Delta's building a brand-new Sky Club in Atlanta
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.
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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 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.
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.
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Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
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- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
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- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
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Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees