xliioper

No. You have to actually purchase the DL marketed version of the flight with DL coding on flight to get access. You won't get access for free if you purchase the same flight as a WS marketed flight directly from WS. Just because a DL marketed version of the flight happens to exist doesn't mean you get access.

Also, if your fellow party members are on DL or WS marketed premium cabin WS flights to Canada, they won't have Sky Club access. Only Delta One marketed flights and WS Business class flights (only offered on WS long-haul international routes) provide for Sky Club access.

mcrw00

Would I be allowed into the Sky Club with a guest if I’m flying US to Canada with my SM info in the record, but also have ST Elite Plus status through ITA? Would I need to put the ITA info into the record to get in, or could I just show my card and still accrue SkyMiles?

xliioper

They'll likely want to scan your BP to verify status. I don't think they've accepted simply flashing a card as a valid form of entry for a number of years.

sydneyracquelle

Here’s a new one I haven’t heard before. ATL F SC Dec 16 at 3pm ET. Loudspeaker announcement comes on to the entire SC that cups and glasses are not permitted in the restrooms.

Lomapaseo

well when the boarding pass says nothing, I finally got in flashing a very old card (that said lifetime)

Yup it tuned out I was trying to get in using my wife' boarding pass and nobody realized my mistake. Not only that but to me, the only way to get in without a Delta boarding pass while flying another airline is via use of the card

xliioper

Yes, you have a somewhat unique situation with a lifetime Sky Club membership (which doesn't require a flight on DL or partners for access). Non-lifetime, mere mortals need to show (and almost certainly have scanned) a BP for entrance with a same-day flight on DL or Skyteam partners for those with STE+ status on international flights. I suspect how much resistance one might get when crediting to one program and using status on another may vary with lounges (and perhaps how full they are).

wlau

My company is full of SkyTeam and Delta passengers. Every talk recently is about the insanity with this upcoming changes. Basically, Delta will treat its alliance airlines' passengers and AMEX card holders better than its more loyal paid butt-in-seat passengers. Our strategy has been shifting our spending to one of the SkyTeam partners, since most of our high dollar spending are with international flights. And ironically, it's easier to earn STE+ status with the other partner airlines...

One of my friend works for a ST partner airline in Asia and she is telling me that they may follow and ban Delta passengers in their lounge when connecting in their hubs, to save money. I guess they don't get a lot of money for each visitor. If this happens, Delta's decision will hurt the entire SkyTeam alliance.

Our other strategy is switch the entire company to United. Even our harden United hater is coming around because of Delta's repeated erosion of benefits. Our United rep is really maximizing this opportunity and probably thanking god for this.

VFR

I would not put it past Delta to go for "product consistency" and disallow GM/PM/DM in Y on any SkyTeam airline from accessing partner lounges (but keep access for W). It would surprise me more if non-DL STE+ was excluded.

It's going to be a wildly inconsistent experience in any case:

- Currently: A PM flying ATL-LHR-ATL in Y gets no lounge in ATL but access to the wonderful VS lounge in LHR.
- If partner lounge access is cut: A Sky Club member flying JFK-AMS-JFK gets lounge access in JFK but not on the way back in AMS.

The solution to me seems to be to build Sky Clubs in LHR/AMS/CDG/ICN... but they just eliminated most of the foreign Sky Clubs.

I don't believe that elites without credit card lounge access are going to buy up to W just so that they can access a lounge (W often costs twice as much as Y).

wlau

I agree with your comments. The strange thing is Delta just build a very very nice Sky Club in Tokyo Haneda. I had the pleasure (real pleasure) of visiting that SC multiple times in the last few weeks. I think there is a real shot at Delta losing PM DM and MM to other airlines.

Sky Club's overcrowding is from the credit card holders. I know AMEX is very important to DL. I think they could at least adjust the STE+ status to include just PM and DM and eliminate GM. This whole change will impact Delta more than they will realize. I am a MM and unless DL does something, I am very sure I will switch alliance next year/next month.

I think the real solution is to build another premium lounge like UA and AA. This is basically what all other global airlines do.

This is not about being entitled or anything like that. It's about surviving your flight. The food service on international flights have been cut so much that the portion is embarrassingly small. My seatmate on a recent flight told me he was shocked how little food DL serve compare to ANA and JAL on the same route.

And you are right about buy up to W. The cost difference is too large. If our company agrees to fare jump, we might as well be non-alliance flyers and just buy the heavily discounted J on whatever airline with the lowest fare. Right now, the service and food have not really returned to an acceptable level to warrant this type of pricing.

upnorth

Delta is not cutting off partner airlines sky priority flyers from the Delta lounge. Thus, Sky team partner airlines have no reason to cut off Delta Sky priority customers from their own lounges flying international. But I agree that Delta has really hit its own elite loyal flyers by a double whammy of increasing MQD for elite status and cutting off DM from lounge access while flying international unless flying Delta One.

sydneyracquelle

The solution for everyone that DL wants to promote is very simple for US based travelers. Get a reserve card. You never even have to charge anything on it. Not even once. But it gets you SC access when flying DL/ST.

VFR

I think that they are more likely to nix SkyTeam/JV lounge access entirely for all elites instead of just taking it away from GM. They did not carve out an exception for high-tier elites when they took away third party lounge access a few years ago.

They have announced Delta One lounges in JFK and LAX. They also seem to be building a second entrance to the A satellite lounge in BOS, which given it is about 200 ft away from the current entrance, I have to assume is to segregate the sides into a Sky Club and a Delta One lounge. I think this will help, especially in JFK, but they need larger Sky Clubs too.

I've also found Delta's drink service and meal service in long haul Y to be disappointing compared to other carriers. I think the marketing department promised less food of better quality, but the quality did not appreciably improve, and I despise the bamboo utensils. I have not flown PS yet, but it seems odd to me that they seem to be serving very similar food in disposable packaging there. I eat beforehand and eat on the flight as well.

WillBarrett_68

"lounges are too crowded, delta should do something"

(delta does something)

"NOT THAT!!!"

Lomapaseo

I'll be happy to lead a revolt and provide a sign next to the lounge door. Maybe that

would cause a scene and attract rebellion or the cops Who's in?

mcrw00

Apologies for a basic question, but does DL consider Canada to be international for Medallion SC access purposes?