Sky Club Membership Ending - Best way to renew
Jun 3, 2023, 2:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Minneapolis & Phoenix. two weeks each per month.
Programs: Delta DM, MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3
Sky Club Membership Ending - Best way to renew
My sky club membership is about to end. I am trying to understand the benefits of purchasing the membership directly or using membership through credit cards such as Delta Reserve Am Express or Am Express Platinum.. Is there anything I can get by buying membership directly that I do not get by use of one of the credit card memberships. If this has been addressed in other threads can you direct me to the threads.
Jun 3, 2023, 4:11 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 5,197
My sky club membership is about to end. I am trying to understand the benefits of purchasing the membership directly or using membership through credit cards such as Delta Reserve Am Express or Am Express Platinum.. Is there anything I can get by buying membership directly that I do not get by use of one of the credit card memberships. If this has been addressed in other threads can you direct me to the threads.
Jun 3, 2023, 4:19 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,365
The SC membership allows access when traveling on any airline. The CCs require a DL flight. Also, check out guest rules to see if they matter to you.
OTOH, the AMEX Play also gets you Centurian and Priority Pass lounges.
OTOH, the AMEX Play also gets you Centurian and Priority Pass lounges.
Jun 3, 2023, 4:34 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: ANC
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 1,860
Be aware that the DL Amex Reserve card only offers triple miles on DL purchases, and one mile on other purchases. SkyClub access is included.
The DL Amex Platinum card earns the same, but also double miles on restaurants, double on supermarkets, and triple on hotels. However, Skyclub access is not included, but can be purchased for $50 per visit. If you don’t visit a club enough to offset the cost of a Skyclub membership or Reserve annual fee, the DL Amex Platinum is a better value IMO due to the higher mileage earning potential.
Note these are the “DL Amex” cards, not the traditional Amex cards which each have different policies.
The DL Amex Platinum card earns the same, but also double miles on restaurants, double on supermarkets, and triple on hotels. However, Skyclub access is not included, but can be purchased for $50 per visit. If you don’t visit a club enough to offset the cost of a Skyclub membership or Reserve annual fee, the DL Amex Platinum is a better value IMO due to the higher mileage earning potential.
Note these are the “DL Amex” cards, not the traditional Amex cards which each have different policies.
Jun 3, 2023, 5:02 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,074
A DL SC membership only provides access when flying DL or one of it's partners (not simply any airline). There's an exception for HA flights as they must be DL marketed for entrance. The DL Amex Reserve card is more restrictive as it requires flights either be DL operated or DL marketed (there is no access provided when flying DL partner flights which are not DL marketed). The Plat Amex is most restrictive as it only provides access when flying DL operated flights (simply being on a DL marketed is not sufficient with the sole exception of DL marketed WS flights).
Jun 4, 2023, 8:34 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NYC, MSY
Programs: DL DM, 1.5MM, NEXUS, Sky Club Lifetime, Admirals Club Lifetime, LowValueCustomer everywhere
Posts: 6,447
A DL SC membership only provides access when flying DL or one of it's partners (not simply any airline). There's an exception for HA flights as they must be DL marketed for entrance. The DL Amex Reserve card is more restrictive as it requires flights either be DL operated or DL marketed (there is no access provided when flying DL partner flights which are not DL marketed). The Plat Amex is most restrictive as it only provides access when flying DL operated flights (simply being on a DL marketed is not sufficient with the sole exception of DL marketed WS flights).
Jun 4, 2023, 10:02 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Atlanta
Programs: Delta Death March, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, Marriott/Hilton Gold Life
Posts: 1,552
Jun 4, 2023, 6:36 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM. 1MM
Posts: 2,045
If the spend waiver matters to you reserve card makes a big difference. I have a plat card but pay the $175 as a guest from a friend who holds the reserve card. Essentially I pay $295 plus $175 for PM & sky club access. I qualify for plat with Amex waiver.