Delta Air Lines has been investing a lot in its lounge network lately, including expanding the network of Delta Sky Club® locations, plus opening Delta One Lounges. The airline has just opened its latest Sky Club, and it’s at one of American’s fortress hubs.
Basics of the new Delta Sky Club Charlotte Airport
As of December 18, 2024, a new Delta Sky Club has opened at Charlotte Airport (CLT). The new lounge is 14,165 square feet, with seating for 246 guests. The Sky Club is located in the recently expanded Concourse A, on the mezzanine level, near gate A32. It’s open daily from 5AM until 8PM.
The new Delta Sky Club Charlotte is described as having “a modern Neoclassic design that pays tribute to the city’s namesake, Queen Charlotte, and her influence in fashion and design.” The natural elements and materials in the lounge are intended to be a nod to Charlotte’s tree conservatory efforts and green spaces. With the lounge’s location on the mezzanine-level, the club provides views of both the concourse and the apron.
The lounge boasts a buffet, two beverage stations, and six soundproof booths. As is standard at Sky Clubs, you can expect a selection of hot food, complimentary alcoholic drinks, and more.
Below are some pictures that Delta has provided of the new lounge.
Okay, so, umm, I can’t decide fits into the “travel like royalty” category, or if it’s just full-on kitschy, and looks like something designed by Lisa Vanderpump.
See this post for Delta Sky Club access policies. In addition to being open to select premium passengers and members, Sky Clubs can also be accessed with American Express Platinum Card® (review) and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (review).
From Charlotte, Delta offers service to seven of its hubs, including Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Detroit (DTW), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK & LGA), and Salt Lake City (SLC).
You’ve gotta love competitor lounges at fortress hubs
Charlotte is of course a huge hub for American, and Delta’s presence there is tiny, by comparison. One of the cool things about the “big three” US carriers is that they tend to open lounges at the fortress hubs of competitors whenever possible, in hopes of having any chance of capturing traffic in the market.
Whether it’s the American Admirals Club in Atlanta or Denver, or the United Club in Dallas or Phoenix, or the Delta Sky Club in Newark or Philadelphia, airlines have a big incentive to open these kinds of lounges.
Here’s the thing — as any American flyer can attest to, Charlotte is an absolutely awful airport to connect at. It’s not that the airport as such is terrible, but rather it’s that American has a banked schedule, and pumps an uncivilized number of people through the hub over very short periods of time.
American’s Admirals Club situation in Charlotte has to be one of the least pleasant in the system, both in terms of quality and crowding. This Delta Sky Club looks like one of the world’s best lounges, by comparison. So while Delta might not be able to get you many places from Charlotte, premium passengers will at least have a pleasant experience.
Bottom line
A new Delta Sky Club has opened at Charlotte Airport. The lounge is nearly 15,000 square feet, so it’s huge for an outstation lounge at an airport where Delta doesn’t even have that much service. The lounge looks so much better than the Admirals Club, so this should be a treat for those who have access.
What do you make of the new Delta Sky Club Charlotte?
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