Delta frequent fliers livid after Sky Club access limits

Publish date: 2024-06-24

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Delta Air Lines has clamped down on access to its Sky Club for Amex card holders — a “terrible business decision” that has angry frequent flyers ready to cut up their cards and pack their bags for another airline.

“I spend at least $60k a year on the card and now I will not have access to lounges. I was mad you wanted me to pay $50. Now no access? You should be falling over backwards for my loyalty in flights and spend,” one furious user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “What a terrible business decision.”

“I will be taking my business elsewhere,” another tweeted. “As a Platinum member who frequently travels internationally, I am disappointed with the new lounge and miles standards.”

Delta’s new terms affect travelers with American Express’ Platinum, Business Platinum, Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business cards who, as of Feb. 1, 2025, will no longer get unlimited access to the airline’s airport lounges in the three hours leading up to departure.

Delta Reserve and Delta Business Reserve cardholders, who pay a $550 annual fee, will be restricted to 10 visits to Delta’s Sky Club per year, though infinite access can be unlocked by spending $75,000 within one year.

Social media users are furious over Delta’s “terrible business decision,” which will see Amex premium credit card holders losing access to the airline’s beloved Sky Club despite having to pay exorbitant annual fees. MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Amex’s Platinum and Business Platinum cardholders — who pay the highest annual fee, a cool $695 — will be limited even further, only getting six complementary lounge visits per year unless they spend $75,000 using the premium credit card.

Spend tracking for unlimited lounge access begins on Feb. 1, 2024, in order to determine club status for the following year.

Delta replied to a thread of complaints, saying: “We want to express our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience or disappointment that the recent changes to the SkyMiles Program may have caused you and we want you to know that we value your loyalty and commitment to Delta and American Express.”

However, a string of responses that followed didn’t seem to buy the apology, bashing the airline for “trashing years of loyalty” and “not understanding what loyalty is.”

Loyal Delta passengers who spend tens of thousands of dollars with the airline are furious over the move.

“I’ve been loyal & exclusively Team @Delta even when they were the most expensive option. I signed up for American Express because of their mutual relationship. I’ll no longer be flying Delta & will no longer be using my Amex & paying the exorbitant annual fees. Do better, Delta,” an additional user shared.

An Amex spokesperson told The Post that the changes are Delta’s response to growing travel demand “so visitors have a comfortable place to recharge and relax when they travel.”

When The Post reached out to Delta for comment, a company spokesperson pointed to two recent articles on the airline’s news site, where one said that the Delta Sky Club access updates are part of Delta’s “continued efforts to help preserve the premium experience in the airline’s popular lounges.”

In the posts, Delta claimed that the new terms are “simplifying its award-winning SkyMiles Program.”

But as travelers have been looking into Delta’s updates further, they’re uncovering terms that “are worse than I expected.”

“If you’re traveling on a connecting itinerary, each Sky Club visit in a new airport will count against your annual allotment,” one user, who goes by Zach, said. “Yikes!”

As of February 2025, Amex premium card members will gain unlimited access to Delta’s Sky Club by spending $75,000 in one calendar year on the card.
Delta apologized “for any inconvenience or disappointment that the recent changes to the SkyMiles Program may have caused you,” but users weren’t buying it.

“Say you’re flying PHX-ATL-TLV…. visiting both the PHX and ATL Sky Club will use 2 visits… aka one-third of your annual visits on the Amex Platinum card. Ugh,” Zach added, noting that he confirmed this with Delta’s communications office.

Another user chimed in that the terms leave her with “no incentive to fly Delta. Who the heII came up with this?”

“Yep, this sucks. I’ll be cancelling my reserve card before the changes take place and will most likely find a different go-to airlines. I always thought @Delta was the only quality airlines, but now they join the rest,” yet another said.

Another change to Delta’s terms: Passengers will no longer earn status based on the number of miles they fly with Delta, but instead will earn status based exclusively on the amount of money they spend with the airline. American Express

Some restrictions will start as soon as Jan. 1, 2024, including that customers who book a basic economy ticket will no longer be allowed in Delta’s lounges, regardless if they carry a Platinum Card or any other premium credit card.

Though the airline hasn’t disclosed the reason for the changes, Delta has struggled to handle overcrowding at popular lounges at Delta’s major hubs like JFK Airport or Atlanta, which have become beloved for offering free food and beverages, more comfortable seating and greater security.

Along with the lounge cutbacks, Delta is making it increasingly difficult for its customers to qualify for status on its SkyMiles program.

Delta’s Sky Clubs have become beloved among passengers for offering free food and beverages, more comfortable seating and greater security. GC Images

Passengers will no longer earn status based on the number of miles they fly with Delta, but instead will earn status based exclusively on the amount of money they spend with the airline.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express card members earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for every $10 spent on the card, while Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express Card Members earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent.

To reach Silver Medallion status, cardholders must spend 6,000 MQDs, or $60,000.

To reach the highest status — Diamond Medallion — travelers will have to chalk up $350,000 in order to earn 35,000 MQDs.

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