BREAKING: Delta Softens its Hard Three-Hour-Before-Departure Admission Rule to Sky Clubs? - Eye of the Flyer (2024)

Chris Carley

Chris Carley is the owner, editor, and lead writer of Eye of the Flyer (formerly known as Rene's Points).

1. Bridge says:

   1 year ago

   NEED HELP. Transiting off a Delta flight at JFK continuing on Singapore airlines several hours(8) later. I want to shower at the SkyClub before my 20 hr flight. Does this affect after landing as well? What is the timeframe AFTER flight that one can use the SkyClub?. Datapoint…. Singapore premium was $3k cheaper than Delta and SkyTeam in coach. End Bastian take note. Premium Economy solo seat versus “back of the bus” on Delta.

   Reply

   • Chris Carley says:

     1 year ago

     You’re able to access Sky Clubs upon arrival.

     Reply

     • Bridge says:

       1 year ago

       Chris,
       How many hours though? If I land at 1pm, can I use the Delta Boarding pass at 8:30pm?

       Reply

       • Chris Carley says:

         1 year ago

         That’s pressing your luck.

         Reply

       • Chris Carley says:

         1 year ago

         Are you checking luggage? What’s your premium card situation (Amex Plat, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, etc)?

         Reply

         • Bridge says:

           1 year ago

           Yes. Checking 1 suitcase. Unknown when the International carrier starts(opens) check in. Delta AMEX Reserve card. I’m wondering if the kiosks in Terminal 4 will blink “green” at such a duration.

         • Chris Carley says:

           1 year ago

           Hmmm. Well, you could try getting your suitcase, checking it in with Singapore, and then getting back to the T4 Sky Club ASAP. But I don’t know if Singapore’s check-in counter will be open when you arrive at JFK.

           See Also

           9 Best Priority Pass Restaurants to Use Your Credit - NerdWalletPriority Pass: Your Complete Guide to Airport Lounge Luxury [2024]Can I access a lounge without my membership card?Are Priority Pass Lounges Usually Crowded? - NerdWallet

       • Stephen says:

         1 year ago

         The 3 hour rule is at initial departure, not for transit.

         Reply

         • Bridge says:

           1 year ago

           Thanks for the reply but I’m continuing on a “Non” Skytem partner.

2. Dave Walker says:

   1 year ago

   How are we supposed to use that “maybe”.

   Let’s go to the airport early than usual and see if we can get in?

   Reply

   • René says:

     1 year ago

     @Dave – Not hard. If line 100 deep line then 3 hour rule stands. If lots of space – welcome to the club!

     This is brilliant move by Delta.

     A rare move of reasonableness in a world very unreasonable imo

     Reply

     • Dave Walker says:

       1 year ago

       It’s hard to see the line when you are not at the airport yet. Reps also have flexibility to say “no” even if the place is empty. Why leave for the airport early than planned, just to see if you might be able to get in?

       Reply

       • René says:

         1 year ago

         @Dave – Glass half full? #AskingForAFriend

         I am thrilled Delta is empowering reps. Will they step up? Maybe!

         Reply

         • Dave Walker says:

           1 year ago

           I am flying ATL to CUN tomorrow at 6:18 pm. Maybe I will arrive at the Concourse F Sky Lounge early and report back what happens. I frankly will be surprised if the dragons are even aware of their newly granted flexibility.

       • Chris Carley says:

         1 year ago

         There are times when I can’t get a late check out and my flight isn’t until late afternoon or early evening. I certainly appreciate the possibility of getting into the lounge early.

         Reply

       • Stan Ferris says:

         1 year ago

         @Dave Walker, go into the app, use the menu icon on the top left, choose Delta Sky Club, it will ask you for the airport, I just entered ATL, click on search. You now can see how busy all the clubs are in ATL. Right now “B” and “E” are quite busy the rest are not!

         See Also

         How Long Can You Stay In an Airport? | CleverJourney

         Reply

       • Stephen says:

         1 year ago

         The App gives an indication of how full each club is.

         Reply

3. Franck B. says:

   1 year ago

   Amex needs to learn this. When airports start telling travelers to arrive 4-5 hours before a flight because they’re experiencing huge long lines (e.g. LHR), and one manages to get through security early, it sucks to have something like a Centurion Lounge turn you away for being 30-40 minutes before the 3-hour rule.

   Reply

   • René says:

     1 year ago

     @Frank B – I have stood 15 minutes outside JFK Centurion and glaring at reps after turned away a minutes early!!!!

     Reply

4. FNT Delta Diamond says:

   1 year ago

   Instead of 3 hours before departure, it should be 3 hours before boarding. This is especially important for red-eye flights.

