Delta walks back some changes to Sky Club access, loyalty program

Delta Air Lines on Wednesday walked back a number of the broad restrictions it placed on access to its popular airport lounges and trimmed thresholds to earn elite status after complaints from customers.

Delta last month first announced sweeping changes to its loyalty program in order that it is predicated solely on how much customers spend, and announced dramatic limitations to entry to its Sky Clubs for purchasers with certain American Express bank cards.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in late September that the airline went “too far” with its changes. Delta has been grappling with find out how to handle swarms of elite frequent flyers and high-fee bank card holders that caused long lines and crowding on the clubs.

“I actually have read lots of of your emails, and what’s been most clear to me is how much you’re keen on Delta and the frustration lots of you felt by the importance of the changes,” he said in an email to customers announcing the tweaks to the programs on Wednesday. “I appreciate your opinions and understand your disappointment. Your voice matters, and we’re listening.”

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, airlines have grappled with find out how to best reward frequent flyers who returned in droves after spending heavily and racking up miles on rewards cards, even once they weren’t traveling.

Carriers and bank card firms are racing to construct greater lounges to suit more people.

“We very much imagine in never causing a situation where everyone has a premier status which obviously ends in nobody receiving an adequate level of premier advantages,” United Airlines chief business officer Andrew Nocella said on an earnings call Wednesday.

Delta CEO Bastian said access to the airline’s airport lounges have been a top concern for purchasers, lots of whom had unlimited access to Sky Clubs through bank cards.

Starting Feb. 1, 2025, cardholders of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card will get 15 visits to Sky Clubs per 12 months, up from a planned limit of 10 per 12 months. One other change is those cardholders may have unlimited visits for your entire day. For instance, a traveler could visit lounges in multiple cities, or twice in at some point.

They may even find a way to purchase Sky Club day passes for $50 a day after they’ve used up their days.

American Express Platinum cardholders will get 10 visits a 12 months, up from a planned limit of six, starting February 2025.

Nevertheless, Delta SkyMiles Platinum cardholders still won’t get automatic Sky Club access through the cardboard starting next 12 months, a change Delta announced last month. Customers can purchase a membership or enter in the event that they meet loyalty program spending thresholds for elite status.

Delta last month said it’ll reward customers based on how much they spend on Delta or co-branded bank cards, an analogous model to at least one American Airlines uses. That will not change, but Delta is lowering the spending requirements to earn the status tiers.