Lounge access rules change often — confirm in the lounge's app or the card's benefits page before you fly.
Most people now get into Delta Sky Clubs through an American Express card, and since February 1, 2025 that access is capped: 10 visits a year with the Amex Platinum and 15 with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve, with unlimited visits only after $75,000 in calendar-year spending. Annual memberships ($695 or $1,495) are sold only to Medallion members, single-visit passes are no longer sold, and Basic Economy tickets never get you in.
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Access methods
| Method | Cost | Guests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex (personal or business) | $650/yr (personal) | $50 each; 4 free guest passes per year (max 2 per visit) | 15 visits per Medallion Year; unlimited after $75K spend |
| Amex Platinum / Business Platinum | $895/yr | $50 each | 10 visits per Medallion Year, Delta-operated flights; unlimited after $75K spend |
| Individual membership | $695 or 69,500 miles | $50 or 5,000 miles each (max 2) | Medallion members only |
| Executive membership | $1,495 or 149,500 miles | 2 free, plus 2 more at $50 | Medallion members only |
| Medallion status + premium international cabin | Earned | 1 in the same cabin | Premium Select or Delta One international; Delta First to Canada, Mexico, Central America |
| Delta One ticket | Fare | None | Also opens Delta One Lounges |
| Single-visit pass | No longer sold | — | Existing passes honored until their printed expiration |
The 2025 visit caps, explained
Delta and Amex moved card access to a visit-based model on February 1, 2025. Here is how it works:
- A "visit" is 24 hours. Every Sky Club entry within 24 hours of your first one counts as a single visit, so a connection through ATL and a return the next morning can fit inside one visit.
- The year runs February 1 to January 31 (the Medallion Year), not by calendar year or card anniversary.
- Amex Platinum and Business Platinum: 10 visits, valid only on same-day Delta-operated flights (or WestJet-operated flights on a Delta 006 ticket). Visits can't be used for guests.
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Reserve Business: 15 visits, plus four one-time guest passes each year (up to two per visit). Each Reserve basic and additional cardholder gets their own 15 visits.
- Unlimited access unlocks after $75,000 in eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year. It can take up to 12 weeks to activate and then lasts through January 31 of the following year.
- Visits from different cards stack. Holding both a Platinum and a Reserve gives you 25 visits, and each entry counts against whichever card you show at the desk.
- Grab and Go (a to-go meal and drink without staying) is a separate option. Guests pay $25 instead of $50.
If you fly Delta twice a month or more, you'll probably run out of visits before January unless you spend $75,000 on the card. A membership doesn't help unless you hold Medallion status, because only Medallion members can buy one.
Memberships: Medallion members only
Delta stopped selling Sky Club memberships to the general public. If you hold Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond Medallion status, you can buy:
- Individual: $695 or 69,500 miles. Guests cost $50 or 5,000 miles each, up to two per visit.
- Executive: $1,495 or 149,500 miles, with two guests free and up to two more at $50 each.
Diamond Medallion members can instead pick a Sky Club membership as a Choice Benefit in the Fly Delta app (Individual uses two selections, Executive uses three). New Lifetime memberships are no longer sold. Unlike card access, memberships have no visit cap, but Basic Economy tickets still don't qualify. See our elite status guide for how Medallion status is earned.
Status and premium cabins
Medallion status on its own gets you in only when the trip qualifies. Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion members can use Sky Clubs, with one guest in the same cabin, when flying same-day Delta Premium Select or Delta One internationally, or Delta First to Mexico, Canada, or Central America. In partner and SkyTeam lounges, Gold and above get access in any cabin on international SkyTeam itineraries.
SkyTeam Elite Plus members from other airlines (Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Korean Air, and others) get access on same-day international SkyTeam flights with one guest.
Delta One passengers get access on the day of travel, including on a domestic flight connecting to an international Delta One flight. No guests.
Delta First on a domestic route does not, by itself, get you in.
Delta One Lounges
Delta's premium lounges are open at JFK, LAX, Boston, and Seattle. Atlanta is expected in 2028, and Detroit, Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City are planned without dates. Access is based on your ticket only. No Amex card, membership, or Medallion status gets you in.
- Same-day Delta One ticket, arriving or departing, including award and upgraded tickets. No guests.
- First or business class on Air France, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM, or Virgin Atlantic (in Boston, Air France and KLM business class passengers are excluded because of capacity limits). No guests.
- Delta 360 members flying same-day first class, who can bring guests at $100 or 10,000 miles each.
Flying out of JFK or LAX? See our JFK lounge guide and LAX lounge guide.
Rules that trip people up
- Basic Economy (Delta Main Basic) never gets you in, whether you have a card, a membership, or status.
- The three-hour rule: you can generally enter only within three hours of your scheduled departure, unless you're on a layover. Delays don't count against you if you entered within three hours of the original time.
- The name on your boarding pass must match your card or ID.
- Amex Platinum access requires a Delta-operated flight. A Delta-marketed flight operated by a partner doesn't count. The Reserve card also works on Delta-marketed flights.
- The Delta SkyMiles Platinum card ($350) has no Sky Club access. Of Delta's cards, only the Reserve includes it.
Which card should you get?
- You fly Delta mostly: the Delta SkyMiles Reserve. It gives 15 visits instead of 10, works on Delta-marketed flights, and includes four guest passes, along with Delta benefits a Platinum doesn't have. Our Delta Amex cards guide compares the full lineup.
- You fly anyone: the Amex Platinum. Ten Sky Club visits are a bonus on top of Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass. See the Platinum guide.
- You're a heavy Delta flyer with Medallion status: your best options are the Reserve plus a $75,000 spend, or a membership (or a Diamond Choice Benefit), since 15 visits run out quickly.
FAQ
How many Sky Club visits does the Amex Platinum get? Ten per Medallion Year (February 1 to January 31), on same-day Delta-operated flights. Each visit covers 24 hours of entries. Spending $75,000 on the card in a calendar year unlocks unlimited visits.
How many visits does the Delta Reserve card get? Fifteen per Medallion Year, plus four one-time guest passes (up to two per visit). Authorized Reserve cardholders get their own 15 visits, and the $75,000 spend threshold unlocks unlimited access.
Can I buy a Delta Sky Club membership without status? No. Memberships are sold only to Medallion members: $695 for Individual or $1,495 for Executive.
Can I buy a Sky Club day pass? No. Delta stopped selling single-visit passes. Passes you already own are honored until the expiration date printed on them.
Does Basic Economy get Sky Club access? No. Delta Main Basic tickets are excluded under every access method, including memberships and Amex cards.
Does a Sky Club membership or Amex card get me into the Delta One Lounge? No. Delta One Lounges are for same-day Delta One passengers, first and business class passengers on select partners, and Delta 360 members in first class.
Related: Admirals Club access · United Club access · ATL airport lounges · Centurion Lounge locations · Best cards for lounge access
