Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) is restricting access to its Sky Club for credit card holders starting in January 2024 in a bid to deal with overcrowding at popular airport lounges in the airline’s major hubs like the JFK and Atlanta airports.
American Express Platinum and Platinum Business cardholders will no longer get unlimited visits. They will get six a year unless they spend $75,000 on the card during the calendar year.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business cardholders will be limited to 10 visits per year unless they spend a minimum of $75,000 on the card during the year.
Meanwhile, Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express cards will no longer grant access to the Sky Club unless the cardholder purchases a club membership, which costs $695 per year, or has elite status with the airline which includes a club membership.
Any customer who books a basic economy ticket will not be allowed in the lounge, regardless of what premium credit card they carry, Delta said.
The airline has also made changes to how travellers can earn elite status in its SkyMiles frequent flyer program.
Travellers will only be able to earn status based on the amount of money they spend with Delta on flights, car rentals, hotels and vacation packages, rather than based on miles flown.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business American Express cardholders earn 1 Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MDQ) for every $10 spent, while Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Platinum Business American Express Card Members earn 1 MDQ for every $20 spent.
To gain a Silver Medallion status, a traveller now needs 6,000 MDQs and 12,000 for Gold Medallion status.
Platinum Medallion status requires 18,000 MDQs and Diamond Medallion Status is for those who earn 35,000 MDQs.
“We want customers to be able to receive status with activity beyond just air travel,” Dwight James, Delta’s senior vice president of customer engagement and loyalty, told CNBC.
“Some of the changes that we’re making ensures that we’re taking care of our most premium customers with our most premium assets, one of those being the Sky Club.”
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