Delta Air Lines has revealed yet another location for its premium international lounge network, which I’m sure many people will appreciate. However, we’ll have to be patient…
In this post:
Delta One Lounge planned for ATL
Delta is investing in its network of Delta One Lounges, which are primarily for those traveling with the airline in business class (Delta One) on long haul flights. So far, we’ve seen these lounges open in New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and Boston (BOS).
Up until now, the airline has also revealed plans to open these lounges in Seattle (SEA) and Salt Lake City (SLC). Fortunately there’s another positive update, as reported by Zach Griff. A Delta One Lounge is planned for Atlanta (ATL), which is Delta’s largest hub. However, the details haven’t yet been finalized, and it’s probably quite a ways off from opening.
The executive in charge of Delta’s lounge network explains that the Delta One Lounge Atlanta is something that the airline is “working on,” and that “there are a couple of areas that we have under review now.” But he confirmed that there will be a standalone Delta One Lounge there, but stopped short of providing further details.
The Delta One Lounge is expected to be in either Concourse E or Concourse F, where most Delta long haul flights depart from. One would assume that one of the existing lounges will be converted, unless the airline finds some massive amount of available space in the terminal, which could be challenging without an airport expansion.
One thing is for sure — the Delta One Lounge Atlanta needs to be huge, given the size of Delta’s network out of Atlanta. Currently the New York location is the biggest in the Delta One Lounge network, at roughly 40,000 square feet, so one would hope that the Atlanta location would be at least as big.
While I suspect it’ll be a couple of years before a Delta One Lounge Atlanta opens, it’s at least good that this is actively being worked on.
No firm plans for other Delta One Lounges at hubs
So, what about Delta One Lounges at the carrier’s other major hubs, like Detroit (DTW) and Minneapolis (MSP)? Well, it’s something the airline is looking at, but it sounds like there are no firm plans for Delta One Lounges there, and it remains to be seen if any progress is made.
I can understand not opening a Delta One Lounge in Minneapolis, since it’s not a major long haul hub. However, not having a lounge in Detroit is a major gap, given the size of Delta’s long haul network from there. This also gets at how airlines often invest in more competitive markets rather than fortress hubs. Particularly in Detroit, there’s limited competition from foreign carriers.
Bottom line
Delta is working on opening a Delta One Lounge in Atlanta, which is encouraging news. Unfortunately it sounds like a possible space for the lounge hasn’t even been finalized, so it will likely be some time before the lounge actually opens. Either way, it’s nice to know that this is in the cards. Unfortunately there are no firm plans for similar facilities in Detroit or Minneapolis, though that could change over time.
What do you make of plans for a Delta One Lounge in Atlanta?
Before Delta worries about adding a lounge in Atlanta they should address the nightmare getting through customs there. We flew in from St Lucia on a Tuesday night which should normally be a light night. We stood in line in customs for over an hour, then stood in a second line for no reason and then had to stand
in another line to go back though TSA to get to our connecting flight. Luckily...
Before Delta worries about adding a lounge in Atlanta they should address the nightmare getting through customs there. We flew in from St Lucia on a Tuesday night which should normally be a light night. We stood in line in customs for over an hour, then stood in a second line for no reason and then had to stand
in another line to go back though TSA to get to our connecting flight. Luckily we had two hours or we would have missed our next flight. The employees could have cared less. We have never experienced this in Minneapolis.
They built a brand-new lounge in Detroit just before the pandemic that every Delta staff at the airport claimed would be the Delta One lounge when those lounges launched.
and it is likely that DL won't open that in DTW until they can find the space to open a D1 lounge in ATL.
Fun Fact: When visiting this lounge, yell out "Delta is NOT premium!!".
The person you then see choking on his plate of Tillamook cheese will be Dim Tunn..
Delta doesn't serve Tillamook cheese in their club for many many years.
you can yell anything you want if it makes you feel good but you probably won't feel so good when you lose your Sky Club privileges - and that would happen regardless of what you yell.
