Delta Sky Club Access: 6 Ways to Get in Before Your Flight

Delta Sky Club  lounges can provide a nice reprieve from the hustle of the main terminal, with top-class amenities like free Wi-Fi, complimentary cocktails and snacks, hot meals and even showers in select locations.

Over the past few years, Delta implemented some changes to its Sky Club access to reduce overcrowding. Unlike other airlines, Delta doesn’t sell day passes to the Sky Club or admit just anyone with a first-class ticket. The easiest way to gain access is by holding the right credit card, but having elite status or flying in specific premium cabins with Delta or a partner airline may also get you in.

Here are six ways to access the Delta Sky Club.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

The easiest way to access the Delta Sky Club is by holding the right credit card. Guest policies and other specifics will vary, so you’ll want to understand the rules for each card.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (see rates and fees) and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (see rates and fees) provide cardholders (and authorized users) with 15 Delta Sky Clubs visits per year when traveling on a Delta- operated or Delta- marketed flight. Cardholders flying on a SkyTeam partner airline can access the Sky Club for a per-visit rate of $50 per person. You can earn an unlimited number of Sky Club visits by having at least $75,000 in eligible purchases on your card during the previous calendar year. Terms apply.

Cardholders get four one-time guest passes each year. Once those are used, you can enter with up to two guests at a cost of $50 per person per visit — unless you’re visiting a Grab and Go Sky Club, which has a $25 per person per visit guest access fee. Terms apply. Delta’s Grab and Go locations give travelers waiting to enter a lounge the option to take food to-go instead of spending time inside the lounge.

The drawback to the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is the high annual fee of $650, but it offers several benefits beyond lounge access, including this welcome offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee; see rates and fees) and the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee; see rates and fees) are premium cards with perks and benefits to match. Cardholders (and authorized users) will receive 10 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club, and unlimited access can be earned by spending $75,000 or more on the card in the previous calendar year. Terms apply.

You can bring, up to two guests for a per-visit rate of $50 per person per location, or $25 per person for Grab and Go access. Terms apply.

Cardholders will also receive access to AmEx’s own Centurion Lounges and the Priority Pass network (enrollment required), among a host of other benefits. The benefits can easily be worth more than the high $695 annual fee. Terms apply.

» Learn more: Benefits of the Platinum Card from American Express

The Centurion® Card from American Express and the Business Centurion® Card from American Express

Travelers fortunate enough to have the Centurion Cards in their wallet also get Sky Club lounge benefits. But these cards are invitation only, meaning it’s not available to most travelers. Terms apply.

Those who carry either version of the card can access the Delta Sky Club under the same policies (including guest privileges) as holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. Terms apply.

Delta SkyMiles Diners Club Card or Delta SkyMiles TRUST CLUB Gold VISA Card

Those who carry either of these credit cards get three visits per year to Delta Sky Clubs as long as they are traveling on a same-day flight marketed or operated by Delta or a Delta partner (basic economy excluded). Cardholders can also bring two guests into the lounge.

Delta SkyMiles TRUST CLUB Platinum VISA Card

If you have this credit card, you can visit a Delta Sky Club six times per year with a same-day ticket on flights marketed or operated by Delta or a Delta partner (basic economy excluded).

» Learn more: The credit cards that offer airport lounge access

Medallion members of the Delta SkyMiles program can buy an annual membership to access the Delta Sky Club. A standard membership costs $695 (or 69,500 miles), which lets you enter the Sky Club lounge every time you fly Delta. You can bring up to two guests for an extra $50 per guest (or 5,000 miles) per visit. An executive option priced at $1,495 (or 149,500 miles) lets you bring two guests free of charge every time you visit.

NerdWallet values Delta miles at 1.2 cents each. Since purchasing a Sky Club membership with miles would give you a subpar 1 cent each in value, skipping the paid annual membership and signing up for a Delta credit card with lounge access may be more cost effective.

Unlike most other airlines, simply flying on a first class ticket won’t give you access to the Delta Sky Club. If you’re flying on a Delta-operated flight, lounge access is only provided to passengers with a ticket in Delta One, the airline’s premium cabin on long-haul international and select domestic flights.

If you’re traveling on one of Delta's partner airlines in the SkyTeam alliance, you can access the Sky Club when traveling internationally in first or business class for all flight segments.

All premium cabin passengers on a SkyTeam airline, including passengers on Delta, get access to over 750 SkyTeam lounges across the world — even if you paid for your ticket with miles.

» Learn more: The complete guide to the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program

Passengers traveling internationally in first class, Delta One or premium economy (called Premium Select on Delta) that also have Gold Medallion status or better with Delta can access the Sky Club. The benefit is not extended to Silver Medallion members. One guest is permitted as long as that guest is also traveling in first class or premium economy.

Delta elites with at least Gold Medallion status cannot get into the Sky Club if they are flying in economy (called Main Cabin or Delta Comfort Plus), but they can visit Delta partner-operated lounges or SkyTeam airline lounges.

Since Delta is a member of SkyTeam, having status with Delta will also provide benefits on other SkyTeam airlines. For example, if you have Gold status with Delta, that equals SkyTeam Elite Plus status, which also offers lounge access on international flights.

If you hold elite status with another SkyTeam airline and that status qualifies for SkyTeam Elite Plus status, you can visit the Delta Sky Club when you travel internationally. Unlike the premium cabin requirement for Delta elites, SkyTeam Elite Plus members can visit the Sky Club and other SkyTeam lounges regardless of cabin class.

One guest is permitted, and the Sky Club access policy excludes flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean.

» Learn more: Redeem your points for your dream trip — here's how

If you are flying in business class on LATAM or WestJet, or have certain elite status with either airline, you can access the Delta Sky Club with a same-day international ticket in any cabin. Additionally, one guest will be permitted if you have elite status with either airline.

These rules are applicable to the following status levels:

• LATAM Platinum, Black and Black Signature.

• WestJet Gold and Platinum.

(Top photo by Craig Joseph)

All information about The Centurion Card from American Express has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Centurion Card is not available through NerdWallet.

All information about The Business Centurion Card from American Express has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Business Centurion Card is not available through NerdWallet.