There’s a Tweet about Delta’s airport lounges that’s going viral on Twitter, which has me scratching my head on multiple levels. I feel like it makes sense to address it, because I’m seeing some very bad takes.
Continue reading: About That Viral Delta Sky Club Tweet…
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
We spend the money to join lounges so as to avoid the fray in the boarding areas. We are looking for clean bathrooms, a bit of peace and quiet and a cleaner, less chaotic environment in which to work or, heaven forbid, relax.
AA (whom I despise) does one thing right - they have kid rooms in many of their lounges.
Over the summer I have seen multiple occasions of kids turning Sky Clubs into their own personal play grounds with little / no adult supervision. IMHO - kids under 12 should not be allowed in the club unless there is a kid's room for them to enjoy.
The problem is not with Delta, but with AmEx. The message it is sending to cardholders is that families are not welcome, so they will not negotiate a better deal for them.
@ Ross -- It really doesn't have much to do with Amex, though? If you have a Delta business class ticket, you can't bring in a guest unless they're under two. If you have a Delta Sky Club Individual membership, you also can't bring in a guest unless they're under two. This just comes down to Delta not allowing guesting for anyone except eligible SkyTeam Elite Plus members and those with a Sky Club Executive membership.
Also, let's keep in mind that Delta Sky Clubs already have the worst crowding issues of any US airline lounges. That's part of the reason for the strict guesting rules.
In my situation I pay an annual fee to have other members of my family as additional cardholders, mainly for these benefits. There are rules, I comply and AMEX/Delta comply with the rules.
Granted, a 4 yr old can not be a cardholder but a solution exists, pay $39. End of discussion.
This is the policy. Don't like it, buy access. Seems pretty clear cut to me.
And frankly, the clubs are too crowded already (and have too many screaming kids already...)... so the last thing we need is a relaxation of this policy to allow more children.
As a parent, I don't like the policy but it is what it is. Like you said, don't like it, don't visit the lounge. However, speaking of bad takes, your comment "At this point the math comes down to whether it’s worth paying $39 for three people to access the Sky Club, since most parents aren’t going to abandon their four year old in the terminal; $13 per person for Sky Club access sounds like a deal" is a terrible take.
Let's take the kid out of the picture and assume it was just two adults with amex plat. Would paying $13 per person for Sky Club access still sound like a deal when you are already paying for the Amex annual fee? Of course not, so why would you say paying $13 per person is a good deal when two of those people have free entry rights? It's really paying $39 for one kid who is going to consume maybe $2 worth of food and drinks.
Fully agree with Delta, they did nothing wrong here. It's written in the policy and when they applied for the card. The parents should have been shown the policy when they argued about this. It can't be one rule for some and another for others. Kudos to Delta. Agreed about kids in the lounge. Have more than sufficient share, it's not a kids club like some resort, especially to parents who can't take care of their kids and especially entitled parents.
@ Luis -- I see what you're saying, but I'm viewing it as an "all or nothing" thing. They're not going to abandon their four year old in the terminal, and presumably one parent isn't going to enjoy lounge access while the other parent and child are in the terminal.
So the question comes down to whether it makes sense to pay $39 for everyone to enjoy lounge access. You can distribute that cost between people however you'd like.
I'm also not sure consumption is a huge point of differentiation here for a four year old vs. an adult? I don't generally consume much when I'm in domestic airport lounges. The limiting factor here isn't the veggies and cubed cheese, it's the physical amount of space, especially with Sky Clubs frequently being at capacity. The issue isn't $2 worth of food and drinks, it's taking up a seat that could be occupied by someone who might be standing outside the Sky Club in a line.
I think the policy is clear and reasonable. Sometimes I'm stuck on a flight with a screaming kid for hours. Even if I'm in the pointy end, it's still grating. I don't want to deal with kids in the lounge. In my experience, well behaved kids are a rarity. If I wanted to deal with helicopter parents and pathological kids, I wouldn't go on vacation.
