Touring Delta's new 'Sky Way' at LAX, the 1st phase of a 27-gate overhaul

The pandemic might've temporarily brought the air travel industry to a halt, but there's a big silver lining for travelers who are just now returning to the skies.

When it's time to pass through the nation's biggest hubs, you might not believe your eyes. The outdated airports of yesteryear are finally being rebuilt with modernized facilities that reflect the latest in design with a host of upgraded passenger amenities.

Of the U.S. airlines, Delta has perhaps been the most aggressive in its $12 billion, decade-long investment in airport infrastructure projects.

The airline opportunistically used the demand downturn during the height of the pandemic to accelerate its nationwide redevelopment projects, and flyers are now seeing the fruits of that labor.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in Los Angeles, where Delta is transforming the ground experience at LAX with the creation of a new, 1.2-million-square-foot "Sky Way" that'll connect Terminals 2, 3 and the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT, or Terminal B). The project was originally slated for completion in late 2024 but has since been accelerated by nearly 18 months.

And now, Delta passengers will soon experience the updated digs. The airline on Tuesday unveiled the first phase of its major LAX redevelopment project — the central headhouse that'll be home to the consolidated check-in area, baggage claims, security checkpoints and one of the largest Sky Clubs in the entire network.

TPG was on the ground at the ribbon-cutting celebration, and what follows is our first look at Delta's revamped ground experience at LAX that's officially opening to the public on April 20.

An overhauled check-in area

The departing passenger journey at LAX will begin on the second level of the new centralized headhouse.

Those arriving by car will likely appreciate the wider curbs, which will offer more space for pedestrians and departing passengers to gather their belongings before entering inside.

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Tuesday's festivities began with a red-carpeted, VIP-style entrance, but many long-time LAX flyers will still feel special well after Tuesday's event is broken down.

Entering the check-in area brings you into a light-drenched departures hall, with 32 self-serve kiosks and 46 staffed check-in counters.

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Behind the counters is a 250-foot digital back wall, which spans the entire length of the facility (nearly 20% wider than the wingspan of Delta's largest jet, the Airbus A350).

The massive, eye-catching high-definition screen will display flight information in both English and Spanish, along with gate information and live Sky Club capacity indicators, a first for Delta.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

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Assuming that these capacity indicators are accurate, hopefully, the airline will roll them out nationwide, and even add the information into the mobile app for easy access on the fly.

Many of the check-in counters also have iPads pre-installed for biometric, hands-free bag drop, an opt-in service that Delta has been piloting in Atlanta and Detroit.

As you'd expect, there'll be separate check-in lanes for Sky Priority passengers, bag drops, special assistance and more.

Notably, the airline didn't install a private check-in area for Delta One passengers in the headhouse, though that's supposedly in the works according to a carrier spokesperson. (Delta's existing Terminal 2 features an intimate reception area for those traveling in long-haul business class.)

The check-in hall is also home to a set of restrooms, which feature individual stalls, mirrored walls and touchless sinks — a big improvement compared to the outdated facilities in Delta's existing Terminals 2 and 3.

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All in all, the overhauled check-in area at the new headhouse is a massive improvement compared to the one it replaces. It'll be a big relief to passengers who've needed to queue outdoors or rub elbows with other passengers during the busiest days in Terminal 2.

"I want to thank our customers for your patience for putting up with way too many 'pardon our dust' signs... The good news is that it's all coming to an end in a couple of weeks. We are excited to give you the experience that you deserve as our customer," Delta CEO Ed Bastian said ahead of the ribbon-cutting.

With 140 daily flights from LAX, the space should be large enough to handle Delta's (and Aeromexico's) passenger traffic passing through the airport, though it could still get busy during peak periods.

That said, even if you do need to wait, at least it'll be in a much-improved space.

Security with a view

After dropping your bags and obtaining your boarding pass, the next stop will be security, which is located one level above the check-in area.

There are two sets of escalators, plenty of elevators and some stairs to bring you to the third level.

Once upstairs, you'll be greeted by two art pieces, which will help guide your eyes toward the security checkpoint.

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The consolidated security checkpoint is big news for Delta, as it'll make all gates in Terminal 2 and 3 accessible without the need to reclear security.

