The first of Delta Air Lines’ premium lounges will open for business this year for passengers on both coasts, the airline announced.
The announcement follows criticism leveled at the business late last year for modifying its reward program and limiting entry to its clubs.
According to Delta, the VIP lounges might debut in airports in Boston, Los Angeles, and New York as early as this summer. The rules for entry are still being worked out.
“We want each of our guests to receive a highly personalized and dedicated level of service,” said Claude Roussel, vice president for Delta’s Sky Club and Lounge Experience. “Premium lounge customers should feel welcomed and known when they walk in the door, just as they would at their favorite hotel or restaurant.”
The largest lounge in the Delta network, located at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, will open its doors for business in June. According to Delta, it will be roughly 38,000 square feet in size and feature a full-service restaurant as well as a chef-assisted market with open kitchens and designated wellness zones.
The fourth quarter of 2024 will see the opening of the lounges at Los Angeles International Airport and Boston Logan Airport. The 10,000 square foot Los Angeles location will have an own outdoor deck. Members will have access to a 6,300-square-foot luxury lounge located in Boston.
According to the airline, the area would be connected to the newly opened Delta Sky Club.
In the meantime, Delta Sky Club will extend its current outposts at Miami International Airport and New York’s LaGuardia Airport and open new ones at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Washington and Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.
Along with the five new clubs and the two enlarged or reopened sites that opened in 2023, there will also be adjustments.
Following some recent adjustments that offended some of the airline’s most devoted passengers, CEO Ed Bastian stated back in October that the company will be overhauling its frequent flyer program.
Beginning in 2025, Bastian stated, Delta will simplify the process for its loyalty members to obtain Medallion status. Additionally, it will allow some clients to visit its clubs for longer periods of time.
The decision was made in response to the chief executive’s hundreds of emails following the company’s announcement of major modifications to the SkyMiles program to handle the increase in frequent travelers.
“It’s been a challenge to balance the growth of our membership with our need to deliver premium service experiences,” Bastian said in October. “We made some difficult program decisions to address this issue and ensure we are delivering elevated service to our Members. But your response made clear that the changes did not fully reflect the loyalty you have demonstrated to Delta.”