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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