The offer mentioned below for the for the Delta Cards is no longer available.
The way you get into Delta Sky Club airport lounges is getting a significant overhaul, and the news isn't good for many American Express cardholders.
Delta operates many of the best domestic airport lounges and having the right American Express card has long been the easiest and most affordable way to get into a Delta lounge. Unfortunately, this caused complaints of overcrowding at some of its locations. The new restrictions, according to the airline's announcement, are "part of Delta's ongoing efforts to help balance the popularity of the Clubs with the premium experience they provide for our guests."
Here's what's changing and what it means for you.
Amex cards with Delta lounge access
Several American Express cards offer Delta Sky Club lounge access as an ongoing benefit. Here are the basic rules for airport lounge access with the more popular Amex cards:
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card*: Unlimited access to Centurion Lounge locations (when traveling on a Delta-operated or marketed flight). Centurion Lounge access is only available when the flight is booked with a U.S.-issued Amex card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card*: Unlimited access to Delta Sky Club and Centurion Lounge locations (when traveling on a Delta-operated or marketed flight). Centurion Lounge access is only available when the flight is booked with a U.S.-issued Amex card.
- American Express Platinum Card®: Unlimited access to Priority Pass locations (Requires enrollment for Priority Pass™ Select), unlimited *Delta Sky Club access (when traveling on a Delta-operated or marketed flight), and unlimited Centurion Lounge access.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Unlimited access to Priority Pass locations (enrollment required), unlimited Delta Sky Club access (when traveling on a Delta-operated or marketed flight), and unlimited Centurion Lounge access.
*With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 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.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Currently, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card** and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card** offer Sky Club access to cardholders — for a price. Card members and eligible guests can purchase Sky Club access for $50 a person per visit when traveling on a same-day Delta or Delta partner airline flight.
What's changing?
Here's what's changing on Jan. 1, 2024:
- All cardholders flying in Basic Economy will no longer be eligible for Sky Club access.
- Amex Delta Platinum and Amex Delta Platinum Business cardholders will no longer be able to purchase Sky Club visits.
For all versions of business and personal Amex Platinum and Delta Reserve cards, the biggest change won't happen until Feb. 1, 2025. At that time, those accounts will be limited to:
- Delta Reserve cards: 15 Sky Club visits per program year (Feb. 1 to Jan. 31), can pay for up to two guests or immediate family (spouse/partner and children under 21) at a rate of $50 a person for a Sky Club visit and $25 a person at Grab and Go locations (two free guest passes annually for the consumer Delta Reserve card).
- Amex Platinum cards: Six Sky Club visits per program year (Feb. 1 to Jan. 31), can pay for up to two guests or immediate family (spouse/partner and children under 21) at a rate of $50 a person for a Sky Club visit and $25 a person at Grab and Go locations.
Delta Reserve and Amex Platinum card members have the opportunity to earn unlimited Sky Club access, but it comes at a hefty price. When you spend $75,000 on your eligible card in a calendar year, you'll receive unlimited Sky Club access through the end of that year and all of the next year. As an example, if you hit the $75,000 threshold in June of 2024, you'll receive uncapped Sky Club access through December 31, 2025. Tracking for this spending threshold begins on January 1, 2024.
What does this mean for you?
Traditionally, American Express's premium cards were the best way for most people to get access to Delta Sky Clubs. Now that equation has significantly changed.
A Sky Club membership costs $695 a year for an Individual membership (paid guest access) and $1,495 a year for an Executive membership (up to two free guests or immediate family per visit), and you need Delta Medallion elite status (any level) to be able to purchase a membership. For anyone who prefers to book the cheapest flights in Basic Economy and wants lounge access, starting in January 2024, buying a Sky Club membership is your only option.
For Delta Reserve cardholders who normally visit Delta lounges more than 10 times a year, you'll have to take a good look at your card's benefits to decide whether it's worth switching to a paid Sky Club membership or finding another option for lounge access. The new Sky Club restrictions hit Amex Platinum cardholders harder, but they have a wider range of other lounge options. Depending on the lounges options available at the airports you frequent the most, Amex Platinum card members may be just as happy visiting a Centurion Lounge or a Priority Pass location once they run out of Sky Club visits.
Overall this is a significant devaluation to the airport lounge perks available with the affected Amex cards. Airport lounge access may not be the deciding factor for whether you get one of these cards, but if it's the icing on the cake, that icing is becoming far less sweet.
Is it time to consider a different card?
If you want access to Delta Sky Clubs, the premium cards offered by American Express still have value. Even for those who want to purchase a Sky Club membership, you'll need Delta Medallion status. And co-branded Delta Amex cards help you earn status more quickly. But with this devaluation of the lounge access perk, it's harder to justify paying to keep these cards.
However, if you're interested in airport lounges and don't mind missing out on Delta Sky Club, other premium credit cards with lower annual fees might suit your needs. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a $395 annual fee, but with two benefits that can offset the cost. Every year cardholders receive an annual travel credit of $300 for bookings made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth at least $100 in travel). This card grants card members (and two guests per visit) unlimited access to all Capital One Lounges and Priority Pass™ lounges.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
- Annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles after every card anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations
- Long list of valuable travel and shopping protections, including return protection, rental car coverage and trip delay reimbursement (Benefit(s) only available to accounts approved for the Visa Infinite card. Terms apply.)
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other premium credit cards
- High annual fee
- High credit score requirement (excellent credit)
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) has a $795 annual fee, but its annual travel credit of up to $300 is easy to use since the first $300 in eligible purchases automatically qualify for the credit regardless of where you made the purchase. It comes with a complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership, which includes Chase Sapphire lounges. On top of that, it has some of the best travel protections available through a credit card.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
One consideration with these alternative options is that Capital One and Chase are both in the early stages of developing their co-branded airport lounge network. The American Express Centurion Lounge network has more U.S. locations (13) than Capital One and Chase combined (three, plus a Sapphire Reserve lounge-like experience). Additionally, you can access Chase Sapphire lounges with the Priority Pass membership that's available with other credit cards, but you'll need the right Amex card to get into Centurion Lounges.
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Bottom line
Soon, it will be more difficult to access Delta Sky Club lounges with certain American Express cards. Starting in January 2024, card members flying in Basic Economy will no longer receive Sky Club access. From Feb. 1, 2025, the top-tier Amex cards will no longer offer unlimited Delta lounges access unless you can hit a high spending threshold.
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* Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 10 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
** Effective 1/1/24, this benefit will no longer be available.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
