While Delta is by many metrics considered the most premium airline in the United States, one area where the airline has historically lagged the competition is when it comes to premium lounges dedicated to international passengers. American has Flagship Lounges and United has Polaris Lounges, while Delta hasn’t had dedicated international lounges… until now.
Fortunately this is finally changing, with the introduction of Delta One Lounges. Delta has firm plans for a total of three premium lounges, with the first opening this week. In this post I wanted to go over all the details of the lounge network, based on what we know as of now.
In this post:
Delta One Lounge locations (current & planned)
Delta has plans to open three premium lounges in 2024, which will be in New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and Boston (BOS). These are called Delta One Lounges, with Delta One being how Delta markets its premium business class product.
Here’s how Claude Roussel, Delta’s VP of Sky Club and Lounge Experience, describes the concept:
“We want each of our guests to receive a highly personalized and dedicated level of service. It’s not enough to have beautiful spaces and exceptional offerings. Premium lounge customers should feel welcomed and known when they walk in the door, just as they would at their favorite hotel or restaurant. We look forward to providing that warm welcome and making ‘premium’ feel personal for each guest.”
Let’s now go over the details of the three lounges that Delta is opening. No two of the premium lounges will be alike, as each location will include elements inspired by and unique to its host city.
Delta One Lounge New York (JFK)
The Delta One Lounge JFK is the first lounge to open. It’s located in Terminal 4 of New York Kennedy Airport (JFK), between Concourse A and Concourse B, right near the security checkpoint. The lounge is open daily from 4:30AM until 11PM.
This is Delta’s biggest airport lounge to date, as it’s 39,707 square feet, with seating for 515 guests. The lounge features some pretty awesome amenities, ranging from a full-service brasserie, to a casual chef-assisted market with open kitchen, to a bar. There’s also a dedicated wellness area, as well as a year-round terrace. Thanks to a new partnership between Delta and Missoni, the lounge features some items from Missoni’s home collection, which is pretty cool.
See this post for more details on the Delta One Lounge JFK.
Delta One Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) opening late 2024
In Q4 2024, Delta will be opening a premium lounge in Terminal 3 of Los Angeles Airport (LAX). The lounge will be 10,000 square feet, and will be directly accessible by elevator from the Delta One check-in area. That will create a seamless experience for those originating their travels in Los Angeles, so that’s cool.
Delta One Lounge Boston (BOS) opening late 2024
In Q4 2024, Delta will be opening a premium lounge in Terminal E of Boston Logan Airport (BOS). The lounge will be 6,300 square feet, with seating for 120 passengers. This will be connected to the newly opened Delta Sky Club in Terminal E, so eligible guests will have access to both the premium lounge and the Sky Club.
Given how small the lounge is, I suspect the intent is that the premium lounge will have an elevated dining concept, and then you can hang out in the main Sky Club, if you’d like, as that’s 21,000 square feet.
Delta One Lounge access rules
So, who can access Delta One Lounges? The access restrictions will be the same across the lounge network, and there are generally three pathways to accessing these lounges. Note that they don’t follow standard SkyTeam lounge access rules. Let’s break it down by entry method.
Delta One passengers get access
As you’d guess based on the name, the primary people who have access to the Delta One Lounge are Delta One passengers. This is the name of Delta’s premium business class experience. So if you have a same day Delta One ticket (whether arriving or departing), you get access to the Delta One Lounge.
It doesn’t matter if you paid cash for your ticket, redeemed miles, or upgraded, as access rules are the same regardless. Note that no guests are allowed to be brought in.
Select partner airline premium passengers get access
It’s not just business class passengers on Delta who get access to the Delta One Lounge. First and business class passengers departing or connecting on Air France, LATAM, KLM, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic, also get access to Delta One Lounge.
Keep in mind that in some cases it might not be practical to use a Delta One Lounge when flying these airlines, due to terminal setups. However, access is allowed. Note that no guests are allowed to be brought in.
Delta 360 passengers in first class get access
Delta 360 is Delta’s invitation-only elite status. These passengers can use the Delta One Lounge whenever traveling same day on a first class ticket. Delta 360 passengers are the only ones who can pay to bring guests into the lounge.
Delta 360 members eligible for access may bring their immediate family (spouse or domestic partner and children under the age of 21), or up to two companions, for an entry fee of $100 or 10,000 Delta SkyMiles per person.
Bottom line
Delta is opening three Delta One Lounges in 2024, in New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), and Boston (BOS), with the first lounge opening this week in New York. These lounges are open to Delta One passengers, select SkyTeam business class passengers, and Delta 360 members traveling in first class.
Delta is long overdue for introducing dedicated lounges for its premium international business class passengers, so it’s nice to see that Delta has plans to open three facilities this year. The JFK location in particular sounds impressive, as it’s Delta’s biggest lounge ever.
What do you make of the Delta One Lounge concept?
Do you have to be flying DL One or in my case a parter flight directly out of JFK or can you be connecting in another city?
Will be flying JFK-ATL-LIM with ATL- LIM in LATAM " premium business class".
I'm looking at booking round-trip from BNA to LHR in Delta One and likely choosing JFK as my stop so I can check this lounge out.
Question: if I book a Delta One airfare on a flight operated by Virgin on my way back to BNA, would I still be able to access this lounge after I clear customs and before my flight to BNA?
I just stopped in the JFK D1 lounge today. It was surprisingly full, but it was also 4pm so prime pre-EU flight time.
Absolutely stunning. The food was incredible (the market selections looked like the Erewhon hot bar) and the design was great. The spa had a line as expected, and the service was constantly checking in to clear used plates etc. I didn’t have enough time to eat at the actual restaurant but...