Desperately need more and better lounges in ATL. So wish a Cap1 and Chase lounge would open.
Yeah, it sucks on the occasions that I'm flying a Delta partner so the Amex Reserve Skyclub and Centurion access doesn't work. The Club at ATL isn't great, to the point I'd rather just drink at one of the bars in a different concourse or eat at One Flew South. Grindhouse is a great option too if I'm flying out of T or D.
For what it’s worth
The normal plane Jane didn’t write any of that.
Lucky could easily tell you it’s a different email
I don’t disagree with much of it, but it wasn’t me
so YOU have multiple accounts.
SO unbelievable.
psst.... all you have to do is REGISTER your account so at least people can see whether you are REAL or a guest.
Are you drunk or just stupid? Me saying someone else used the same name as the usual plane Jane doesn’t mean I have multiple.
It means I didn’t write the below notes.
God, you’re an idiot
You do have many fake accounts and you know it. Try not to pretend otherwise.
There isn’t much lamer than you drunk sitting at your keyboard hitting refresh constantly waiting to reply to me.
It’s sad. Go to bed.
both people that use the name "plane jane" use the word "idiot" profusely and we are supposed to believe that you, all of a sudden are feeling remorse for what your alter ego wrote.
REGISTER YOUR ACCOUNT, "idiot"
Bow down to little emperor Palpatim !
You’re so weird, tim
No, I didn’t write the comments below. But I don’t generally disagree with their content.
Most consider you an idiot. That isn’t unique to anyone.
Personally, I think the real story here isn’t that Delta is opening a Delta One Lounge in Atlanta — it’s that they haven’t already. This is their largest hub, and they’re only now figuring out where to put premium passengers? To me, that signals something pretty obvious: Delta’s not prioritizing premium lounges because they don’t have to. The numbers already work.
From a business standpoint, I get it. Why invest millions in a flagship lounge...
Personally, I think the real story here isn’t that Delta is opening a Delta One Lounge in Atlanta — it’s that they haven’t already. This is their largest hub, and they’re only now figuring out where to put premium passengers? To me, that signals something pretty obvious: Delta’s not prioritizing premium lounges because they don’t have to. The numbers already work.
From a business standpoint, I get it. Why invest millions in a flagship lounge when you’ve got zero meaningful competition in Atlanta and your margins are already industry-leading? In 2023, Delta had over $4.6 billion in net income. They’re not chasing prestige — they’re running a textbook fortress hub play. Premium experience is a nice-to-have, not a need-to-have when your network is this defensible.
And let’s be honest: Delta One is business class, not international first. This isn’t about building a La Première ground experience — it’s about controlling optics in competitive markets like JFK and LAX. I’ll be impressed when the Atlanta lounge opens and meaningfully moves the needle financially. Until then, this just feels like capex window dressing for investor relations.
I mean… thanks for the summary of what the article already said?
It’s cute how you’re framing this like you’ve had some grand vision for the direction of airline strategy, when in reality, this is just basic network economics.
Yeah, no kidding — airlines don’t need to try hard where they already own the market.
Oh wow, thanks for the passive-aggressive paraphrasing — really bold move when you’ve got nothing of substance to add.
If you think pointing out obvious facts and then smugly pretending someone else "just repeated the article" counts as insight, maybe stick to skimming headlines. I brought actual financials, context, and strategic framing — you brought attitude and the intellectual depth of an airline terminal map.
But sure, keep telling yourself you’ve cracked the code on...
Oh wow, thanks for the passive-aggressive paraphrasing — really bold move when you’ve got nothing of substance to add.
If you think pointing out obvious facts and then smugly pretending someone else "just repeated the article" counts as insight, maybe stick to skimming headlines. I brought actual financials, context, and strategic framing — you brought attitude and the intellectual depth of an airline terminal map.
But sure, keep telling yourself you’ve cracked the code on airline strategy. Everyone needs a hobby.
