SkyTeam Lounge Access Changes: Domestic Access & 3-Hour Rule

SkyTeam Lounge Access Changes: Domestic Access & 3-Hour Rule

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Earlier this year, the SkyTeam alliance announced some changes to its lounge access rules, and they’re a mixed bag. I want to post a reminder of these updates, as they apply as of today, for better or worse.

Details of SkyTeam lounge access rule changes

The SkyTeam alliance has made 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. Let’s cover the details below.

SkyTeam adds domestic lounge access

Previously, SkyTeam Elite Plus members 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.

With this change, SkyTeam Elite Plus members finally start getting lounge access on domestic flights. This is initially available at the following select lounges:

  • Air France lounges in Bordeaux (BOD), Boston (BOS), Geneva (GVA), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Paris (CDG & ORY), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington (IAD)
  • Garuda Indonesia lounges in Bali (DPS) and Jakarta (CGK)
  • Kenya Airways lounges in Nairobi (NBO)
  • China Eastern lounges in Shanghai (PVG & SHA)
  • Scandinavian Airlines lounges in Chicago (ORD), Copenhagen (CPH), Gothenburg (GOT), Newark (EWR), Oslo (OSL), and Stockholm (ARN)
  • Saudia lounges in Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH)
  • Vietnam Airlines lounges in Hanoi (HAN)

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

This is a pretty significant development. For example, if you have SkyTeam Elite Plus status through an eligible program, you could use Air France lounges even when traveling within the United States.

SkyTeam is adding domestic lounge access

SkyTeam adds three-hour access restriction

With these changes, SkyTeam Elite Plus members, as well as SkyTeam first and business class customers, are increasingly subjected to a three-hour lounge access rule, meaning they can only use lounges up to three hours before departure. Those transferring between two SkyTeam-operated flights will continue to receive access for longer connections, as needed.

Previously, the SkyTeam alliance at large didn’t have a three-hour rule on lounge access, though some individual lounges did have such a policy. The one thing worth noting is that this doesn’t apply to all lounges. As it’s written, this policy “will be introduced at more lounges.” We don’t yet know at exactly which lounges this will apply, though, and I haven’t heard of many policy changes so far.

SkyTeam is expanding the three-hour rule

SkyTeam adds lounge guesting restrictions

With these changes, SkyTeam Elite Plus members 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. This is a departure from the previous policy, which allowed travelers to guest anyone on a SkyTeam flight, with no need for them to be traveling on the same flight.

SkyTeam is changing lounge guesting policies

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 existed 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 implemented at all lounges, though I guess time will tell. Has anyone noticed any airlines that have actually changed their rules so far, now that this is live?

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.

SkyTeam lounge access policies are changing

Bottom line

SkyTeam has updated its lounge access policies as of April 2025. On the plus side, we’ve seen 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 applies to more lounges.

What do you make of these updates to SkyTeam lounge access?

Conversations (97)
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  1. Steve Kuriga Guest

    They say 3 hours before your flight you can access the lounge, but boarding begins 35-60 minutes before flight and you have to be on board 15-30 minutes before departure.

    In reality you get access for 2-2.5 hours to the lounge and not the 3 hours they suggest.

  2. JFG Guest

    Anytime a frequent flyer program takes away, they lose the loyalty of long-time customers. It shows a lack of planning foresight, which I know is difficult, but they hurt their brand. I have been a Skymiles member for over 30 years but no longer have a good taste in my mouth for Delta and how they have functioned. Lines getting into lounges don't work.

  3. john boyd Guest

    klm and A/F have more than doubled most prices in the last 2 years ,food and service has been declining ,and I haven't been on a European flight that has left on time for the last 12 months ,paying more for less

  4. Stanley C Diamond

    This is why I think CI has a better frequent flyer program within ST. Even as a CI gold member which means just ST elite you can access the lounges on international flights. For example, you can access the KLM lounge at Amsterdam airport as a CI gold member/ST elite as long as CI flies to that destination but you do need to be on the CI operated flight. So, since CI does not fly...

