The SkyTeam alliance has just announced some changes to its lounge access rules, and they’re a mixed bag.
In this post:
SkyTeam lounge access changes, both good and bad
The SkyTeam alliance plans to make a series of changes to its lounge access policies for visits as of April 1, 2025. These changes impact first and business class passengers, as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus members.
Specifically, there are three main changes:
- SkyTeam Elite Plus members will start getting lounge access on domestic flights; this will initially be available at select lounges of Air France, China Eastern, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM, SAS, Saudia, and Vietnam Airlines, though members of Aerolineas Argentinas’ Aerolineas Plus program and of Delta’s SkyMiles program won’t consistently receive this benefit
- SkyTeam Elite Plus members will continue to be allowed to bring one guest into lounges, though that guest must be traveling on the same SkyTeam-operated flight as the member
- SkyTeam Elite Plus members, as well as SkyTeam first and business class customers, will be subjected to a three-hour lounge access rule; those transferring between two SkyTeam-operated flights will continue to receive access for longer connections, as needed
These are some pretty significant changes:
- Currently SkyTeam Elite Plus members don’t get lounge access on domestic itineraries on account of their status
- Currently SkyTeam Elite Plus members can guest someone into a lounge who is on a separate flight, as long as it’s SkyTeam operated
- Currently the SkyTeam alliance at large doesn’t have a three-hour rule on lounge access, though some individual lounges do have such a policy
My take on SkyTeam lounge access policy changes
As you can tell, these changes to SkyTeam lounge access rules are a mixed bag. The addition of lounge access on some domestic itineraries is a hugely positive development, the change to guesting rules is mildly negative, and the three-hour rule is hugely negative, at least in my opinion.
Now, regarding the new three-hour restriction on lounge access, I’m curious to see if that’s consistently implemented across airlines or not. Obviously this policy already exists at Delta Sky Clubs. As the change is described, we’ll see the three-hour rule “introduced at more lounges.” That’s not necessarily to say it’ll be introduced at all lounges, though I guess time will tell.
Selfishly, for the purposes of reviewing lounges, that makes my life much harder. I always like to be at lounges the second they open, so that I can get “clean” pictures without anyone in them. Of course I’m the exception rather than the norm.
The SkyTeam lounge access policy has long trailed both the Star Alliance lounge access policy and oneworld lounge access policy, especially when it comes to lounge access on domestic itineraries. That being said, even with these changes, I can’t help but think that SkyTeam’s rules are just unnecessarily complicated. There are so many exceptions and exclusions, much more so than with other alliances.
Bottom line
SkyTeam is updating its lounge access policies as of April 2025. On the plus side, we’ll see SkyTeam introduce lounge access for SkyTeam Elite Plus members on many domestic itineraries. However, the rest of the changes are bad news, including restrictions on who can be guested into lounges, plus a new three-hour rule that will reportedly apply to many lounges.
What do you make of these updates to SkyTeam lounge access?
Another stupid rule to make an already weak Alliance further weaker. Let's be frank! Skyteam is the worse out of the three major alliances with the weakest airlines, weakest network, and worst reputation. It is almost the alliance of the unwanted airlines. These three-hours rules are unnecessary and just create more annoyance. We don't want to go to airports early but given the continued shortage of labor, security is a hassle and no one wants...
Another stupid rule to make an already weak Alliance further weaker. Let's be frank! Skyteam is the worse out of the three major alliances with the weakest airlines, weakest network, and worst reputation. It is almost the alliance of the unwanted airlines. These three-hours rules are unnecessary and just create more annoyance. We don't want to go to airports early but given the continued shortage of labor, security is a hassle and no one wants to take the chance especially on the busy travel seasons. Plus lounge crowding will occur regardless because of all the credit card benefits that no airlines will want to take away. They will never get to the bottom of the issue because they ultimately rely on credit card (premium ones) to make money!
Amen
Having just travelled delta 1 to and from us from uk, in one breath delta say checkin time is mininum of 3 hrs but if you do that you will be denied lounge access until 3hrs prior to departure
I don’t mind the requirement that guests of elite+ need to be on the same flight. I’ve been approached by more than one person loitering by the entrance to the klm lounge in Ams and once in Paris asking if I could guest them in so they can shower. Always an awkward interaction if I don’t just say sure.
F*** !
That 'premium' bully just poisoned the
whole industry.
First Ed came for SkyClub and no one could do a thing.
Now Ed came for SkyTeam and still no one could do a thing.
Finally Ed's domino will knock Oneworld StarAlliance and we have no decent alliance left.
Does this mean I can access Delta lounge on domestic flights with status? That is pretty amazing...
No
I notice Virgin Atlantic status is excluded from this list for domestic access. Likely speaking to Delta's deathgrip on Virgin Atlanta.
I don't see any reference to VS status in the press release, just DL and AR.
The restrictions on the 3-hour stay and on guests' flights are just petty. Particularly with the guest thing which must be a good way of getting more people interested in loyalty schemes and alliances by being exposed to the perks by friends/colleagues.
Domestic lounge access sounds good until you realise that the alliance includes three members (UX, RO, AR) which have no lounge facilities of their own in their main hubs*, and that the...