... and to 'truth'.. no Tim Dunn here
Everyone knows that Tim has a network of sock puppet accounts and you are one of them.
No one else obsesses over Delta and talks about their profits the same way you aka Tim does. You really need to get a life.
everyone knows that you, Jane, are a complete loser than has no purpose but to crAAp on anyone that dAAres say a thing that makes a modicum of sense.
Anyone that thinks that Nick and I are the same person seriously needs to be committed.
You are literally a Tim Dunn alt account.
Nick,
how often do you actually fly through ATL?
The airport is very functional but it simply does not have a whole lot of room left.
and as much as some might suggest, DL is not going to convert a SkyClub to a D1 lounge without being able to replace the Sky Club.
Despite your incessant conspiracy theories, there really are very practical reasons.
Oh, I’ve flown through ATL more times than I can count — enough to know exactly how crowded it gets, how limited the space is, and how Delta operates there down to a science. I’m not armchair-commenting from a route map — I’ve actually been in those terminals, watched how Sky Clubs fill up, and seen firsthand how Delta prioritizes flow over flash in their hub fortress.
And spare me the "conspiracy theory" deflection —...
Oh, I’ve flown through ATL more times than I can count — enough to know exactly how crowded it gets, how limited the space is, and how Delta operates there down to a science. I’m not armchair-commenting from a route map — I’ve actually been in those terminals, watched how Sky Clubs fill up, and seen firsthand how Delta prioritizes flow over flash in their hub fortress.
And spare me the "conspiracy theory" deflection — calling out Delta’s deliberate capital allocation strategy isn’t a tinfoil hat moment, it’s basic corporate logic. They’re not dragging their feet because of space constraints alone — they’re doing it because they don’t need to impress at ATL. If you think they’d hesitate to reconfigure lounge space if the ROI was there, you might want to take another lap around Concourse F.
The number of Delta One flights at DTW, MSP and BOS is not that different from each other by this summer - and all are significantly smaller than ATL or JFK.
There are very few longhaul international routes with multiple flights/day on DL outside of ATL and JFK.
Boston is a wealthy O&D city while the two Midwest hubs are not. Not to mention the competition from Boston to Europe is only rivaled by JFK.
Thanks for adding this piece. You can tell this is exactly the direction that airlines are taking that I have been referring to in the previous articles.
The key is that the ATL D1 lounge truly needs to be able to handle the scale and size of operations, as you can see, even the JFK lounge can get crowded at times, even with how massive it is still.
While captive hubs are lower priority, we...
Thanks for adding this piece. You can tell this is exactly the direction that airlines are taking that I have been referring to in the previous articles.
The key is that the ATL D1 lounge truly needs to be able to handle the scale and size of operations, as you can see, even the JFK lounge can get crowded at times, even with how massive it is still.
While captive hubs are lower priority, we do see airlines investing into them like DEN Polaris, PHL Flagship, SLC D1, and hopefully ATL D1 eventually.
The JFK and LAX Delta One lounges include a number of transcon D1 routes which will not be the case in ATL or other hubs.
I mean… thanks for the summary of what the article already said?
It’s cute how you’re framing this like you’ve had some grand vision for the direction of airline strategy, when in reality, this is just basic network economics. Of course ATL needs scale — that’s not deep insight, that’s just common sense when you’re talking about Delta’s largest hub. And as for “captives being lower priority,” yeah, no kidding — airlines don’t need to...
I mean… thanks for the summary of what the article already said?
It’s cute how you’re framing this like you’ve had some grand vision for the direction of airline strategy, when in reality, this is just basic network economics. Of course ATL needs scale — that’s not deep insight, that’s just common sense when you’re talking about Delta’s largest hub. And as for “captives being lower priority,” yeah, no kidding — airlines don’t need to try hard where they already own the market.
But please, go on acting like listing airport codes next to lounge names is strategic analysis.
