Our flight from Toronto arrived at around 7:30AM, while our flight to Beijing was departing at around 1PM, so we had a lengthy layover. That worked out for us, since it would allow us to get some work done before our transpacific flight. Our flight from Toronto was operated by a regional jet, so we had to take the underground tunnel to get to the main part of the terminal. In my opinion the Detroit tunnel even beats the Chicago O’Hare tunnel in terms of the cool factor.
Detroit Airport airside tunnel
As we took the escalator up from the tunnel we were treated to a view of one of Delta’s A350s.
Delta A350 Detroit Airport
Delta A350 Detroit Airport
Detroit has one of the most visually stunning airports in the US, and it’s always a pleasure to connect here. I was happy to be back, as it had been a really long time since I passed through here (I feel like it may have been only shortly after the merger between Delta and Northwest).
Detroit Airport terminal
Upon getting off the escalator we walked straight ahead and directly to the Delta Sky Club®, located near the main security checkpoint, by gate A38.
Detroit Airport terminal
The entrance to the SkyClub was to the right, and was easy to find. This SkyClub is open daily from 5AM until 10PM.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport exterior
We received access to the SkyClub based on our business class tickets to Beijing. We were able to access the Sky Club free of charge with our business class tickets to Beijing. However there are several credit cards that offer complimentary access to airport lounges, including Sky Clubs, provided you are flying on a Delta itinerary.
The lounge’s entrance and reception was on the terminal level, while the rest of the lounge was located one level above the terminal. As you got off the escalator there was a customer service desk, which was staffed with a few agents who could help with irregular operations and any other ticketing needs.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport customer service desk
The lounge doesn’t seem to me like it’s especially large given how big of a hub Detroit is, so I was surprised that it wasn’t more crowded (even though they do have several SkyClubs in the terminal). The lounge had several different rooms.
The center of the lounge was a large circular room, with a couple of TVs and some news headlines flashing on the wall.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport seating
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport seating
Around this center room were several more rooms with more seating — I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport seating
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport seating
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport seating
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport seating
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport seating
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport seating
The back of the lounge had an area with a business center, where there were several individual cubicles.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport business center
The lounge didn’t have much in the way of views, as it simply faced the interior of the terminal. That’s a real shame, given how much natural light the rest of the terminal has, mostly with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport view
The buffet was at one end of the lounge, and I couldn’t help but feel like it was a makeshift setup, and felt like something that’s maybe one step up from what you’d find in a hotel conference room.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport buffet
Some SkyClubs have bars with bartenders, while other SkyClubs have self serve drinks. The Detroit SkyClub falls in the latter category. One area has a selection of water and canned juice.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport drinks
Then there’s an area with beer, wine, self serve liquor, and mixers.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport drinks
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport self serve liquor
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport beer
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport wine
We were there in the morning, so they had a breakfast selection on display. This included fruit (pineapple and melon), hardboiled eggs, a selection of bread, bagels with a few types of cream cheese, muffins, cereal, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport breakfast selection
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport breakfast selection
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport breakfast selection
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport breakfast selection
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport breakfast selection
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport breakfast selection
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport breakfast selection
There were several coffee stations throughout the lounge, including both canisters of Starbucks coffee, and also Starbucks coffee machines that could make espressos and cappuccinos. Delta definitely beats other basic membership lounges when it comes to their coffee selection, as they have both syrups and several types of milk to choose from.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport coffee
Apparently we were in the SkyClub on “Fat Tuesday,” so they were coming around with paczkis for everyone. Just what I need before getting on a flight where I’ll be sitting for 12 hours…
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport donut
Before departure I decided to take a shower. The SkyClub has several shower rooms, and one was immediately available for me. The room did the trick, though it was basic. The shower room didn’t have a toilet, it was on the small side, the water pressure wasn’t great, and some of the tile seemed like it had seen better days.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport shower room
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport shower room
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport shower room
The Malin + Goetz toiletries were nice, at least.
Delta Sky Club Detroit Airport shower room toiletries
Boarding for our flight was scheduled for 11:55AM from gate A50, so we headed to the gate at 11:25AM, since I was planning on being “gate lice” so I could be first on the plane to grab pictures.
Detroit Airport terminal
Gate A50 was just a roughly five minute walk from the lounge.
Detroit Airport departure gate
You’d think Detroit Airport would be great for plane spotting thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, though unfortunately most of the terminal has black dots on the window, making it almost impossible to get a good picture. I’m sure they serve a good purpose, though they’re clearly not designed with aviation geeks in mind. 😉
Delta A350 Detroit Airport
The boarding process for this flight was a mess. When we arrived at the gate at around 11:30AM we were told it would be another 30 minutes until boarding (which is about what we were expecting). We were told the same at 11:45AM… and 12PM… and 12:15PM… and 12:30PM. They said the delay was due to cleaning and catering, though they kept pushing back when they said boarding would start.
There were quite a few gate agents, though they didn’t seem to be working especially well together. About 100 passengers on this flight were a Chinese school group, and one gate agent instructed them all to line up at around 11:40AM. Then 15 minutes later another gate agent asked why she had them line up, and then she instructed them all to go sit down on the other side of the concourse.
Departure gate to Beijing
Finally at 12:50PM boarding began, starting with business class.
Delta Sky Club Detroit bottom line
Generally speaking Delta Sky Club are the best membership lounges in the US (in the sense that they’re better than American Admirals Clubs and United Clubs). There are two issues here, though.
The first issue is that this is probably the least attractive SkyClub I’ve been in. The SkyClubs in New York and Seattle have been renovated and have nice furniture and feel airy, while this lounge seemed like it could use some love. The lounge also doesn’t have much in the way of views, and Admirals Clubs generally have much better showers (though that’s an area where American is better than Delta and United).
Then there’s the other issue, which is that American and United are building premium international business class lounges. American has Flagship Lounges, and United has Polaris Lounges. Delta, on the other hand, hasn’t developed a plan to build any sort of international premium lounges. They’re falling behind the competition in this regard, as a SkyClub (especially one like this) is a pretty pathetic offering for international premium cabin passengers.
For the airline that typically leads the “big three” in terms of passenger experience, this was a weak showing…
To those who fly Delta’s international business class, are you happy with the state of their lounges, and their lack of a plan to introduce anything better?
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