This problem was created by the person failing to know the benefits of her credit card. If the person understood the benefits of her card, she would have known ahead of time what the entry/guest policy was. And, if the person understood the benefits of her card, she would have known ahead of time that the airline incidental fee statement credit would have covered the entry fee for the child.
If you want to separately discuss kids being in the lounge, fine. But, the issue in play is not whether kids should be in the lounge. The issue in play is the fee. And, regarding the fee, the story could have easily involved a well-behaved 15 or 16 year old.
The tweeting for attention lady acted as if she was force to have a credit card and forced to go to the lounge and then is upset the reactions. There were two solutions: don't go to the lounge or pay the fee. It's too bad that you don't get the other side of the story from the lounge attendant who probably was just explaining the rules. No one wants rules to apply to them.
On the one hand, these people are paying at least $870 for the lounge access they have (unless one of them is military) through the Platinum card, so what's another $39? On the other, these people are paying at least $870 for the lounge access, so why give the appearance of penny pinching by failing to negotiate a deal where an under-12 child can accompany his or her parents? I can see it both ways, but I think this is a reasonable lounge access restriction to prevent overcrowding. The Amex benefit still gets the parent heavily discounted access to the lounge for the party, even where if traveling without the child, that access would be free.
This dispute isn't even about kids accessing lounges - the takes about Delta preventing children from "ruining" the lounge experience with this policy are simply incorrect. For example, Delta sells executive Sky Club memberships, which allow members to bring their spouse and minor children into the lounge for free. The tweet author was permitted to bring her child into the lounge at a discounted rate. In other words, Delta permits children into the lounge without restriction to those willing to purchase that access. The policy is about limiting overcrowding, not restricting passengers from bringing children specifically into the lounge.
Of course they do. The era of business travel is currently in suspension, and we are now in the era of leisure travel. Kids are a big part of that.
Good lord. Spend the $39 or STFU. It seems pretty simple. Why is this even a question? The conditions are spelled out in detail and are very easy to see.
By allowing to have comp.access for kids without writing it in the policy, isn't AmEX or Delta harming the interest of others, especially those that don't have a children.
If you think that one parent isn't going into the club to relax for 30-60 minutes and bring back "free" food, etc. for their kids (regardless of what the policy is with respect to bringing food out of the lounge), and that the other parent is then not switching and doing the same thing, I respectfully suggest that you have never travelled with multiple children over the age of 2.
Delta doesn't want kids in its overcrowded clubs. Pretty simple.
Happy to bring my kids to the Amex Centurion lounges instead, where they are most often perfectly well behaved and don't "take up too much space". (At least until February 2023 when I'll have to pay $30 per kid unless I hit a $75K spending requirement with Amex (unlikely given that, per the wise counsel of this blog, I have directed my spend elsewhere to get more points!).
The frustrating part is paying $175 for an additional 3 platinum cards (so my wife and I can each have one) but not getting the benefit of the other 2 additional cards I am entitled to (given that kids under 13 cannot get them) and then having to pay additional charges for lounge access. Not an uncommon situation for a family to find itself in. First world problems, perhaps.
This is an example of the growing movement of people taking to social media to try to paint a company as evil when the rules were known well in advance and a customer chose not to believe the rules.
The number of families in Sky Clubs has been high. Hopefully as schools restart this fall the numbers will fall.
I suspect part of the reason for Sky Club crowding is because Delta rolled over elite status and some people will not get that in 2023
We can bring perspective to this story by adjusting the facts.
Good job Delta, I have to pay for my 5 year old. Maybe still viral worthy.
Good job Delta, I have to pay for my 6 year old. Getting less viral worthy.
...
Good job Delta, I have to pay for my 11 year old. Get a grip, not viral worthy.
Good job Delta, I have to pay for my 16 year old. Completely fair.
So the issue is the "cut off" of 2 years old being the age when complementary infants age out into the paying child world. That's the issue.