Time for "Nick W" aka Tim to take his meds and get off the computer. Such a bitter, delusional pathetic person.
no, for the 1000th time I provided actual facts that neither you or anyone is capable of figuring out.
Delta simply does not have any available space to put a large new club. You can't simply add onto the tops of the concourses because of ground tower visibility; there is no space at concourse level.
As long as there are people like you that are convinced THEY know what is going on when they...
no, for the 1000th time I provided actual facts that neither you or anyone is capable of figuring out.
Delta simply does not have any available space to put a large new club. You can't simply add onto the tops of the concourses because of ground tower visibility; there is no space at concourse level.
As long as there are people like you that are convinced THEY know what is going on when they are clearly clueless, there will be work for those of us that can actually think and not just repeat the drivel which others regurgitate.
From the "real" Plane Jane,
Tim, When someone responds to your fake account "Nick W" and you respond to them as Tim Dunn forgetting they responded to Nick W...
You don't do yourself any favors posting drunk and showing everyone your own fake accounts.
You only reinforce that these are your fake accounts. But Aero is as is Nick W...
This is why you don't post when drunk (as you routinely...
From the "real" Plane Jane,
Tim, When someone responds to your fake account "Nick W" and you respond to them as Tim Dunn forgetting they responded to Nick W...
You don't do yourself any favors posting drunk and showing everyone your own fake accounts.
You only reinforce that these are your fake accounts. But Aero is as is Nick W...
This is why you don't post when drunk (as you routinely do), you literally responded to a user responding to Nick W as Tim Dunn.
Also. Aero and you (Tim) are also the only ones in the comment section that routinely come up with really stupid nicknames for other users in an attempt to belittle them. You really don't fool anyone.
Not according to Timmy.
Tim Dunn sends his regards.
loser.
nowhere have I said anything that counteracts what was said here.
But you clearly feel insecure and need to feel relevant.
Hi, I'm Tim Dunn and I clearly feel insecure and need to feel relevant.
How many J seats does Delta have a day in Atl?
DL is supposed to operate 30 intercontinental routes from ATL this summer; many of those routes have at least two flights/day including LHR, AMS, CDG, FCO, GRU, ICN etc. just on DL metal. Add in JV partners for which DL does provide premium lounge access in at least some airports and there are likely over 50 flights/day with more than 1500 D1 seats.
not all passengers can use lounges in ATL or other connecting hubs...
DL is supposed to operate 30 intercontinental routes from ATL this summer; many of those routes have at least two flights/day including LHR, AMS, CDG, FCO, GRU, ICN etc. just on DL metal. Add in JV partners for which DL does provide premium lounge access in at least some airports and there are likely over 50 flights/day with more than 1500 D1 seats.
not all passengers can use lounges in ATL or other connecting hubs because they don't have the connecting time to do so.
This is not the Roussel has talked about this. David Slotnick from TPG reported basically the same thing when the Boston D1 lounge opened in December. From the 12/9/2024 article: "Meanwhile, Roussel confirmed that the airline plans to open a Delta One Lounge at its home hub of Atlanta, although plans have not been finalized and the lounge is still a few years away."
correction: not the first time Roussel has talked about this
Sounds like Delta is widening its lead with premium ground experience investment while American is trying to catch up with suite upgrades, proving once again that in the airline race, Delta is playing chess while American is just trying to remember how checkers works. What say you to that?
this can't be repeated enough.
AA is incapable of transforming itself from the ULCC that the HP crew turned it into
And UA is spending so much on new terminals and aircraft while NOT paying its employees that it will all implode before long. It simply is unsustainable to spend 3X more on everything than your closest competitor and think you will make it up in more revenue.
When they do open in ATL, I hope they'll have an exclusive curbside entrance with its own security lanes!
When everywhere has elite lounges, nowhere has elite lounges, right Eddie? Now DL1 pax, go eat your SkyPub gruel and have you even said "thank you" once?
I heard his voice when I read that haha