In April 2025, the SkyTeam alliance made changes to its lounge access policy, and I’d say the updates were a mixed bag. With this, we saw new time limits and guesting restrictions on lounge access, though we also saw the alliance add lounge access on select domestic itineraries.
Regarding that last point, there’s some positive news, as the alliance has just expanded its domestic lounge access perks.
In this post:
SkyTeam expands domestic lounge access to 70+ lounges
SkyTeam Elite Plus is the top tier alliance-wide status in SkyTeam. Historically, SkyTeam Elite Plus members have only received lounge access when traveling on international itineraries. That was in contrast to the policies of oneworld and Star Alliance, which allow lounge access on all itineraries, with just some restrictions for those participating in frequent flyer programs in the United States (where you typically only get lounge access when traveling internationally).
Fortunately in April 2025, SkyTeam started adding SkyTeam Elite Plus lounge access on domestic itineraries, though only for select lounges at select airports. Initially, lounge access was only offered at a couple of dozen lounges. However, that has now been expanded considerably.
SkyTeam Elite Plus members now receive access to over 70 lounges when traveling domestically on any eligible SkyTeam flight. There are just two exceptions to this rule:
- SkyTeam Elite Plus members with the Aerolineas Argentinas Aerolineas Plus program don’t receive lounge access on any domestic itineraries worldwide
- SkyTeam Elite Plus members with the Delta SkyMiles program don’t receive access on any domestic itineraries within the United States
You can find the full list of participating SkyTeam lounges below, which provide lounge access on domestic itineraries. As you can see, this includes select lounges of Aeromexico, Air France, China Eastern, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, SAS, Saudia, Vietnam Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines.
This is a big step in the right direction for SkyTeam
I’m happy to see SkyTeam improving its domestic lounge access situation for elite members. This is certainly better than it was before, and I’m happy to see the number of lounges accessible on domestic itineraries expanded.
Now, admittedly SkyTeam is still a long ways from being competitive with oneworld and Star Alliance when it comes to domestic lounge access. For travel within the United States, SkyTeam Elite Plus members with foreign programs don’t get access to any Delta lounges, which is of course a pretty significant gap in coverage.
For those who are loyal to US frequent flyer programs, this is largely a moot point. With oneworld, you only get lounge access on wholly domestic itineraries in the US if you have status with a foreign program. With Star Alliance, you only get access to United Clubs on domestic itineraries in the US if you have status with a foreign program.
As someone with Air France-KLM Flying Blue Platinum status, I welcome SkyTeam lounge access on more domestic itineraries. The value is still fairly limited in the United States, since so many of these lounges also belong to Priority Pass, or aren’t necessarily easily accessible from Delta terminals.
Bottom line
The SkyTeam alliance has increased the number of lounges that SkyTeam Elite Plus members get access to when traveling domestically. Specifically, they now receive access to 70+ lounges, which is an exciting development. Unfortunately from a US-centric perspective, Delta SkyMiles elites don’t receive these lounge access perks within the United States.
What do you make of the these SkyTeam lounge access updates?
Not true. I have Vietnam Airline Platinum status and when I tried to access the Saudia domestic lounge in T5 3 weeks ago for a domestic flight from RUH to TUI, I was told I will only get the lounge access if I have an upcoming flight to an international destination. A single domestic itinerary won’t cut it.
Until just before the pandemic, a someone flying Delta with a Sky Club membership could access the Air France and KLM lounges in Washington-Dulles, Houston, etc. It was a great since Delta doesn't have lounges at those airports.
@Ben or anyone else - What’s SkyTeam’s premium cabin access policy? One of the super annoying things about *A is that connecting domestic flights on international itins don’t get access unless they have status or a membership with lounge privileges. I’ve steered away friends and family from booking long haul premium cabin tickets on *A because of this stupid rule. At least with OW, they can access lounges throughout their entire trip. Not so with *A.
I don't think this is correct. I flew UA J EWR-BOS-LHR a little over a year ago on an Aeroplan redemption, and was invited to both the Polaris and United Club at EWR. I only used the United Club because EWR-BOS was flying out of Terminal A and I didn't feel like taking the airside bus.
Oh wow it was actually two years ago almost exactly, time flies. Maybe they changed the rule.
@GuruJanitor, yes, it is correct. The difference is that you were flying UA long-haul. UA carves out an "exception" - if you're flying Polaris same-day, you have access to Polaris Lounges and UCs throughout your trip. If you fly any other *A partner in long-haul F/J, your only access is to a lounge immediately before your long-haul F/J flight.
Ex: MCO-IAD-ZRH in UA/LX J, you only get PL/UC access in IAD. HND-LAX-BOS in NH/UA...
@GuruJanitor, yes, it is correct. The difference is that you were flying UA long-haul. UA carves out an "exception" - if you're flying Polaris same-day, you have access to Polaris Lounges and UCs throughout your trip. If you fly any other *A partner in long-haul F/J, your only access is to a lounge immediately before your long-haul F/J flight.
