MAD Lounge Problems
 

A co worker a few weeks ago was refused entry to the Cibiles lounge in Terminal 1 and we all assumed it was a mistake. Now I just experienced the same thing heading out to US.
Apparently no more lounge access at MAD whatever your Delta Level if you do not have a Delta 1 ticket.
This is very disappointing as I have used this lounge for years and Delta clearly state you should have access to international lounges if you are gold and above on any international flight.
Any thoughts on whether this will be the new normal?

Delta dropped access to third party lounges for Skyteam Elite Plus (DL Gold+) members when flying DL metal many years ago. There was much discussion here when it happened -- https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...l-lounges.html
You still can get access to third party lounges if flying partners like KL and AF, but if you gotten in when flying DL metal, you've simply been lucky.

That is a surprise to me. I fly internationally all the time and this is the first time it has ever happened. I have been lucky. Really makes me re-think some Delta international flights now if this is the case going forward. So to be clear if I was flying KLM or AF ticket code I would have had access still?

It's about the operating carrier, not ticketing carrier. If you are flying on AF/KL metal through AMS or CDG, you can still get lounge access to third party lounges based on Skyteam Elite+ status even on DL ticket. If you are on a DL flight back to US, you are aren't entitled to lounge access to third party operated lounges (only lounges directly operated by DL Skyteam member partners like AF/KL. Note that VS isn't a Skyteam member, so rules for accessing their lounges are different). The policy has actually been in place since May 1, 2014 if you check the FT thread above. The EU outstations are generally staffed by contractors at check-in desks who often aren't very familiar with the rules and may hand out lounge invitation cards to any Skyteam Elite+ passengers even when flying on DL metal in coach.

Thanks for all this information. In future I will choose the AF/KLM metal when going thru CDG or AMS.

This is where having priority pass as a backup helps out. I use it in MAD, JNB, LLAS, SJC typically but every now and then I am in a strange airport without a club but they take priority pass. It's worth the 100 bucks for the Hilton Amex or they have several other cards that offer it.

what contract lounges have you accessed using STE+ status when flying DL metal?

CDG and AMS aren't a problem because those lounges are operated by AF and KLM respectively. The issue is *contract* third-party lounges when a SkyTeam ElitePlus (including DL GM+) departs on a DL operated flight but is not confirmed in D1. If the lounge is operated by a SkyTeam airline (or SkyTeam itself if there are still any such lounges---LHR had one when some DL flights were not in the same terminal as VS), and SkyTeam ElitePlus departing on a same day SkyTeam international itinerary is eligible to enter.

As mentioned above, VS lounges and VS flights have their own rules.

In February, I flew a Delta-coded and KLM-operated flight MAD-AMS, and then AMS-USA on Delta with the same Delta coach ticket upgraded with a global cert. The global cert also upgraded MAD-AMS for a month or two, but went back down to "X" when the plane type changed. I ended up flying in row 1 or 2 "euro-business". I don't know how that happened, and did not ask.

Cibeles takes Priority Pass, so that is an option, too.