First look at Delta’s new 30,000-square-foot Sky Club in Los Angeles
Delta is once again raising the bar with its newest Sky Club that's opening soon in Los Angeles.
The airline on Tuesday unveiled the first phase of its new so-called "Sky Way" at LAX — a nearly 800,000-square-foot headhouse — which consolidates the check-in, security and baggage claim areas for Terminals 2 and 3 (and will provide airside connection to Tom Bradley International Terminal once completed.)
The headhouse will open on April 20, and it'll hopefully mark the end of the long lines and sub-par Delta terminal experience at LAX.
While the new Sky Way should represent an improvement for every Delta passenger at LAX, it's especially exciting for those with access to the Sky Club.
That's because along with the headhouse, the airline will simultaneously open one of its largest Sky Clubs to date on the top floor of the new building.
Ahead of the grand opening, TPG toured the new space during an unveiling ceremony, and it's clear that this one is poised to become Delta's West Coast flagship.
Related: First look at Delta's new "Sky Way" at LAX
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Another beautiful design
Delta might be planning to open exclusive business-class-only lounges in the future, but that's not stopping the carrier from now updating its "standard" Sky Clubs.
The new Los Angeles outpost is the latest club in the network to feature an eye-catching, luxurious design.
While much of the furniture still hasn't been installed, the "bones" of the lounge — including the carpeting, light fixtures and wall-mounted seating — are impressive.
The mix of dark and light wood, along with the patterned carpets, creates a luxe vibe, while the various sconces and chandeliers add a good amount of light to the space.
Several relaxation areas in the lounge are already ready for opening day, including my personal favorite, the "coffee grotto," as Delta employees referred to it.
This nook within the lounge is lined with colorful mosaic tiles that were custom-made in Italy.
Elsewhere in the lounge, you'll find some couches and individual chairs that are built into the walls.
If the initial design is any indication, this could become one of the nicest clubs in the Delta network.
Raising the roof with the new Sky Deck
I'm an aviation enthusiast, and I appreciate a lounge with an outdoor deck that boasts great airport views.
Well, the Sky Deck at the new LAX club may quickly become one of my favorite outdoor terraces in any airport nationwide.
For one, the space is massive — while Delta hasn't yet installed any seats, I can envision space for at least 75 travelers, if not more.
There's even an outdoor bar that spans nearly half of the terrace's width, which will definitely be my preferred spot to grab a cocktail when visiting this club.
Most importantly, the views themselves are pretty impressive. The Sky Deck overlooks both Terminals 2 and 3, along with the LAX's northern runways, which are great for plane spotting during sunny days.
On a clear day, you'll even see the Hollywood Hills and Downtown L.A. in the distance. (The Sky Deck will even remain open when it's raining thanks to its retractable roof.)
Tuesday was a picture-perfect day in Los Angeles, and I was fortunate that I packed my "real" camera for the tour.
I'll let the shots I grabbed from the Sky Deck speak for themselves.
A high-end shower game
The Sky Club at LAX will likely be popular with travelers connecting to and from long-haul flights, and it'll feature a handful of shower suites for those looking to freshen up.
One shower was open during the tour, and while the room itself wasn't especially large, it was well appointed.
The brightly-lit mirror contrasted nicely with the marble- and granite-clad shower. The plumbing wasn't yet turned on, but hopefully the water pressure will be good.
These showers are some of the nicest of any airline membership lounge. American's Admirals Clubs also feature shower suites, but they don't feel nearly as luxurious.
On the other hand, United no longer offers showers at its "regular" clubs, and instead reserves this popular amenity for its Polaris Lounges.
Delta didn't focus only on the showers — the lounge's restrooms feel luxurious as well. They feature plenty of individual stalls, along with mirrored walls and touchless faucets.
Making room for in productivity
Though much of the furniture isn't yet installed, I was impressed to see six Framery phone booths in the lounge.
These phone booths were first installed as a field test in the new Salt Lake City (SLC) Sky Club, and Delta has seemingly received positive feedback, as it's now adding them to the flagship Los Angeles outpost.
I noticed just one other private workstation in the lounge, though it's possible that more are being built in the coming weeks.
A harbinger of good things to come
About 15% of the lounge's footprint isn't yet finished, and the area under construction area was cordoned off during the tour.
Plus, the lounge's food and beverage offerings weren't yet ready for prime time.
That said, we now have a preliminary idea of what the finished LAX Sky Club will look like, and there's lots to love.
With over 30,000 square feet and a plethora of amenities, including a massive Sky Deck and premium showers, Delta's new Sky Club at LAX is poised to become one of the nicest in the network.
But stay tuned, because we'll follow up on April 20 with a look at the finished product.
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