The restrictions on the 3-hour stay and on guests' flights are just petty. Particularly with the guest thing which must be a good way of getting more people interested in loyalty schemes and alliances by being exposed to the perks by friends/colleagues.
Domestic lounge access sounds good until you realise that the alliance includes three members (UX, RO, AR) which have no lounge facilities of their own in their main hubs*, and that the likes of Aeromexico don't bother with contract lounges at key domestic destinations such as CUN.
*I know Aerolíneas have one at EZE, but AEP is their main connection point, certainly for domestic and regional passengers
I find it fascinating that the one thing skyteam had going for it was its leisurely approach to guesting people into lounges.
Now that competitive advantage is gone
Well, the other thing that it has going for it is that it's not oneworld.
For me Skyteam is the perfect backup alliance- there's nothing particularly exciting about it, but it does go to a lot of places, some of which (e.g. Africa, Indonesia) aren't particularly well served by the competition, and the baggage benefit means that entry-level elite status is worthwhile. Similarly, it includes various underrated airlines (e.g. I would much rather cross...
Well, the other thing that it has going for it is that it's not oneworld.
For me Skyteam is the perfect backup alliance- there's nothing particularly exciting about it, but it does go to a lot of places, some of which (e.g. Africa, Indonesia) aren't particularly well served by the competition, and the baggage benefit means that entry-level elite status is worthwhile. Similarly, it includes various underrated airlines (e.g. I would much rather cross the Atlantic in Aeromexico business class than go back to UA, while Garuda, VN and MU offer a solid experience in Y within Asia). *A obviously is in a different league, but I do value having some Skyteam status.
I can agree that skyteam elite is somewhat more useful than *A silver.
But I still rank oneworld higher than skyteam
In practice, most of the airlines which are “going to” provide lounge access to SkyTeam ElitePlus for domestic SkyTeam flights have already been doing so.
Were SK already giving it to E+ members of other programmes? I suppose the geography in Scandinavia means that domestic flying is more important than in Germany or metropolitan France.
SK did in fact not give lounge access to E+ members of other airlines on domestic Norway/Sweden/Denmark itineraries
Lucky - I'm curious what counts as a "domestic" flight from KLM and Air France for these purposes. Does this include all Schengen area flights? KLM for example, the only "domestic" flights they have are stuff like AMS-AUA.
You always had lounge access on flights between European countries.
“Domestic” is pretty limited on KLM - the only flights are to Caribbean territories, no idea if they counted as domestic or international previously.
The Caribbean flights are complicated due to the evolution of the Dutch islands in terms of self-governance. As far as I know, the Netherlands still handles foreign affairs for some or all of these islands. But I think for purposes of KLM these would be considered international.
ABC destinations and the like are considered international by KLM for lounge purposes.
They're definitely international flights, I couldn't get into Aruba with my EU identity card and was made to dig the passport out of my bag.
VS introduced a 3 hour limit last year at the LHR Clubhouse which is only enforced in my experience early AM - midday and evening times during public holidays or if the place is packed out.
Yes, like FNT Delta Diamond suggests, it doesn't matter.
Because some intellectuals by the name of ORD and E39, sometimes Proximanova have told us more than enough that SkyTeam is a trash.
Just wondering what airline from ST spent beyond its limit to earn a five star rating from ScamTrax and struggling with their nonsense seats as a result.
Sure, it's okay because it's Star Alliance, no?
I mean, if this means I get access to delta sky clubs on a domestic itinerary due to my non-delta skyteam elite plus status, I’m all for it!
Still think skyteam sucks though
You're definitely not getting SkyClub access lol
Then skyteam sucks even more
DieTeam is a garbage alliance. DL is a garbage airline. That is my judgement, which is far more important than yours. Why can you be disregarded? Because you're trailer trash, and you're on the same side as Tim Dunn.
I see this as very positive , if fonestic access extended to the US.
The 3-hour rule doesn’t apply to connecting flights, so I can't see that being an issue. Maybe if a flight is delayed but I’d guess the rule is applied by not letting you in until 3 hours before scheduled flight time.
I suspect they will ultimately follow the One World and Star Alliance rule that elites in non-US programs will have access to lounges on US domestic itineraries. But, Delta elites would not just as AA, Alaska, and UA do not.
And it's also meaningless because Delta denies Sky Club access to its own Sky Team elites flying an international Delta flight in economy.
Imagine spending $28k to be a Delta Diamond and not getting lounge access
That's nothing to do with Skyteam, I had no problem using a DL lounge with my non-DL status.
Yes, it is. Sky Team is letting Delta deny Delta elites lounge access on an otherwise eligible flight for the sole reason that the Delta gold or higher medallion booked an economy or basic economy ticket.
But it's not meaningless because the E+ members of the other 16 (or whatever) Skyteam FFPs can use DL lounges. The restriction is confined to one airline not letting its own members into its own lounges.
My original comment referred to the largest airline in Sky Team and the airline flown by the vast majority of Sky Team-flying readers of this blog.
This is meaningless because it won't apply to Delta Sky Clubs. And Sky Clubs are by far the biggest airline lounge in the SkyTeam lounge system.