Delta Air Lines has built arguably the most impressive premium ground product in the United States with its Delta One lounges. But two recent developments at its New York JFK lounge undermine that experience in a way that feels unnecessary and, frankly, tacky.
Delta One Lounge At JFK Crosses The Line With Tipping Prompts
It appears that Delta is now requiring passengers to leave larger bags outside the dining area before being seated at its Delta One Lounge in JFK, while also prompting customers to tip (in USD or SkyMiles) when purchasing upgraded drinks.
Let’s take these one at a time.
The Bag Issue Is Odd, But May Be Temporarily Defensible
The new “no bags in the dining room” policy has raised eyebrows, and understandably so. Being told to check your bag inside a lounge before dinner feels…off.
Delta One JFK lounge was weird today. They have a no bags allowed policy now, so they checked my luggage with a bag tag before going into the restaurant because they said there was a “very serious incident” that happened recently that they can’t have happen again. Does anyone know what happened with a bag? Was someone trafficking an exotic animal or child or something?
But I suspect View From The Wing is right here: this is likely about a missing knife or some other security concern. Airport rules around knives are strict, and lounge kitchens are subject to audits and inventory controls. If something went missing, even once, I can see why Delta would react quickly. Then again, there is another, less charitable possibility: passengers are stealing cutlery or crockery. It would not be the first time premium lounge items have walked off in carry-on bags.
Either way, this feels like a reactive policy and is hopefully temporary. It may solve a problem, but it also detracts from the premium experience Delta is trying to sell.
The Tipping Is The Real Problem
But the tipping? That is where Delta completely loses me.
They also hand you a tip screen now if you use miles to upgrade anything which was kinda uncomfortable for me. It’s new they’ve never had it before. He was staring point blank at the tip screen so I tipped 2,500 miles and then felt kinda weird about it?
It is one thing to leave a discretionary tip for exceptional service. It is quite another to be prompted to tip, especially in miles, after already paying thousands of dollars for a premium cabin ticket.
This is not a neighborhood restaurant. This is a curated, premium experience that Delta markets as part of the ticket…and these workers are already paid a living wage. Sorry, it is unacceptable, full stop.
We are watching airlines quietly test how far they can push ancillary revenue and cost-shifting, even in their most premium spaces. Delta will soon sell “basic” business class worldwide so I guess this “unbundling” of the lounge experience should not be a surprise.
And asking for tips in SkyMiles? Talk about cynical…Miles are a currency that Delta itself controls, devalues, and profits from. Asking customers to “tip” in that currency inside a lounge they already paid dearly to access is not generosity. It is outsourcing labor costs to the customer.
I’m of the opinion that Delta should not even offering “paid” drinks in its Delta One lounges. I realize that means top-shelf stuff will not be avaible at all, but I think asking guests to reach for their wallets in any way in this lounge should be off-limits and Delta can certainly offer a respectable selection of wine, Champagne, and cocktails without an uncharge.
This is especially disappointing because we’ve already seen staff handing out personal Venmo QR codes in the Delta One Lounge at LAX. That crossed a line, but it felt like a rogue act. This, however, represents a systemic change.
CONCLUSION
The bag policy is strange, but may be rooted in a legitimate safety concern. The tipping, however, is not legitimate.
Delta has spent years building a premium brand that passengers trust. That brand is not strengthened by awkward tip prompts or subtle pressure to pay more for what is supposed to be an all-in experience. If Delta wants to remain the industry leader, this is exactly the kind of thing it needs to stop.
> Read More: Delta One Lounge New York (JFK) Review
Customers need to tell employees politely and firmly that they do not approve of this crass solicitation. The employee hearing this, no doubt, has no control over the practice, but they are the most immediate face of Delta. With that in mind, customers need also to request that their sentiment be shared with management.
Mhm. Nancy said it best: “Just say no…” LOL.
In retrospect, Nancy was right on many things.
