[Reddit Rumor/Speculation] 2024 American Express changes to Delta lounge access?
Aug 7, 2023, 9:49 am
#61
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: UA 1K, DL PM, AA Nobody, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 564
Having just surfed the SC's at ATL twice in the last couple of months, something has to be done.
Once a lounge becomes full/crowded, the experience is so terrible, it's not worth it. I feel like I am in a Golden Corral on steak night.
Airline lounges should be a premium experience, not a madhouse. For non-DL Amex cardholders, they should add a fee or something.
Once a lounge becomes full/crowded, the experience is so terrible, it's not worth it. I feel like I am in a Golden Corral on steak night.
Airline lounges should be a premium experience, not a madhouse. For non-DL Amex cardholders, they should add a fee or something.
Aug 7, 2023, 10:10 am
#62
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 603
Most of my travel is international and in D1 so if they barred everyone else from using the Skyclub I would be thrilled. 😎😝
Aug 7, 2023, 10:18 am
#63
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,515
Aug 7, 2023, 10:24 am
#64
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Plat-ist, Bonvoyyyyyyed, Hilton $15 Daily F&B Receiver, Food Lion MVP
Posts: 1,203
Aug 7, 2023, 10:24 am
#65
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,912
Widespread access to SkyClubs is a reason many fly Delta and spend on Amex cards - so they are going to be careful here
Aug 7, 2023, 10:24 am
#66
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Global Entry
Posts: 2,947
Seems like an odd business model. Why not just:
1.) Eliminate AMEX Platinum entry
2.) Limit passes on the Delta Platinum
3.) Keep the Reserve as-is, raise the AF
AMEX paying $30-$40 per lounge visit does not seem to be strategically important to the Delta business model. If your model is constantly sold, packed, etc. it looks like you are in a position to raise prices, especially on your most premium product.
1.) Eliminate AMEX Platinum entry
2.) Limit passes on the Delta Platinum
3.) Keep the Reserve as-is, raise the AF
AMEX paying $30-$40 per lounge visit does not seem to be strategically important to the Delta business model. If your model is constantly sold, packed, etc. it looks like you are in a position to raise prices, especially on your most premium product.
Aug 7, 2023, 10:26 am
#67
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,912
Amex "renumeration" is in fact the fastest growing revenue line item for Delta in every earnings release, and is absolutely the bedrock of the Delta business model. How much of this is directly tied to SkyClub swipes/access is unknown, but you have to admit a big proportion of Delta Amex cardholders hold the card because of SkyClub access, and because they hold the card, the also spend.
Aug 7, 2023, 10:27 am
#68
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
Agreed. And limiting access on the vanilla Amex Plat while maintaining unlimited access on the DL Reserve Card would be totally out of Amex's playbook-- some people (note that I'm saying *some*) who only hold the Plat might then add the Reserve as well, increasing Amex's annual fee revenue.
Thinking of this year's changes to Centurion Lounge guest access, I believe overcrowding was only one consideration for Amex-- the other being increased guest fee revenue and increased annual fee revenue from people adding AUs (or increased interchange from people who are compelled to spend $75k to unlock guest access).
Thinking of this year's changes to Centurion Lounge guest access, I believe overcrowding was only one consideration for Amex-- the other being increased guest fee revenue and increased annual fee revenue from people adding AUs (or increased interchange from people who are compelled to spend $75k to unlock guest access).
Aug 7, 2023, 10:30 am
#69
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,912
If Delta wants to take "Amex renumeration" to $10 billion annually from $6.5 billion and continue to increase "premium" card mix, cutting Delta Reserve access seems like an odd way to do that:
https://s2.q4cdn.com/181345880/files...vF-6-26-23.pdf
https://s2.q4cdn.com/181345880/files...vF-6-26-23.pdf
Aug 7, 2023, 10:39 am
#70
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Global Entry
Posts: 2,947
Amex "renumeration" is in fact the fastest growing revenue line item for Delta in every earnings release, and is absolutely the bedrock of the Delta business model. How much of this is directly tied to SkyClub swipes/access is unknown, but you have to admit a big proportion of Delta Amex cardholders hold the card because of SkyClub access, and because they hold the card, the also spend.
There's a reason every large company and their mother has their own co-branded card. The perks are limitless and far better than external cards would give.
Aug 7, 2023, 10:48 am
#71
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,071
Regards
Aug 7, 2023, 10:49 am
#72
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,912
I'm pretty sure the strong majority of those claims are co-branded, not vanilla. Hell, on the purchase of a flight ticket alone, Delta would probably save more in transaction fees on a Reserve cardholder than they would make on a lounge visit.
There's a reason every large company and their mother has their own co-branded card. The perks are limitless and far better than external cards would give.
There's a reason every large company and their mother has their own co-branded card. The perks are limitless and far better than external cards would give.
Aug 7, 2023, 10:55 am
#73
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 832
I will pay a higher AF, either on the Reserve or a new higher tier card. I will not be nickel-and-dimed for SC access while paying for the highest tier card. The other benefits offered by the Reserve aren't all that important to me, and it would be a very easy decision to drop it. I'm sure I'm nowhere near being alone in that thinking.
They'd get reduced Sky Club numbers for sure, but at the cost of decimating their most premium credit card.
They'd get reduced Sky Club numbers for sure, but at the cost of decimating their most premium credit card.
Aug 7, 2023, 10:57 am
#74
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: UA 1K, DL PM, AA Nobody, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 564
I think once the D1 lounges open, some of the complaints will die down from J fliers having to mingle with Gen Pop
Aug 7, 2023, 10:57 am
#75
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: NYC/LA
Programs: DL Plat, AA Plat Pro, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 7,515
I'm one of those people- I've transferred nearly 200,000 Membership Rewards points (mostly earned on my vanilla Amex Plat) to DL over the past few months, and I think the common belief is that Amex pays DL around 1 cent, or a bit under, per point transferred?