Perhaps members traveling in family groups may appreciate a 50% discount for their minor aged children. My preference in traveling for business appreciates the price barrier though, but that's just my own opinion.
Look, if you have a kid and decide to travel with said kid, you ought to expect that the world isn't going to say great, we'll comp everything for your kid, so nothing is more expensive than it was before you had the kid.
If anything Delta's policy is confusing because they allow kids under 2 in for free. I guess the argument is that they're not going to eat or drink, but maybe my grandma on a feeding tube isn't either...time for Americans to take more personal responsibility rather than looking for more handouts. Maybe I should take grandma on a trip and send out a stupid tweet...
With regards to the 2 year old cutoff for free access, it seems to me that that's actually consistent with most airlines in the world. Kids under 2 fly for free, and after that the parents have to buy a ticket for them. So by extension, it kinda makes sense that Delta's cutoff for free Skyclub entry for infants is also cut off at 2.
There is a line to be drawn, and there is a clearly published policy. But is 2 really a reasonable cutoff for this? You can make a slippery slope argument, but fundamentally no 4 year old is going to not be with their parents at pretty much all times.
Nowadays people will go on social media and write negative stories without having any clue as to the background or policies.
We live in the age of stupidity.
The problem is that breeders shouldn’t be traveling in the first place! You made your life choices, so stay at home and stop ruining everyone else’s experience. These selfish parents haven’t got the memo for some reason.
On the contrary. The users that stand to benefit most from lounges as well as business class travel are families with small children. I should know - I have 3, and use both extensively. They should be rebranded family lounge and family class. So great for the little ones.
These kids' parents spend the money to have clean bathrooms, a bit of peace and quiet, and a cleaner less chaotic environment in which to wait for their business class flight.
Pissy business travelers should not be allowed in the club, unless they have a clean record of keeping their traps shut about kids. 🙂 After all, work can be done remotely. Leisure travel, on the other hand, must be done in person.
Internet dum-dums are gonna dumdum. It's too bad you can't bring complimentary guests, but clearly up to the operator to decide.
I'm a single mom, Amex Reserve cardholder. My 5.5 yr is on track for Silver on Delta this year. I pay for his Skyclub almost every time. On occasion the person checking us in laughs and lets him in for free. The card also comes with 2 guest passes per year; so I save them for the occasions I am flying without my Amex. People who complain about this need to be shamed themselves. The policy is clear, and always has been clear. Anyone "human" above 2 yrs of age needs to pay. Yes, it sucks sometimes to pay $39 for my 5.5 yr old who can not drink alcohol... but wait... I am in a crowded airport, and inside the lounge he can sit comfortably on his tablet while I run to the bar or grab some food - so yes, it is worth it. It is not worth it for me to pay for an Executive Membership, as we would need to go to the lounge 20x per year for it to be more than paying for the visits on an individual basis. The "fee" for the Reserve goes towards the companion pass that I need as a single mom frequent flier.
If the card rules said “and children get in free,” I would not pay for a Delta club membership given that the solo traveler would be paying full freight to allow children free access. The clubs are expensive, overcrowded, the food scant and the noise level high. The concept of relaxing in the lounge and getting some work done has become almost laughable, especially in the summer.
Some children in Sky Clubs has been an issue since I started flying in the early 90's. Some parents believe it's "party time" for themselves and their kids. While some parents will start to drink alcohol, some (notice I did not say all) let their kids run wild. It's like having a babysitter....
The overcrowding in Sky Clubs has to come to a stop...something needs to be done. I'm nobody special and in fact I have many times skipped the Slob Club due to overcrowding, unsanitary buffets, etc. I'm a 2 million miler, Diamond Medallion and Delta AMEX Reserve cardholder. Should I have priority over others? Maybe? Maybe not?
Since there is complimentary alcohol, perhaps Delta considers limiting entance to those 21 and older to reduce the risk of possible liability?