Ex: MCO-IAD-ZRH in UA/LX J, you only get PL/UC access in IAD. HND-LAX-BOS in NH/UA F/J, you only get ANA Suite/ANA Lounge access in HND.
@Throwawayname - thanks, good to know for Elite Plus, but is it also the case with non-status J pax?
Definitely not a problem. About a year ago (i.e. months before the addition of domestic lounge access) I managed to use my ITA status to get into the AF lounge at BOS flying DL to ATL before a connection to CUN. This was on a Y ticket but the same rule applies to no status pax getting access through a business class one.
Colour me confused: what's the point of having domestic access lounges in terminals that only serve international flights (like JFK terminal 1)? Is there something I'm missing?
Skyteam is the worst, their lounges suck I would rather have 12 vasectomies in a week than spend a minute in the AF La premier inn lounge
so basically even though DL is a founding member of SkyTeam and arguably it's largest member--we skymiles plebs dont get access unless we have the reserve card (i have it, but only for the perks--the card is pretty much a paperweight otherwise). It floors me how much DL gets away with being as stingy as they are
It's precisely because DL are so big that they can get away with that nonsense.
Aeromexico don't pay for contract lounges at major airports such as CUN, do you really think they're keen on elites on $40 domestic tickets getting into their crowded lounges at MEX (despite the bits in the document about the different concourses, it's same terminal for domestic, American, and intercontinental flights and there's no passport control on exit) and competing for...
It's precisely because DL are so big that they can get away with that nonsense.
Aeromexico don't pay for contract lounges at major airports such as CUN, do you really think they're keen on elites on $40 domestic tickets getting into their crowded lounges at MEX (despite the bits in the document about the different concourses, it's same terminal for domestic, American, and intercontinental flights and there's no passport control on exit) and competing for space against those who have paid $7k to fly business class to Japan?
SkyTeam lounges are simply the most premium!
If I'm an AF Plat., and I'm flying UA IAD-SFO, can I use the AF lounge?
In other words, do I have to be flying a SkyTeam carrier to access the SkyTeam lounges?
@ TravelinWilly -- You do need to be flying a SkyTeam carrier, so I added that to the post, thanks.
Thank you for the fast reply, Ben.
The SFO AF lounge is a major pain. I have been AF Gold for many years but every times when I flew VS to London or CI to Taipei and tried to access the AF SFO lounge I was denied,
This is untrue: "For those who are loyal to US frequent flyer programs, this is largely a moot point, since even oneworld and Star Alliance frequent flyers don’t get access to lounges on wholly domestic itineraries, unless they have status with a foreign program."
As a United Gold / Plat / 1K, you can access Star Alliance lounges on domestic US itineraries except you cannot access the United Clubs. For example, a United Gold member...
This is untrue: "For those who are loyal to US frequent flyer programs, this is largely a moot point, since even oneworld and Star Alliance frequent flyers don’t get access to lounges on wholly domestic itineraries, unless they have status with a foreign program."
As a United Gold / Plat / 1K, you can access Star Alliance lounges on domestic US itineraries except you cannot access the United Clubs. For example, a United Gold member could fly IAD-BOS and could access the Lufthansa lounge and the Turkish lounge at IAD (but not the United Club).
SkyTeam is still materially worse for Delta flyers in this regard than Star Alliance is for United flyers.
@ RealTaylor -- That's a good point, I added that to the post as well.
Ben - similar question. I'm American Exec plat so One World Emerald. I have an upcoming LAX-DCA flight on AA. Can I access the QF First Class lounge at LAX before I fly?
I will say it's impressive that United and Admiral's Clubs will accept foreign status holders and don't deal with the same overcrowding issue as SkyClubs.
We'll probably never see SkyClubs available for foreign elite status holders.
Amex co-brand $$ is a hell of a drug. Delta's airline is just a side hustle for its credit card biz.
Realistically, it's the Amex Platinum rather than the Delta co-branded cards.
The Amex Platinum was the single best card for lounge access for a very long time, between Centurion lounge footprint, Priority Pass, and SkyClub access. While their are similar and comparable cards now, nothing has really taken it out.
Amex did a really good job with reach and now way too many people have SkyClub access. AA and UA never really offered membership with...
Realistically, it's the Amex Platinum rather than the Delta co-branded cards.
The Amex Platinum was the single best card for lounge access for a very long time, between Centurion lounge footprint, Priority Pass, and SkyClub access. While their are similar and comparable cards now, nothing has really taken it out.
Amex did a really good job with reach and now way too many people have SkyClub access. AA and UA never really offered membership with generic travel cards at-scale like that. It was almost always the co-branded cards, which are more niche.
While Delta makes more money with their Amex partnership, that's largely because of their extremely dynamic SkyMiles program, and not really because the Delta Amex Reserve has a larger customer base than the AA Executive or United Club cards.
Note the asterisks on those lounges currently closed for renovation. Just walked past the Korean lounge at LAX yesterday.