How to get Delta Sky Club access, including via elite status and credit cards

Delta Air Lines is modernizing and expanding its Sky Club network. However, the airline enacted several changes in February to significantly reduce Delta Sky Club access for some travelers. So, here's what you need to know about the various ways you can currently get Delta Sky Club access.

Delta Sky Club access via credit cards

One easy way to get Delta Sky Club access is to hold a card that grants access. Here's a look at when you can get access with some of the best cards for Sky Club access:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Must be traveling on a same-day Delta-operated flight or Delta-marketed flight operated by WestJet; complimentary Delta Sky Club access is limited to 10 visits per program year (Feb.1 to Jan. 31).
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Must be traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or -operated flight; complimentary Delta Sky Club access is limited to 15 visits per program year (Feb. 1 to Jan. 31).

If you're interested in a card that offers Delta Sky Club access, new cardmembers of the Delta Reserve Amex can earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. If you prefer a business card, new Delta Reserve Business Amex cardmembers can earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

Each visit includes all access for 24 hours from your first usage. As such, one visit can include access to Delta Sky Club locations and Grab and Go locations at multiple airports within 24 hours. However, if you use a Grab and Go location, you can't use another Grab and Go location or Sky Club at the same airport for three hours.

If you run out of visits, you can buy additional Sky Club visits for $50 per visit or additional Grab and Go visits for $25 per visit. You can also earn unlimited Sky Club visits through the end of the following Medallion year (Jan. 31) if you spend $75,000 or more during a calendar year on one of the eligible cards. Once you meet the spending requirements, you can enjoy unlimited visits for the rest of the calendar year, the following year and the first month of the following year.

Related: Inside Delta's brand-new Sky Club in Atlanta, its nicest one yet

There are some restrictions to be aware of. You cannot access Sky Clubs when traveling on a basic economy fare. Additionally, you won't get access until within three hours of your flight's scheduled departure time unless you are on an eligible arriving flight.

The above cards only provide Delta Sky Club access to the cardmember. However, you can pay $50 per person ($25 per person for Grab and Go locations), per visit to bring up to two guests or your immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under 21). Basic cardmembers of the Delta Reserve and the Delta Reserve Business also get four one-time guest passes each program year to bring guests to Delta Sky Clubs. (You can use up to two guest passes per visit.)

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Finally, if you have the Delta Reserve or the Delta Reserve Business and travel on a Delta partner airline flight not marketed or operated by Delta, you can pay $50 per visit for Delta Sky Club access ($25 per visit for Grab and Go locations).

Related: Why the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card is still one of the best cards I've added to my wallet

Delta Sky Club membership

If you have Delta Medallion status, you can purchase a Sky Club membership with cash or Delta SkyMiles. There are two types of Delta Sky Club memberships:

• Individual membership: One-year rate of $695 or 69,500 SkyMiles
• Executive membership: One-year rate of $1,495 or 149,500 SkyMiles

These memberships provide Sky Club access when flying Delta or select partners, as long as you're not flying on a basic economy ticket.

With an individual membership, only the member can enter the Sky Club. However, the member can pay $50 or 5,000 miles per guest, per visit ($25 or 2,500 miles per guest, per visit for Grab and Go locations) for up to two guests or immediate family members.

Meanwhile, an executive membership is handy for those who anticipate frequently bringing guests with them into the club. You can bring up to two guests or your immediate family for free. You can also bring up to two more guests for $50 or 5,000 miles per guest, per visit ($25 or 2,500 miles per guest, per visit for Grab and Go locations).

Related: 5 ways to ensure you have lounge access before your next flight

Delta Sky Club access via elite status

There are several ways you might get Delta Sky Club access as a benefit of your elite status. For example, Diamond and Platinum Medallion members get to select Choice Benefits each Medallion year.

Some of the Delta Choice Benefits can provide Delta Sky Club access as follows:

• Delta Sky Club individual membership: Diamond Medallion members can obtain this benefit with two Choice Benefit selections.
• Delta Sky Club executive membership: Diamond Medallion members can obtain this benefit with three Choice Benefit selections.

Delta Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallion members and up to one guest traveling in the same cabin can also access Sky Club lounges when traveling in:

• Premium Select internationally (excluding the Caribbean)
• Delta First to Mexico, Canada or Central America (or an equivalent cabin on a flight operated by a Delta partner)
• Delta One (or an equivalent cabin on a flight operated by a Delta partner)

If you are a SkyTeam Elite Plus member from another airline, you can access Delta Sky Club lounges with up to one guest before you travel on an international SkyTeam flight (excluding between the U.S. and the Caribbean) or a domestic SkyTeam flight connecting to or from an international SkyTeam flight.

There are also a few airlines that give Delta Sky Club access as an elite status benefit, including:

• LATAM: Signature Black Emerald, Black Emerald and Platinum Sapphire members and up to one guest get Delta Sky Club access when traveling on or connecting to a same-day international flight operated by Delta or LATAM.
• WestJet: Gold and Platinum members and up to one guest get Delta Sky Club access when traveling on a same-day transborder flight between the U.S. and Canada operated by Delta or WestJet.

Related: Some of our favorite ways to use Delta SkyMiles

Delta Sky Club access on premium cabin tickets

Both domestic and international Delta One (which is different from first class on Delta) passengers get Sky Club lounge access regardless of elite status or membership. The same goes for anyone flying on a same-day international first-class or business-class ticket on another SkyTeam-operated flight (though you must be confirmed in business class or first class for every segment of your journey).

You can enter the club even if you're on a domestic Delta flight connecting to or from a same-day international Delta One flight. However, flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean aren't considered international for lounge-access purposes.

Additionally, Delta partners with two other airlines to provide Sky Club access to their premium cabin passengers:

• LATAM: Business-class passengers can access Sky Club lounges with same-day international travel or with a connection to or from an international flight operated by Delta or LATAM.
• WestJet: Business-class passengers can access Sky Club lounges with same-day international travel or with a connection to or from an international flight operated by Delta or WestJet.

Related: These are our favorite Delta Sky Clubs in the US — and a card we love that gets you access

Bottom line

If you regularly fly Delta or live in or travel to a hub city, Sky Club access can make your travel experience much more enjoyable.

While Delta has tightened Sky Club access rules, there are still some ways to gain access as long as you avoid booking basic economy fares. For example, top-tier Diamond Medallion members can redeem Choice Benefits for a Delta Sky Club membership. At the same time, anyone with Delta elite status can still pay cash or redeem miles for a Delta Sky Club membership.

Additionally, some premium credit cards still provide a set number of complimentary Delta Sky Club visits each program year. You can also earn unlimited visits by meeting specific spending thresholds each calendar year. Here's a list of these cards, including links to apply:

• Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card
• The Platinum Card from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card from American Express