card. A Card Member may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.Sorry, meant for free. Currently Platinum cardholers can guest people into the CL for free (I know that is changing soon) where Delta Reserve cardholders can't. Platinum cardholders can guest people into skyclubs paying the fee but Reserve cardholders get two free passes a year which I think it fair seeing they raised the annual fee when the implemented that benefit.
I don't really think that is contributing much to the clubs being at capacity.
Last edited by jamesteroh; May 12, 2022 at 12:41 pm Reason: Meant to type fee instead of free
#474
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,191
Sorry, meant for free. Currently Platinum cardholers can guest people into the CL for free (I know that is changing soon) where Delta Reserve cardholders can't. Platinum cardholders can guest people into skyclubs for the free but Reserve cardholders get two free passes a year which I think it fair seeing they raised the annual fee when the implemented that benefit.
#475
Join Date: Aug 2021
Programs: Delta SkyMiles | Platinum
Posts: 194
The guest passes were also added at the same time the card fee was increased by $100. My thought is that Delta assumed many would use and many would not use this "benefit" and pocket the difference... They could just as well eliminate it and charge for guests.
#476
Join Date: Aug 2021
Programs: Delta SkyMiles | Platinum
Posts: 194
It doesn't matter now since the arrivals changes have rolled back, but DL isn't going to compensate you ten times if you complain ten times about not getting the things you requested in your prior post. If you complain to people in-person like FAs, you're going to get laughed at or told to e-mail DL. If you're doing that constantly, DL's going to flag you as someone who complains constantly and send you form letters.
#477
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19,397
/Conspiracy Theory Hat On
Or maybe they never intended to deny access on arrival at all. Maybe this was all just a ruse to get people to opine about how much they simply love ❣️ visiting the SkyClub after arriving at their destination.
Now they can cite this enthusiasm in their ads with the added bonus of "Our customers spoke. We listened."
/Conspiracy Theory Hat Off
Or maybe they never intended to deny access on arrival at all. Maybe this was all just a ruse to get people to opine about how much they simply love ❣️ visiting the SkyClub after arriving at their destination.
Now they can cite this enthusiasm in their ads with the added bonus of "Our customers spoke. We listened."
/Conspiracy Theory Hat Off
#478
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: BOS
Programs: AA PP, DL PM
Posts: 2,085
/Conspiracy Theory Hat On
Or maybe they never intended to deny access on arrival at all. Maybe this was all just a ruse to get people to opine about how much they simply love ❣️ visiting the SkyClub after arriving at their destination.
Now they can cite this enthusiasm in their ads with the added bonus of "Our customers spoke. We listened."
/Conspiracy Theory Hat Off
Or maybe they never intended to deny access on arrival at all. Maybe this was all just a ruse to get people to opine about how much they simply love ❣️ visiting the SkyClub after arriving at their destination.
Now they can cite this enthusiasm in their ads with the added bonus of "Our customers spoke. We listened."
/Conspiracy Theory Hat Off
#479
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
Edit: If I had to guess, a real part of the problem is elite rank inflation brought about by pandemic allowances. Like, if I max my Delta Reserve MQM bonuses and don't credit a single flight to DL, my Platinum status will expire...in early 2033. I doubt I'm the only one in this position; if anything, the MQM rollover probably means there are a ton of folks who can "ride" Platinum for the next few years with very little effort given that Diamond is out of reach for them (as it is for me) due to the high MQD waiver threshold. And as far as I can tell, on most long-haul itineraries, that gets them into the SC under SkyTeam Elite Plus. It really isn't that hard for folks to have limped into Gold over the last few years...three years of mileage collecting time and CC MQMs counting towards it mean that basically anybody who hasn't stuck certain cards in a sock drawer over the last few years almost assuredly has Gold by now, if not Platinum.
Last edited by GrayAnderson; May 14, 2022 at 4:33 am
#480
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Toledo, OH
Programs: Delta DM & MM, Hilton DM, Marriott gold, Hyatt Globalist, Alaska 75K, Wyndham Diamond,
Posts: 15,391
/Conspiracy Theory Hat On
Or maybe they never intended to deny access on arrival at all. Maybe this was all just a ruse to get people to opine about how much they simply love ❣️ visiting the SkyClub after arriving at their destination.
Now they can cite this enthusiasm in their ads with the added bonus of "Our customers spoke. We listened."
/Conspiracy Theory Hat Off
Or maybe they never intended to deny access on arrival at all. Maybe this was all just a ruse to get people to opine about how much they simply love ❣️ visiting the SkyClub after arriving at their destination.
Now they can cite this enthusiasm in their ads with the added bonus of "Our customers spoke. We listened."
/Conspiracy Theory Hat Off