I'm flying AF soon so I'll have the pleasure of hanging in what may be the best lounge in the world, La Premiere at CDG and the VIP room at the AF lounge at JFK.
At JFK, I don't even try to walk down to the Slob Club at T4...
What I guess happened, is that only one is the adults has the card. The way Delta would have phrased it would be that they can only take one guest in by paying the fee. The tweeter either defaulted this to the other adult ignoring their child, or knew this would get more of a reaction. Either way it's manipulative at best.
I agree with you. It's simple, read the rules. I travel with Delta almost weekly and enjoy the comfort of sky clubs. When I travel with anyone, including my husband, I know I will pay for his entrance. If you want access for each family member, pay for it. The sky clubs were initially invented for business travelers. Yes, a few doors have opened for leisure travel (Amex), but don't complain if a Delta agent follows the rules.
I mean, they make it perfectly clear that you have to pay for children over 2.
Not their fault she either (1) didn't familiarize herself with entry requirements beforehand or (2) just don't want to pay.
But hey, one less kid in a lounge... the way it should be anyway. Good on Delta.
We took our 3 year old into the LAX Skyclub last Monday with no incident. These people must have just gotten a dick head employee.
And Nigel, shut up
Ah, another self-righteous blue checkmark demanding a free ride. The simple fact that they both presumably have an Amex Platinum Card suggests that $39 is not a financial dealbreaker for them. If it is, I would ask why they have $1400 in credit card annual fees? (I know...if you use it right you can cover a lot of this but that leads to the other point: if they have these cards, if Delta is their preferred carrier, the $39 will be covered by airline incidental fee reimbursement. Lucky is right: you have a to draw a line somewhere, otherwise the SkyClub would be a no charge lounge. I am betting the "sick in the head" and the "late stage capitalism" neither one know much about running a business or capitalism.
...where's the lie though?
You have some (not all) people who choose to have kids, then think that the world owes them convenience at every turn, even to the detriment of others.
Nah, shit on these people.
Good point. Logic would suggest making 5 the age, as that's the minimum age for unaccompanied minor in travel.
Very doubtful that rolling over Medallion had much of any contribution to it, because the only two tiers that would have any effect are Platinum and Diamond... neither of which is likely to not have a card or membership granting access anyway.
The simple matter is that DL has been able to sell a lot more memberships-- via cards.
I don't understand why that's met with such vitriol throughout the traveling world, as it's not like people are being "given" entrance for free. They're just paying for it through annual fees instead of membership dues. What's really the difference?
Yes, 2 is a reasonable cutoff as that's the same age cutoff for a lap child when flying.
A 4 year old will take up an extra seat in the lounge that could otherwise have gone to a paying club member.
I disagree with what Nigel said...that's quite rude.
That being said, if I'm traveling with a toddler i would absolutely pay the $39 if I want all of us in the lounge since that is what is in the policy. It's quite clear.
If they really wanted they could add the toddler as an authorized user for $$$ also.
Her bio says she's a "relentless lawyer" but she clearly didn't take the time to read the basic T&Cs of the card benefits.
You need to realize we are in the post- breeder world. Millennials aren’t ruining our lives with kids after our futures were taken so the boomers could get their retirement. Being a parent does NOT make your special, it makes you a problem.
STOP having babies, and if you must, keep them at home. We don’t want your kind ruining our experience with your poor life choices.
OR do the decent thing and don’t travel with kids! Just cause you are a breeder doesn’t mean you should shit on everyone else’s day. We are in a post-breeder world, your kind isn’t worshipped as heroes anymore.
Agree David. Put in a kids room. It can be a bit too much sometimes in certain airports with the kids in the Sky Club (MCO anyone?).
But...first and foremost...under two...free. Over two...$39.00...that's the gig folks.