    This is why I think CI has a better frequent flyer program within ST. Even as a CI gold member which means just ST elite you can access the lounges on international flights. For example, you can access the KLM lounge at Amsterdam airport as a CI gold member/ST elite as long as CI flies to that destination but you do need to be on the CI operated flight. So, since CI does not fly to Paris a gold CI member cannot access the AF lounges but CI Jade and Paragon members can as ST elite plus. But if CI flies to that destination all of its CI elite members including gold can access the lounges.

    1 more reply
  5. GULAFSHA Guest

    This is a great enhancement for SkyTeam Elite Plus members! It finally brings SkyTeam in line with oneworld and Star Alliance by offering domestic lounge access, a long-overdue perk. Including Air France lounges in U.S. airports is particularly exciting for frequent domestic travelers. However, the exclusions for Aerolineas Argentinas and Delta SkyMiles members are unfortunate—especially for Delta flyers in the U.S., where lounge access is already a contentious issue. Overall, a positive change with a...

    This is a great enhancement for SkyTeam Elite Plus members! It finally brings SkyTeam in line with oneworld and Star Alliance by offering domestic lounge access, a long-overdue perk. Including Air France lounges in U.S. airports is particularly exciting for frequent domestic travelers. However, the exclusions for Aerolineas Argentinas and Delta SkyMiles members are unfortunate—especially for Delta flyers in the U.S., where lounge access is already a contentious issue. Overall, a positive change with a few caveats!

  6. Nate Guest

    You say: "SkyTeam Elite Plus members 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."

    But the Virgin LAX lounge access rule says: "SkyTeam Elite Plus members travelling on Virgin Atlantic or Delta + a guest traveling on an international flight operated by a SkyTeam carrier"

    Based on my reading of the Virgin LAX lounge language, the guest can be...

    You say: "SkyTeam Elite Plus members 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."

    But the Virgin LAX lounge access rule says: "SkyTeam Elite Plus members travelling on Virgin Atlantic or Delta + a guest traveling on an international flight operated by a SkyTeam carrier"

    Based on my reading of the Virgin LAX lounge language, the guest can be traveling on a different flight. I doubt this is what Virgin intended, but that is what the language says.

    The Skyteam website says that only Virgin's LHR Clubhouse has special access rules.

    1. Samo Guest

      The new rule kicked in yesterday, Virgin probably just has an old version posted.

  7. Lee Guest

    It's a good first step. Great for CDGNCE. AF & KAL at JFK T1, no go for Delta T4. AF lounge at LAX is in the mid-field concourse, no go for Delta T2. Adding Korean at LAX would be nice. But, frankly, the current SkyClub at LAX is excellent.

  8. Julia Guest

    Lets hope oneworld and Staralliance don't join this race to the bottom...

  9. Ryan Guest

    Delta still going out of its way to screw over its own elite passengers - by being the exception to the entire alliance's rules, and continuing to ban their own ElitePlus members flying international itineraries in economy. What a pathetic joke of a program.

    1 more reply
  10. Patrick Guest

    Xiamen Air lounges are also included.

  11. Kiwi Guest

    Sigh, delta being delta. Here was I excited to use the AF lounge in SFO on a domestic itinerary. Looks like that won’t be possible for delta gold/platinum/diamond/360

  12. Redacted Guest

    I would probably care more about this if I could think of some good examples where I'd rather kill 3+ hours at a SkyTeam lounge than Amex lounge... but I'm coming up short.

  13. FrozenKiwi Guest

    Does DL ever consider advocating for their own elites? Might as well get elite plus with another airlines as opposed to wasting so much on diamond with Delta.

    2 more replies
  14. oliver Guest

    I was a bit upset but then realised there's literally no Elite Plus lounge worth spending 3+ hours for.
    JK. I don't know how anyone takes this alliance seriously.

  15. Sam Guest

    I once flew TLS-ORY (no onward connection) in Air France economy, traveling as a Flyingblue Gold member, and I did receive access to the (contract) lounge in Toulouse. So I'm not really sure how to interpret this "change" vis-a-vis my previous domestic flying experiences in France.

    1. Mika Guest

      AF always went above and beyond the requirements for ST for its own members. No change for you but it is the case for a DL member now they'll get access on domestic AF.

