“Delta’ Raises the Bar: New Rules to Earn Elite Status & Access Airport Lounges

Delta Airlines has recently announced that they will be making it slightly more difficult to gain access to their airport lounges. Those wanting to gain Elite status with Delta will have to meet more criteria now than before. Beginning December 1, 2020, Delta has changed the requirements for earning Elite status. Those traveling frequently with Delta in the past could simply accumulate 25,000 miles or spend a certain amount of money in a year to be accepted into the Delta Sky Club. While this still remains an option, Delta has added other factors to consider for potential Elite members. Delta will now take a more holistic approach when determining who should gain Elite status. Those who want to reach this elite level will not only need to fly 25,000 miles, but they will also have to pass certain criteria that looks at the overall customer experience. A customer’s interactions with Delta staff, their spending habits, the amount of time they spent in Delta’s lounges, and the amount of additional services utilized will all be looked at to determine who can become an Elite customer. For those of us who do not reach the new criteria, Delta will still have different options available to help make their lounges more accessible. Options such as the same-day boarding pass allowance, which allows passengers to gain access by simply having a boarding pass, or the SkyMiles memberships option, which allows for access to Delta’s lounges around the world. Overall, while Delta has made it more difficult to gain Elite status, they have also provided different options to those who travel frequently. This change in policy shows that Delta is looking for an overall customer experience that goes beyond the amount of miles accumulated.