And to be fair...for every obnoxious kid and their entitled parent(s)...there are many adorable kids and very watchful, respectful parents. Goes both ways.
good rules are rules. Its pretty clear what they are. Just another entitled jerk wanting special treatment. I don't mind kids in clubs as long as they behave. I don't like the parents that let their spawn run around waste food and beverages and generally create a mess.
OMG ! People ! I have had DL SkyClub membership since oh gosh..when it was called Crown Room. Yes, I am old. And I remember when children were not welcome (or so it seemed ). I enjoy Club access to get AWAY from traveling children. The wild ones, the noisy screaming ones. This is an adult oriented place. And should be. Can your kids behave ? be quiet ? sure great.
The DL employee was spot on correct in not only knowing the rules but enforcing them. GREAT ON DL !
Ben people willsit in first and business class while their kid is in coach and expect flight attendants and the kids seatmates to babysit. I can see them telling a 7 year old to stay outside while mom and dad drink
@Ben. Add Lifetime membership to those allowed to bring guests. Also, do you think those who made negative comments about kids know that the OMAAT guys now have a child?
While I know this will not be a popular opinion on this page, I wish Delta would charge every Amex card holder a small fee to enter or limit the number of free visits over a year. (Yes, I access by Amex Platinum) I also wish Amex would charge platinum members to access the Centurion Lounge. My reason is because of the sheer overcrowding. Many years ago, before credit cards provided access to airline clubs, you paid a steep fee (adjusted for inflation) to be a member. You truly were a member of the club. You could access regardless of airline you flew, whether departing or arriving, and it was a calm environment. And they served only top shelf liquor! Fast forward to today. Given all of the perks of Platinum Card, you can almost get the value of the annual fee reimbursed, so basically the card cost far less today (inflation adjusted) than ever before. Today you see people running in and out of the clubs even with tight connections (I'm guilty too) just to get "free" liquor and food. IMO, credit card access changed the whole environment of the clubs. While I know we all love a good deal, I'd happily pay more to have a true "club like" experience when traveling. Airports are more chaotic today than ever..... and there's simply no place to escape, without a 30 minute wait to access an over-crowded lounge.
While I know my comments may sound pretentious, I'd certainly be willing to pay a small fee to have a late 1980's/ 1990's true club like experience while traveling.
Hi BradStPete- just posted my comments before reading yours. Ironically, I'm in St Pete and we're probably in the same age range. LOL... we sound like our parents... remember the good old days when going to the crown room was such an amazing experience.
Hi BradStPete- just posted my comments before reading yours. Ironically, I'm in St Pete and we're probably in the same age range. LOL... we sound like our parents... remember the good old days when going to the crown room was such an amazing experience. The downside, the Amex platinum was about $395 then and there were hardly any perks, and the Crown Room was about $350-$450 a year even back then. Still wish I would have purchased the life membership when it was $1500 or so.
Hate to break this to you but "Many years ago, before credit cards provided access to airline clubs" that you "be willing to pay a small fee to have a late 1980's/ 1990's true club like experience".
DOESN'T EXIST. Nor did they serve "top shelf liquor!". Nor did you "you paid a steep fee"
I don't know where you get the idea of how the clubs are in the 80s/90s but it's far from the truth. The only thing you got right was "a calm environment".
Liquors wasn't bottom but not top either, most places are self serve (hence no children).
Hardly any food because airlines actually serve hot meals onboard.
Club access then was invitation only, and was only for sale in the late 80's.
If you we're invited to hold the Amex Platinum back then, you would have access to many airline clubs.
Airline lounges have come a long way, especially F lounges. Real top shelf, bedrooms, spas, cabanas, full service dining. In the 90's those are called hotel.
I have had same poor treatment by Delta; 1st class tickets; I am platinum with access and had certificate for my wife. We had a 3 and 6 year old asleep in a stroller, they wouldn't let kids in without paying $78....seriously, they're gonna wake up and consume and drink $78 of food and beverages....shameful treatment by Delta of top tier fliers.
