1st look: Inside Delta’s stunning new Sky Club in Kansas City
Would you believe Kansas City is now home to a Delta Sky Club nicer than any lounge the airline offers at its mega-hub in Atlanta?
Well, with the upcoming opening of the brand-new Sky Club in Kansas City on Feb. 28, that’ll become a reality.
As part of the terminal transformation underway at the Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Delta is adding one of its swanky lounges there. It marks the airport’s first-ever Sky Club and one of Delta’s first new lounge markets in years.
The lounge isn’t just physically beautiful — it also signifies the carrier’s commitment to Kansas City. Delta already offers nonstop service to all nine of its hubs from the MCI airport, and it plans to add additional frequencies on routes to Atlanta, Boston and Minneapolis.
However, the real showstopper is the new club. Thanks to Delta’s latest style motifs, it looks more like an upscale lounge you'd find tucked away in a fancy club than one you'd stumble upon in an airport.
"Even in Kansas City, which might not be a hub for us, we put a very similar quality that we've done in our other lounges," Claude Roussel, Delta's managing director of Sky Clubs, told TPG during our pre-opening tour.
Inside Delta's new Kansas City Sky Club
The Sky Club in Kansas City is in the new central amenity core of the B gates and is open daily from 4:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The entrance is nearly impossible to miss because of the gold-lined entrance wall and eye-catching chandelier.
Better yet, the lounge is just steps away from Delta’s gates, so it's easy for anyone beginning or ending their journey in Kansas City to use it.
The club itself is located on the upper level of the terminal, which requires ascending a level in one of the two dedicated elevators.
Once upstairs, two welcome desks and one self-entry kiosk will be waiting to greet you.
It’ll only take a few seconds to realize how visually appealing this lounge is. Turn to your right, and you’ll find a small seating area before entering the main lounge area.
Some airlines would leave this small seating area empty or just fill it with drab furniture.
However, Delta put a velvet-lined coach, three leather recliners, a beautiful gray and white throw rug, and stylish wallpaper to give a luxurious first impression.
After passing this welcome zone, you’ll be in the main lounge area which is designed in a rectangular shape, with a very long base and narrow sides.
Floor-to-ceiling (tinted) windows line one side of the space, offering incredible views of the gate areas and air traffic control tower.
Throughout the lounge, you’ll find a variety of seating areas, ranging from couches to recliners to coworking tables to high-top workstations.
Although the 11,200-square-foot lounge is essentially one large rectangle, Delta did a fantastic job partitioning the spaces to make it feel larger than it is.
The airline accomplished this by varying the furniture in different spaces and adding privacy wings to many of the couches and chairs it installed.
Furthermore, the lounge’s central lighting fixture and large shared sofa do a great job of creating a sense of space.
That said, the lounge seats just about 200 passengers, so it may be running at capacity during Delta’s busiest departure banks.
The airline’s locally inspired art program made its way to this new Sky Club, which further enhances the visual appeal of the space.
My personal favorite artwork is the piece hanging right near the entrance. It's a painting of Kansas City’s famous Western Auto Building, which coincidentally was first known as the Coca-Cola Building — the beverage company that Delta shares a hometown with.
That said, there are plenty of paintings throughout the lounge, so you might find one you like better.
Delta’s Sky Clubs are undoubtedly the industry leader in culinary offerings, and this outpost is no exception.
A single self-serve buffet and non-alcoholic beverage station sit toward the back of the lounge.
While the food on offer was specially prepared for the media preview, it all looked quite tasty, and Roussel confirmed that it resembled what the airline will offer when the lounge opens on Tuesday.
Compare Delta’s beautifully designed cheese plate and charcuterie board to American cheese cubes, and it won’t take long to realize which airline’s catering I prefer.
You won't find any "snack towers of sadness" here, either. Delta's snacks are placed in glass jars with metal scoopers — much classier than the plastic towers that American and United have in many of their clubs.
Delta’s above-average catering isn’t just limited to the food. The airline’s premium bar in Kansas City will whip up various complimentary and for-purchase drinks and cocktails.
I didn’t have a chance to try any of the concoctions, but I was impressed by how the bar looked. It was inviting and beautifully lit, definitely making it one of the places I’d consider sitting the next time I pass through Kansas City.
While most of the lounge is arranged in a large rectangle, there is a small offshoot toward the center that’s home to the entertainment room.
This space is flanked by two high-top tables, along with some couches and recliners. The three large high-definition TVs are placed within a wall fixture you might expect to find in a modern house in East Hampton, not an airport.
Meanwhile, the highlight for aviation enthusiasts will undoubtedly be the lounge's two year-round Sky Decks — a first for any Delta lounge worldwide. You'll find each of these open-air terraces flanking the north and south sides of the lounge.
The two Sky Decks are essentially carbon copies of each other, so I'd recommend picking whichever is less crowded (or has better aircraft traffic in sight.)
These decks have tall, tinted windows, so grabbing pictures through the glass won't be that easy. To keep these terraces open year-round, Delta installed heaters and fans.
There are a bunch of all-weather seats available outside, but note that most tables aren't within an arm's reach of power.
Speaking of connectivity, Delta did a great job (on the inside) at giving flyers easy access to power outlets and USB charging ports. Most seats feature two AC outlets, as well as two USB-A ports. The designated workstations also have newer USB-C charging ports, which are great for those looking to power the latest devices, like the new MacBook Air or iPad.
Fast and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the lounge, too.
Since Kansas City is an outstation with almost entirely originating traffic, Delta didn't feel the need to install shower suites in the lounge. Still, the lounge has two (stunning) restrooms, one for men and another for women.
Each features a handful of stalls and washing stations stocked with Grown Alchemist amenities; some green sconces that add a tasteful pop of color to the restroom area.
Aside from the bathrooms, the lounge doesn't boast any other amenities — no phone rooms, private cubicles or fireplaces here.
Even so, the club excels at the basics, making this space a well-above-average lounge that beats many of the airline's older Sky Clubs.
While the physical design is beautiful, Roussel isn't stopping there. His next big focus is on refining the service offered in the lounge.
"We are working very hard to really take service to the next level because it's what makes every Sky Club guest feel like they're the most important person in the lounge," Roussel told TPG. He didn't share any specifics, but he wants flyers to "remember special moments" in the Sky Club.
Bottom line
As surprising as it may seem, Delta's brand-new Sky Club in Kansas City is one of its nicest worldwide.
No, it's not a flagship outpost like you'd find in Los Angeles or New York, but it's markedly better than any of the airline's legacy clubs at hubs and outstations.
The space features a refined design, plenty of seating, two year-round Sky Decks and a delectable assortment of foods and drinks.
Assuming that the lounge doesn't get too crowded, this will no doubt be a space worth checking out the next time you fly through Kansas City.
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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.