Delta Air Lines is changing how customers can gain entry into its Sky Club and earn elite frequent flyer status with the Atlanta-based airline in 2025.
Instead of the current unlimited visits, starting Feb. 1, 2025, American Express Platinum and Platinum Business cardholders will get six visits a year, unless they spend $75,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business cardholders will get 10 Sky Club visits a year unless they spend a minimum of $75,000 in a year on their card.
Delta’s SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express cards will no longer get club access unless the customer buys a club membership or if they have elite status with Delta that allows them to pick a club membership as a perk.
A yearly membership for Delta’s lounges is $695.
Some restrictions will start as soon as January 1, 2024, with the airline announcing that customers who book a basic economy ticket will no longer be allowed in Delta’s lounges, regardless if they carry a Platinum Card or any other premium credit card.
The news comes as the airline struggled to handle overcrowding at popular lounges at Delta’s major hubs like JFK Airport or Atlanta.
Along with the lounge cutbacks, Delta is also making it increasingly more difficult for its customers to qualify for status on its SkyMiles program.
Passengers will no longer earn status based on the number of miles they fly with Delta but instead will earn status based exclusively on the amount of money they spend with the airline.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express card members earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) for every $10 spent on the card, while Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express Card Members earn 1 MQD for every $20 spent.
The new status requirements are:
- Silver Medallion – 6,000 MQDs
- Gold Medallion – 12,000 MQDs
- Platinum Medallion – 18,000 MQDs
- Diamond Medallion – 35,000 MQDs
Doesn’t mean squat to me. I haven’t flown since ’02 and it was on American. I don’t plan to ever fly again since the airlines seem to be as screwed up as Amtrak.
Here’s an airline that’s gone Go Woke Go Broke shame on delta air BOYCOTT! BOYCOTT! BOYCOTT! This is discrimination against all working Americans speaking of which American Airlines is a good company they don’t discriminate over what you have in your Wallet! BOYCOTT! Delta airlines they GO WOKE GO BROKE! Moneys their bottom line not the customers who supported them all these years BOYCOTT! BOYCOTT! BOYCOTT! Stand up to these companies we the people did it to Bud Lite and Disney now it’s Deltas turn Go Woke Go Broke! If you have a reservation with delta cancel ASAP!
Hope they go under. Lousy business anyway.