They could indeed pay $39.
They can not add a toddler as an additional cardholder based on an age restriction.
Heaven forbid, the poor employee enforces access policies!! This is an example of entitlement (and inability to read/comprehend lounge access policies), not “late stage capitalism”. It also means one less kid in the lounge, which is a benefit in and of itself.
I didn't know this, and that's ok. Not really relevant to the discussion here.
Too bad your parents didn't share the same view as you...
They would have done the world a favour by not giving birth to you.
Alas...
Delta's policy is very logical and clearly advertised. I don't understand what the issue was there. But these days you can go viral with, really, any story, even when it's more of a non-story...
"Ultimately parents benefit from quite a few accommodations from travel companies"
Lol
I think it's a bit odd that the age restriction is 2 and not 13, but it's Delta's policy and they're perfectly within their rights to enforce it.
Karens: "This is America! You want something? Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and pay your own way!"
Also Karens: "I don't care what the terms I agreed to say. Give me what I want."
Amen. Spend a flight strapped in a chair in the vicinity of most four year olds and most single adults want a safe haven that the sky lounge usually provides. Fine print can be a bitch.
The outrage is due to a lack of understanding by the Delta agent and the suggestion that the 4 year old needs a credit card to access the lounge, which you yourself states is impossible. The parents didn't need to obtain access, they had it. The four year needed access. The non-story here that happens everyday is with Delta club agents that explain the ways a 4 year old can access the lounge within policy and not the impossible ways they can't as apparently this Delta agent was doing and you simply gloss over this in your assumed explanation of why the agent was saying one needed a card to access the lounge.
Delta is enforcing the policy as they should. As a "top tier" flyer I am glad that Delta is enforcing the policy. I pay for my access to the Sky Club, what makes you think you should should be exempt from paying for your family's access too? The pure entitlement that some parents have is mind boggling.
Think of the opposite. Let’s say children under 13 are gratis. Family of 6, all under 10, running around sky club while professionals pay $400+ to have access so we can catch up on work. There is nothing wrong with having a child-free experience available to those who prefer it. Remember all those parents working from home with their kids and how hard it was ? Same difference.
How about DL (and all the other carriers) put allowing kids in clubs up to a vote amongst their paying customers? I know I'd definitely be a "no" vote, especially with today's disengaged, overentitled "time-out chair" parents.
If you get onboard Delta credit, it applies to sky club access purchases. There you go…still free.
Try reading all the fine print you lazy complainers!
It seems many parents today think almost any location is and should be open to small kids, not just airline lounges. It’s museums, talks, movies, theatre. The parents want to go and everyone else just accept the kids, no matter how poorly they are allowed to behave.
Back in the dark ages when I was a kid my parents would not have inflicted me and my siblings on the public is such venues.
But today, sadly, anything goes. Having small kids does not mean having the common sense to limit your actions accordingly.
Quit bringing your damned kids to the Sky Club... Charge them double next time!
The question is at what age should children be considered the same as a fully paying adult? Is it around the age that children walk, talk or some other qualifying trait?
My parents were diplomats so we would typically have access to the VIP lounges within the airports. Regardless, I always knew how to behave within public areas - a private VIP lounge or otherwise. So stop blaming the kids and focus on parenting.
Seems like a lot of people love spending time in a confined, germ infected area with shoddy and dirty furnishing for hard cheese cubes and luke-warm guck that passes for food. Seriously - it's a lounge. It's a public place, free for entry to all who can either afford or have access (regardless of age). I am a frequent traveler and have had my share of disturbances due to young children. Most parents don't wish ill upon you. Just deal with it just as you would have to deal with any other annoyance in life. It's called being an adult. From the comments here, I am assuming that most were not fortunate enough to travel when they were young - hence the narrowminded droll. An airline and an airport are public spaces. If you want your privacy and/or serenity, work hard and pay for a private chartered jet. Otherwise, shut up and suck it up.