I don’t have a problem with tipping per se, and I do leave a tip when grabbing a drink at a lounge. However, asking for a tip at a sit-down restaurant where there are no menu prices is ridiculous. Accepting tips in miles is also ridiculous. Does it even get paid back to the staff directly? This is highly suspect.
I do not mind deciding to tip on my own unprompted. However, I just looked up a Delta One fare for JFK-LAX in the fall that priced out at almost $9K At that rate, no tipping should be asked for.
Tipping is out of control in the US overall but it is always possible – and might be the right approach in this case – to simply put $0.00 in the tip line.
Hard to understand how some people get so worked up about simply saying “No”
is it really such a mental and emotional wrestle to say “no” in other parts of one’s life?
I would say no – it’s not that I cannot or others cannot, but it should not ever be offered…it’s like putting passengers in the position of having to confront unruly passengers. It just should not happen. United and Delta both get this wrong. Tipping should be strictly and explicitly forbidden, like Alaska. Like Japan…
I don’t disagree that tipping should not be requested – esp. because it is not allowed onboard – but many of us are so over tipping requests that we have no problem saying no.
it’s a shame because there are good people that need tips and don’t provide high enough quality services.
Thank you, Tim, for a rational and reasonable reply, without mentioning “those other guys”.
Ha, the joke is on them – I credit all my miles to Flying Blue! Actually, I’m sympathetic to those working these types of jobs and I am not anti-tipping, but it depends on the situation. In a lounge, I usually don’t, unless it is for service above and beyond.
@Matthew, it was a bit ago now, but the SFO Polaris Lounge had a real winner of a bar tender, who would loudly cough and look at the $5.00 sitting on the bar if one did not tip.
Tipping in Premium spaces is not new, that does not make it right, but we are living in very crazy times.
Yikes. That’s even worse.
tipping is always on the bill in Delta Sky Clubs.. so not unusual for D1 clubs..
I couldnt disagree more with everyone here. We live in a tipping society get over it and guess what sometimes tipping can get you better service if you know what you are doing. However here, IMO, these folks deserve tips, from my two visits and conversations with friends who have visited, this lounge has the best service of any lounge in the US. I had a fairly lengthy conversation with GM of the club on my second visit. And we chatted about the training and how they maintain their service levels. He was very proud of it. Just to be clear even if the service wasn’t outstanding as i have observed I would still tip here no matter what. My opinion but I feel privileged to enjoy this experience and I see no reason not to throw 5 or 10 or even 20 bucks these folks way. Yes i know I pay for this, Yes I understand that there jobs dont technically qualify for tips. But you guys piling on and actually wanting to complain to the employees is excessive. Isnt there something more to worry about. You guys are just upset that when I tip I will get taken care of better. I can tell you with my charming personality I will get taken care of better than most of you guys anyway. Cheers and try to enjoy a premium lounge when you are lucky enough to visit.
I agree.
I show my gratitude with tipping as the service and staff are impeccable, attentive and very kind-so why not show appreciation as they made the visit a pleasant experience with a smile..I don’t mind tipping one bit!
More vapor ware from Delta
While their jets keep leaving vapor trails/contrails in the vast skies…
Are you serious Matt? You’re quick to quick to point out your source for this article is View from the Wing so then let me direct your attention to a View from the Wing article from July 19, 2025 where Delta allows customers to pay to premium drinks in the Delta One lounge with miles and allows them to tip if they so choose with miles. According to View from the Wing July 19, 2025 article the miles are converted to dollars and are split among the bartenders, but no customer is required to tip any person inside a Delta One lounge. Since this site doesn’t allow post with links to competitors sites I will follow the rules and not attempt to attach a link to that View from the Wing article. However let’s get one thing straight no one is required to tip in a Delta One lounge whether using cash or mile and using miles to pay for premium drinks or tip isn’t anything new, it has been going on since 2025. This very site did an article in 2025 on Delta an a rouge employee presenting customers with a Venmo tip card in Delta One lounges. Delta allows tipping but it is always the customers choice even when paying for premium drinks with miles.