I just stopped in the JFK D1 lounge today. It was surprisingly full, but it was also 4pm so prime pre-EU flight time.
Absolutely stunning. The food was incredible (the market selections looked like the Erewhon hot bar) and the design was great. The spa had a line as expected, and the service was constantly checking in to clear used plates etc. I didn’t have enough time to eat at the actual restaurant but the menu looked comparable to The Chelsea lounge for AA Flagship (salmon, high end steak, salads).
I was blown away by how BIG the lounge is. It is huge. I read it was close to 40k sqft but when you’re in there, it really feels nice, just with endless rooms. Didn’t have a chance to shower either but the bathrooms towards the back of the lounge next to them were individual rooms with ample space to open a suitcase so you could change.
It really felt like they thought about EVERYTHING you could want and executed on it. I would put it on the same level as the AA Flagship lounges, even a bit higher given the new amenities (normatech boots, massage chairs, spa treatments)
I hope this frees up some space for people trying to get into the skyclub by gate 32. The line has been ridiculous all spring and summer
By all metrics, the Delta Sky Club in HND is still far superior than this new concept. They have staff members walk by and thank you for stopping by, offering snacks, and even make sure you get to your flight on time. Now, it could just be the Japanese way to doing things but for a foreign Sky Club with EVERYTHING being complimentary, I cannot see how this will be better; it was not even packed btw.
Delta would be laughed out of HND if they didn't have free premium alcohol and cocktails.
JAL and ANA are actual premium carriers. Delta would be unable to get a single bit of the local Japanese population with that pathetic of a lounge.
@Ben, I take back what I wrote earlier. It seems that Ed Bastian confirmed in a CNBC interview that the new Seattle SkyClub will actually be a Delta One lounge opening in early 2025.
Might be worth doing an update or article on it, especially given how contentious the Delta Seattle hub has been.
You might want to update this, since in an interview today by CNBC, Ed confirmed that SEA will get the 4th DL1 lounge in early 2025.
Not Atlanta ??????
The point of the D1 lounge is to get people to choose DL/close-partners over a competitor. Chances are that you're not choosing a competitor out of ATL/DTW/MSP/SLC (and if you are, DL is likely to think "sometimes the low-margin traffic takes itself out").
What about Delta One domestic (ex JFK-LAX)? What are the access rules?
If you're in a Delta One seat you have Delta One lounge access.
Surprised ATL is not in the works right now. Used to use the BusinessElite lounge often in concourse E often.
I also thought the small SkyClub at DTW was originally intended to be a DeltaOne lounge?
The "new" (not really new anymore) lounge at DTW was intended before the pandemic to be a Delta One lounge. It's since functioned as an overflow for the main lounge directly across from it. It's always been my understanding that this will be a Delta One lounge. The main lounge is being updated later this summer or in early fall with a new premium Sky Club bar and a better food buffet area. So, probably...
The "new" (not really new anymore) lounge at DTW was intended before the pandemic to be a Delta One lounge. It's since functioned as an overflow for the main lounge directly across from it. It's always been my understanding that this will be a Delta One lounge. The main lounge is being updated later this summer or in early fall with a new premium Sky Club bar and a better food buffet area. So, probably late 2024 or early 2025 is when DTW will get a Delta One lounge.
As for Atlanta, I imagine the F concourse Sky Club will be converted to a Delta One lounge. It would probably just need new furniture as it has a kitchen, a full bar, showers, a deck, etc.
Surprised that Aeromexico doesnt qualify. Flying flatbed business next Wednesday and was looking forward to trying it out.
It makes sense since Aeromexico only flies short-haul flights to/from the US.
I'm more surprised that China Eastern didn't get included, as they're the only Delta Core Partner (Delta has a 3.55% stake in China Eastern) with long-haul flights to/from the US that have no Delta One Lounge access.
I wonder if it's because of the antitrust thing going on?
As expected, unless you're Delta 360, you will have to fly Delta One to get access. For savvy traveler like me rarely pay cash or SkyPesos to fly Delta One, my best bat would be flying AF/KLM partners' business class to access.
SkyTeam Elite Plus is simply the worst among 3 alliances for lounge access lol
what about those arriving from CDG on air france but don't have a connecting flight?
@ Jon -- Well you wouldn't even be able to get airside if you don't have a connecting boarding pass, since you have to clear immigration on arrival. The rules do say that you need to have a same day departing or connecting boarding pass if accessing based on an Air France boarding pass.
@ Ben- slight tweak to @ Jon question. Arriving bus from CDG, but connecting Econ on delta. Access?
You can't access airside lounges upon arrival from an international flight since you'll need to clear CBP
The fact that BOS gets one of these really says a lot about Delta's growth there.
I believe it's actually one of their higher RASM hubs even ahead of places like SLC and MSP
@ Yoloswag420 -- It's possible, but I'm not sure it's much about growth, necessarily, but rather about Boston being a very competitive market. For example, Atlanta is also a big market for Delta, but there are no plans for a Delta One Lounge there. As you can see, all these lounges are planned for airports where Delta isn't the only real player.
Sure but it's because Delta's been successful in BOS that it's expanding there.
SEA is also quite competitive and we've clearly discussed Delta's struggles there. Therefore no Delta One lounge at SEA.
Ed says the Seattle Delta One lounge is early 2025, they signed the lease for the space a couple years ago.
I bet we'll see customers flying Delta One between JFK or BOS and LHR or CDG be required to opt-in for meal service. It would be a huge cost savings for Delta -- and frankly, better from a passenger experience standpoint -- if 99% of the Delta One passengers ate a meal in the Delta One lounge and then just had drinks or a light snack on the plane. The flights from BOS and JFK are so short.