Airport Lounges Will Soon To Be Far More Difficult To Access

We know new rules limiting Delta Sky Club access will soon come into effect, but I predict now that we will see much more in the months ahead across airline, credit card, and other airport lounges.

Tightening Airport Lounges Access Rules: More To Come, I Suspect

I thought Dawn Gilbertson of the Wall Street Journal did a great job of summarizing looming changes that will make it much more difficult for flyers to access airport lounges in the months ahead. Changes announced in 2023 to Delta Sky Club access for American Express Platinum and Delta SkyMiles Platinum credit card holders soon take effect, limiting access unless you are willing to place significant spending ($75,000/year) on the card.

The stated goal: reduce lounge crowding.

Like most good things, when too many people have it, no one can enjoy it. If you’re just looking for a cup of coffee or a quick meal, airline and credit card lounges still offer a great refuge from busy and expensive airport concourses. But a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere? Not very often any longer.

Delta has responded to an acute overcrowding problem by dramatically slashing lounge access over the last two years, first for its SkyTeam elites traveling in economy class or credit card holders traveling on basic economy tickets and soon for its top co-branded credit card holders.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian explained:

“I feel much, much better in terms of the overall quality of the experience from our clubs…compared to where we were sitting a couple years ago, as people were clamoring, coming out of the pandemic, to try and get in the club any way they could.”

There is no doubt that lounge amenities have improved and more now have access thanks to a new generation of travelers signing up for fancy credit cards that include lounge access.

Delta’s solution to lounge overcrowding has been called “killing a fly with a sledgehammer” since it is only its key hub lounges that tend to get crowded, but the intention goes well beyond actual physical crowding and is more an attempt to bring back psychological exclusivity to these lounges and make people spend even more…either on the credit card or on tickets.

And I predict others will follow…because they can. Here’s what I am expecting:

American Airlines will start limiting access to a set number of visits each year on its Citi co-branded credit cards and perhaps cut off its generous authorized user policy (which does not require the primary cardmember to accompany the authorized user)
United Airlines will also limit its Chase co-branded credit card holders to a set number of visits, like 15-20 per year
All airlines will raise annual membership fees by 30-40%, citing improved amenities and will throw a bone like more free premium alcohol
Chase will limit access to its Sapphire Lounges to a set number of visits each year
Capital One will limit its lounge visits in the same way
Priority Pass Select members from all credit cards will be limited to 10-15 visits per year

I’m not hoping for these changes and certainly not advocating for them, but I do feel they are coming…and I am preparing myself already. Will that mean I change my spending habits or ditch any of my credit cards? Probably not…and that’s precisely why they will make these changes…

CONCLUSION

The heyday of airport lounge access is already coming to an end and I predict it will only accelerate this year. While I lament we are going down this path, I’m already preparing for it…and you should too. If it doesn’t happen or happens slower than I think, then all the better.

image: Chase