  16. Anthony Diamond

    Honestly, given all of the issues (where the lounges are located, limited domestic flights for some of the alliance partners, etc), this seems to have little real impact.

  17. Chris D Guest

    I’ve definitely used SkyTeam Elite Plus for domestic lounge access in economy class on AeroMexico before. This was quite a few years ago, so not sure if that was a mistake, if it changed since then, or if this announcement marks a change!

  18. Yang Jin-Pyung Guest

    SkyTeam's tackiness just reach sky-high levels

  19. HkCaGu Guest

    AFKL lounge at LAX is so far away from everything else. A long walk from TBIT-W to the rest of the airport.

  20. Voian Guest

    Regarding AF lounge at JFK or SAS at EWR, aren’t their in terminals which don’t have domestic SkyTeam flights anyway?

    So purely theoretical improvement (?)

    1. Lee Guest

      JFK T1. Of no practical value.

  21. Samo Guest

    Making SkyTeam even more inconsistent than it already was. Getting lounge access on domestic sometimes, but not always. Having the stupid 3-hours limit (which itself is a massive disgrace) at random lounges which are not published anywhere.

  22. Jack Guest

    With the exception of lounge access, does SkyTeam not provide a *meaningful* tier status benefit that One World and Star Alliance do? With the exception of lounge access, they seem fairly similar.

    5 more replies
  23. E39 Diamond

    Skyteam is so ridiculously inconsistent it's tragic. Poor aerolineas Argentinas people

  24. Mark Guest

    "...subject to..." rather than "...subjected to...". Different meanings!

  25. Olaf Guest

    Finally I can get lounge access on domestic flights in China. It was annoying as AF Elite Plus member to sit at the gate waiting for departure on these domestic flights with MU.

    4 more replies
  26. Andrew Diamond

    Wow, this is giving "ULCC network" vibes. I'll never understand SkyTeam's value proposition... just when I think it's bad, they find a way to make it worse.

  27. Joe Guest

    what does this mean "though members of Aerolineas Argentinas’ Aerolineas Plus program and of Delta’s SkyMiles program won’t consistently receive this benefit" ? it that a yes or no that these airlines will provide domestic access...why the vagueness? just lazy reporting or don't you know?

  28. Adrian Guest

    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!

    1 more reply
  29. Richard W Guest

    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

    1 more reply
  30. JustinB Diamond

    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.

    1. UncleRonnie Diamond

      Saying "Yes" is less awkward than "No" ????

  31. Eskimo Guest

    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.

  32. Mark Guest

    Does this mean I can access Delta lounge on domestic flights with status? That is pretty amazing...

    1 more reply
  33. yoloswag420 Guest

    I notice Virgin Atlantic status is excluded from this list for domestic access. Likely speaking to Delta's deathgrip on Virgin Atlanta.

    1. Throwawayname Guest

      I don't see any reference to VS status in the press release, just DL and AR.

  34. Throwawayname Guest

    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

    3 more replies
  35. GUWonder Guest

    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.

    2 more replies
  36. Anthony Diamond

    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.

    5 more replies
  37. Creditcrunch Diamond

    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.

  38. Mason Guest

    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?

    3 more replies
  39. Ace Guest

    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.

    1 more reply
  40. FNT Delta Diamond Guest

    And it's also meaningless because Delta denies Sky Club access to its own Sky Team elites flying an international Delta flight in economy.

    6 more replies
  41. FNT Delta Diamond Guest

    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.

    1. Samo Guest

      There are 750+ lounges in the SkyTeam network, and just around 35 airports with Delta SkyClub. This is not meaningless by any measure, for example as many mentioned already, this will be a massive improvement on Chinese domestic flights. It will also be quite useful in Scandinavia where there's a lot of domestic air traffic (particularly in Sweden and Norway due to geography) and I guess it won't hurt in Paris either.

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Adrian Guest

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!

6
Pablo Guest

No

2
oliver Guest

I was a bit upset but then realised there's literally no Elite Plus lounge worth spending 3+ hours for. JK. I don't know how anyone takes this alliance seriously.

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