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Delta's building a brand-new Sky Club in Atlanta

April 22, 2021
3 min read
Delta Tokyo Haneda Sky Club
Delta's building a brand-new Sky Club in Atlanta
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Delta's mega-hub in Atlanta is getting an upgrade.

This week, Atlanta City Council approved a resolution to spend up to $33.1 million for hometown carrier Delta to construct a brand-new Sky Club in Concourse D at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Currently, the carrier operates two small clubs in the D concourse, one near Gate D12 and another near Gate D27.

Once the new build is completed, those smaller lounges will close, and Delta will consolidate into the new flagship space in the D concourse.

The new lounge will add a third floor to the D concourse and will span at least 20,000 square feet, according to the resolution. That represents more than double the size of the two existing Sky Clubs, which currently occupy about 9,000 square feet that'll be returned to the city when construction is complete.

Atlanta airport officials say that the construction, which is expected to cost about $33 million, will be funded by airport revenue bonds.

Delta's new Salt Lake City flagship Sky Club (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)

Delta is responsible for the interior finishes and furnishings for the new club at the airport, which is owned and operated by the City of Atlanta

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was among the first outlets to report the story.

The new Sky Club will join Delta's seven other ATL lounges, one of which is temporarily closed due to the pandemic. On Tuesday, Delta CEO Ed Bastian told TPG that every Sky Club networkwide would reopen by the summer.

Atlanta isn't the only Delta airport getting a facelift. The carrier is working on projects in Los Angeles (LAX) and New York LaGuardia (LGA), among others. That work is getting accelerated due to the demand downturn and drop in air traffic related to the pandemic.

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Bastian gave a few more clues on what to expect from the new LAX Sky Club in his recent TPG interview. "It's going to be the full experience with a beautiful, probably our largest, nicest sky Club in the system — where you'll be able to sit outdoors and see the ocean, as well as the Hollywood Hills at the same time. It's going to be a fabulous property and really what LAX needs," he said.

There's also been talk of Delta building an exclusive space for business-class customers, similar to the American Airlines Flagship Lounge and United Polaris Lounge. The carrier hasn't yet confirmed its plans, but several clues have leaked.

In recent months, the carrier, along with local authorities, inaugurated a brand-new terminal in Salt Lake City, one of its "core" hubs. The second phase of the new SLC airport could wrap up to two years early, also thanks to an accelerated timeline due to the pandemic.

Correction: This story is been updated to clarify that no direct taxpayer funds are being used for the club.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 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.
4XEarn 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.
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1XEarn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

    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.