Delta Air Lines is changing how customers can gain entry into its Sky Club and earn elite frequent flyer status with the Atlanta-based airline in 2025.
As a substitute of the present unlimited visits, starting Feb. 1, 2025, American Express Platinum and Platinum Business cardholders will get six visits a 12 months, unless they spend $75,000 on the cardboard in a calendar 12 months.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business cardholders will get 10 Sky Club visits a 12 months, unless they spend a minimum of $75,000 in a 12 months on their card.
Delta’s SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express cards will now not get club access unless the shopper buys a club membership or in the event that they have elite status with Delta that enables them to choose a club membership as a perk.
A yearly membership for Delta’s lounges is $695.
Some restrictions will start as soon as January 1, 2024, with the airline announcing that customers who book a basic economy ticket will now not be allowed in Delta’s lounges, regardless in the event that they carry a Platinum Card or every other premium bank card.
The news comes because the airline struggled to handle overcrowding at popular lounges at Delta’s major hubs like JFK Airport or Atlanta.
Delta is restricting access to its airport lounges. AP
Together with the lounge cut backs, Delta can also be making it increasingly harder for its customers to qualify for status on its SkyMiles program.
Passengers will now not earn status based on the variety of miles they fly with Delta, but as a substitute will earn status based exclusively on the amount of cash they spend with the airline.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express card members earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for each $10 spent on the cardboard, while Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express Card Members earn 1 MQD for each $20 spent.
The brand new status requirements are:
- Silver Medallion – 6,000 MQDs
- Gold Medallion – 12,000 MQDs
- Platinum Medallion – 18,000 MQDs
- Diamond Medallion – 35,000 MQDs
Delta Air Lines didn’t immediately reply to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.