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The airline is also building a new airside connector to the Tom Bradley International Terminal, which will make the furthest gate there just about 15 minutes away when the connector eventually opens next year.

There are 14 security lanes in the new checkpoint, 11 of which will feature automated screening. Delta bills this move as "improving customer convenience and checkpoint throughput," though some travelers have complained that these lanes are seemingly slower than the old ones.

When the headhouse opens on April 20, only seven security lanes will be open, but that'll quickly ramp up to 14 this summer. A carrier spokesperson didn't offer an explanation for the slow ramp-up, though it's perhaps due to short staffing, an issue that's plagued the industry in recent months.

There will be four different security lanes in the new headhouse: Clear kiosks, TSA Precheck, Sky Priority and standard screening options.

Once you've passed through security, your eyes may be drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows which offer terrific views of Terminals 2 and 3, LAX's northern runways and the Hollywood Hills in the distance.

As an aviation enthusiast, I paused for a few minutes during my tour to appreciate the beautiful day and the variety of aircraft moving around the airfield.

If you're facing the windows, turning left after security will bring you to Terminal 3 (and eventually TBIT), while turning right will bring you past the new state-of-the-art Sky Club and on to Terminal 2.

A new Sky Club with improvements all around

The new headhouse spans four levels, with the entire top floor occupied by Delta's new 30,000-square-foot Sky Club.

It's nearly impossible to miss the wood-paneled entrance to the club.

After presenting your boarding pass, you'll be ushered up a level to the lounge itself. The new LAX Sky Club reception area has a very similar design to the one in Salt Lake City, Fort Lauderdale and Terminal 4 at New York-JFK.

Once upstairs, you'll be welcomed into what's poised to become one of the nicest Sky Clubs in the entire network.

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Construction is still ongoing at the Sky Club, but the buildout that I saw on Tuesday is a harbinger of good things to come when the space officially opens on April 20.

A mix of light and dark wood, patterned carpeting and visually-appealing lighting fixtures combine to give the space a luxurious design.

I'll dive deeper into the Sky Club in a follow-up story, but the highlight for many will undoubtedly be the outdoor deck, with its fantastic views of the Delta terminals, runways and city of Los Angeles.

On a clear day, you can even see the Hollywood sign from the lounge. (And on a stormy day, you can still relax outside since the deck has a retractable roof.)

Stay tuned for more about the Sky Club.

6 new baggage claim carousels

The first floor of the headhouse is home to six baggage claim carousels.

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All arriving passengers on domestic flights will pass through here once the facility opens. While the carousels themselves are large, this was perhaps the most underwhelming area of the new headhouse, especially compared to some recent new terminal developments (Salt Lake City comes to mind).

The ceilings aren't nearly as tall as they are on the upper levels of the Sky Way, and the elevated outdoor roadways obstruct much of the natural light as well.

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That said, at least the carousels are spread out, and there are upgraded restroom facilities and a new baggage services office here.

Once you exit the baggage claim area, you'll be on the arrivals levels near Terminal 3, with access to the parking garages and busses, and you'll be just a short walk away from the LAXit rideshare lot.

What's next for Delta at LAX

When the new Sky Way headhouse opens on April 20, it'll mark the first completed step in Delta's multi-phase LAX redevelopment project.

All departing and arrivals passengers will pass through this new terminal area, while work continues on the next three phases of the project. In May, Delta will open the first three new gates in Terminal 3, followed by the overhauled satellite concourse in Terminal 3 around Labor Day weekend.

The airline will also open a western portion of the headhouse at the end of the year, which could perhaps become home to a dedicated Delta One check-in area, which is noticeably missing in the existing headhouse.

Finally, parts of Terminal 2 will be renovated by the middle of next year, along with the opening of a connector from the Sky Way headhouse to TBIT.

While more improvements are still coming down the pike, the ribbon cutting and grand unveiling marked a big step in Delta's plan for LAX. "From coast to coast, customers will choose Delta for leading with innovation to build the airports of the future," Bastian said.

With recently completed projects in Salt Lake City and Seattle, and exciting milestones coming up at New York's LaGuardia and JFK airports, now more than ever is a great time to pass through one of Delta's revamped hubs.