I’m by no means a Delta loyalist, I live in Chicago and fly United but also fly Delta from time to time, I though this site was better than View from the Wing and other sites out there. However articles like this where someone with your experience its just bashing Delta for no good reason when United like Delta allows tipping in Polaris lounges with cash, Venmo or PayPal. The only difference is United thus far doesn’t allow tipping with miles whereas Delta allows customers to tip with miles which is then converted to cash. What confuses me is your selective outrage at one airline while seemingly ignoring another airline allowing tips in their premium lounge altogether.
Yes, I’m serious. Tipping is unacceptable in a D1 and Polaris Lounge. It’s absurd to ask customers to subsidize these wages when tickets are so expensive. It’s a guilt trip that no one should have to endure.
Tipping is unacceptable in ANY lounge. You don’t need to be geriatric to remember the mid-noughties when an advertised benefit of lounge access was not having to worry about carrying local currency for food and drinks when travelling from/via foreign airports.
Tim Dunn and Scott Kirby walk into a bar.
The bartender looks at Kirby and says, “That’ll be $15 for the beer, plus a $5 convenience fee, a $3 chair-usage surcharge, and a 25% suggested tip.”Kirby smiles and says, “It’s a revolutionary unbundled pricing model!”
Tim Dunn doesn’t even look at his own menu. He just stares at Kirby and says, “Actually, Scott, if you look at the Q3 CASM (Cost per Available Seat Mile) of this bar stool, your tipping strategy is fundamentally flawed. Delta’s stools have a 4% higher reliability rating and the napkins are 10% thicker.”
The bartender turns to Tim and asks, “And what about you, Tim? Are you going to tip?”Tim slowly places a Delta Comfort+ boarding pass on the bar. The bartender says, “I can’t pay my rent with this, Tim.”Tim leans in and whispers, “It’s not a tip; it’s an operational premium. The sheer prestige of serving a Delta loyalist provides more long-term ‘brand equity’ than any cash gratuity. Plus, I’ve already factored in a 15% reliability bonus because you didn’t outsource the pouring of this drink to a regional carrier.”
I think “Tim Dunn”is great, but I had a good chuckle at this.
the sad thing is that frozen brain actually thinks he is funny w/ his contrived scenarios.
He isn’t
Contrived scenarios?
That’s why you’re always the problem. You have serious mental issues. You brain can’t register common sense or logic or rationale. You have brain fart that never stops farting.
For everyone else, it’s called satire.
Only fluffy Tim can think its contrived.
The new bag policy has nothing to do with a stolen knife or anything of that sort. It stems from a safety incident occurring about two weeks ago where a service worker got severely injured due to the congestion in the brasserie. Of course, checking bags is a small price to pay to keep these service workers safe. Also, FWIW, I’ve been in the lounge no fewer than 25 times since it’s opened and have never been asked for a tip.
I don’t see how having a “no big bags in the restaurant” policy affects the experience tbh. It’s a restaurant, not a train station – I would go as far as to say that it would improve the premium feel when the place doesn’t have bags scattered around everywhere. But maybe that’s just me.
I can imagine that for servers it can create a less than ideal environment to move through, serving dishes and drinks.
As for the tipping… Y’alls tipping culture is getting out of control. lol
Any worker looking for tips in any industry need to address their poverty pay directly with their employer who needs to look at serious increases and take a hit on their excessive profits.
I’m with the No Tipping, Please crowd. While in most situations I tip 20-25%, international Business Class is not one of them, with the exception of the Skycap handling my luggage.
International Business Class comes at a steep price in money or miles – all the more so in the latter given the devaluation of miles over the years. Lounge access has been a traditional perk of this highly priced product, and after the thousands of dollars they’ve paid to enjoy the overall product – of which the lounge is a part of – expecting guests to then further augment employee pay via tips is not in good taste and sadly, so typically American these days