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
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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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.