Delta has just added access restrictions to its newest premium lounge. I can’t say I’m surprised, though it is a bit disappointing…
Delta One Lounge Boston bans Air France-KLM passengers
Over the past several months, Delta Air Lines has been growing its network of Delta One Lounges. So far, we’ve seen lounges open in New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and Boston (BOS). The intent was that Delta One Lounge access restrictions would be consistent across locations, with access granted to three sets of passengers:
- Same day departing or arriving Delta One ticketed passengers (this is the name of Delta’s premium business class experience); it doesn’t matter if you paid cash, redeemed miles, or upgraded
- Delta 360 members departing or arriving on a same day Delta first class ticket
- Same day departing or connecting passengers on flights operated by select Delta partners in first or business class; this includes passengers on Air France, LATAM, KLM, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic
Unfortunately it hasn’t taken long for Delta to deviate from these access requirements. Due to capacity constraints, Delta is no longer allowing Air France-KLM passengers into the Delta One Lounge. Those passengers can either use the Air France Lounge or Delta Sky Club in Terminal E.
Since LATAM and Korean Air flights depart before the Delta One Lounge Boston opens at 2PM, those passengers don’t get access either. It sounds like the only partner passengers who get access to the Delta One Lounge Boston would be those on Virgin Atlantic.
This change is disappointing but not surprising
I’m not surprised to see access restrictions added to the Delta One Lounge Boston. The lounge is just 6,700 square feet, with seating for 121 guests. That’s a tiny lounge — by comparison, the Los Angeles and New York locations are around 10,000 and 40,000 square feet, respectively.
My assumption was that the Delta One Lounge Boston would get super busy during peak periods, and I wondered how the airline would handle that limitation. Well, now we know, and it’s that the airline is limiting accessing to partner passengers.
On the one hand, I can’t blame Delta, since the alternative is probably just to have a line to get into the lounge on many days (and I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens anyway over peak summer travel periods).
On the other hand, it’s super disappointing to see a newly opened lounge add such restrictions. For example, there’s not a single American Flagship Lounge or United Polaris Lounge that adds access restrictions due to capacity, because the lounges are big enough to accommodate the number of travelers with access (though certainly get busy over peak periods).
Furthermore, it shows how airlines love to play both sides when it comes to their joint ventures. Air France-KLM and Delta are part of the same transatlantic joint venture, whereby they coordinate schedules and fares, and share revenue.
Airlines love to market to consumers how there’s metal neutrality with these arrangements. Despite that, passengers who book an Air France or KLM flight (even as a Delta codeshare through delta.com) are going to have an inferior ground experience here.
I’m curious to see if access restrictions spread to more Delta One Lounges. For example, with the upcoming Delta One Lounge Seattle (SEA), it sounds like it’ll be similar to Boston, in terms of being a joint Sky Club and Delta One Lounge facility. We don’t know exactly how big the Delta One Lounge there will be, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see similar restrictions… and that would be disappointing.
Bottom line
The Delta One Lounge Boston has added access restrictions, deviating from the standard Delta One Lounge access rules. Air France-KLM business class passengers departing from Boston don’t have access to this lounge anymore, but must instead use the Air France Lounge or Delta Sky Club®. This is disappointing, but not surprising, given the small size of the Delta One Lounge.
What do you make of these Delta One Lounge Boston access restrictions?
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