   Or alternatively, 3 hours before departure between say 8 am and 7 pm when the lounges are most busy.

   Reply

   • René says:

     1 year ago

     @FNT – Reps now have flexibility and that is huge.

     #KeepClimbing #StiveForFive

     Reply

5. Don in ATL says:

   1 year ago

   I live in ATL, and have accessed the SC’s in E and F more than 3 hours before departure on every single flight since the 3 hour rule was implemented. This is like 5 times. It’s always been at least 3.5 hours before flight time, and once it was 4 hours before departure. After I scanned my boarding pass, they said “Welcome,” and I entered. I am a Diamond with a Reserve card, traveling F or D1 (not coach). Four times it was internationally, one time domestic. So for me, the agents have been using discretion all along. On all these occasions, there was no line outside the Club, and the Club was nearly empty when I entered. I think the agents would have felt embarrassed to turn me away if the Club was empty.

   Reply

6. Max A says:

   1 year ago

   Glad to hear the new flexibility being implemented. Frontline employees should be empowered so they can provide great customer service. The world is very fluid and dynamic so hard and fast rules don’t make good business sense. Understand the need for consistency but not at the cost of unnecessarily creating a bad customer experience when it can be avoided.

   Reply

7. TravelWarr says:

   1 year ago

   I can speak from experience on this. Just last Saturday I got to BNA a little less than 4 hours prior to scheduled departure time. I figured…let me see what happens. Used the kiosk and got the screen that said “see agent”. The lady came over and very nicely said to me…”you’re a bit early but we’re not expecting to be very busy today so…welcome!”

   So, looks like they are adjusting the rule on a club by club basis.

   Reply

   • CEM says:

     1 year ago

     I had this happen last weekend at BNA as well! The first kiosk said “see agent” twice, so I went to a second kiosk, tried again, and it let me in! The only agent was working with another flyer and didn’t notice.

     Reply

8. Chad says:

   1 year ago

   The guy in front of me last Thursday in Minneapolis was 3.5 hours ahead of his flight. The agent took him over to one of the reps sitting down and she granted him a waiver no questions asked but she had to document it. This was the new club in concourse G, it was packed given it was Thursday afternoon and everyone wants to check out the fancy new digs.

   Reply

9. Dave Walker says:

   1 year ago

   I just arrived at the Concourse F Sky Lounge in Atlanta 3 hours and 50 minutes prior to departure time, and the agent did not say a word – just let me right in.

   Reply

   • Dave Walker says:

     1 year ago

     I then moved to the Sky Lounge at E because it was closer to my departure gate. Got there 15 minutes too early according to the 3-hour rule. They let me in without question. So that is 2 for 2 in the home of Delta, so I guess the new memo got out.

     Reply

10. Kristina J says:

    1 year ago

    My husband and I arrived at new MSP lounge on 4/29 3.5 hours before a flight to Cancun. They let us in and didn’t say anything about being early. That was at about 7 am and lounge was not busy at all. By about 8 am lounge was fairly busy, but not bad, way less crowded than the old MSP lounge.

    Reply

11. Dee says:

    1 year ago

    Arrived at JFK 3:30 pm Saturday from Toronto. The SC terminal 4 had over 150 in the line on the regular line and over 50 in D1, DM line. We had 10 minutes till bird dung so started to walk away but a woman walked up to the outside agent and said “ I need grab and go — so we turned around and ditto! We got a tuna and a turkey wrap with drinks and a great chocolate chip brownie! We were 1 and 2 on upgrade list with 2 seats but did not want to chance only nuts and chips for 6 hours! Glad we did as the 2 D1 seats were taken before we boarded !!

    Reply

12. Don in ATL says:

    1 year ago

    After all the times (see above) I turned up early at Atlanta SC’s E and F, and never a problem, I showed up early at the Boston SC the other day – about 3:45 before flight time, and they made a big deal out of it, admonished me, and finally let me in. THE CLUB WAS EMPTY – maybe only 20 people in it. So go figure.

    Reply

    • Chris Carley says:

      1 year ago

      I have NOT had great experiences at the BOS clubs: closing early, etc.

      Reply

13. BobC says:

    1 year ago

    I was denied entry in SFO at 3:15 to go. I waited, entered at 3 hours to go and went upstairs to the agent. I canceled my 1st class flight, my membership and walked over to the United terminal.

    Reply

14. Toni Barton says:

    6 months ago

    Do you have a copy of the memo. I’m currently at DCA and she’s refusing me entry 3.5 hours before my flight boards.

    Reply

    • René says:

      6 months ago

      @Toni – It is at their discretion. They can choose to play hardball if the club is full or they just want to play lounge dragon!

      Reply