Delta Air Lines operates eight lounges out of its fortress hub at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. This review focuses on the Sky Club in Concourse A.
Delta Concourse A Sky Club Review – Atlanta (ATL)
Picture ATL like a series of vertical lines, almost like a bar graph, starting in Terminal T and then going A – B – C – D – E – F. Terminal A is the second concourse you come to after clearing security on the “domestic” side of the airport. It’s a massive airport and Delta offers many lounges. This lounge was somewhat hidden but a nice space and not overly crowded.
Hours + Access + Location
The lounge is open daily from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm and is located in Concourse A ” in center on 2nd level” (as Delta describes it). It is one of two lounges in Concourse A. The lounge is not well-marked: look for the P.F. Chang’s sign and then take the elevator up and walk around the corner to a door that opens into the lounge (with a separate door to go out of the lounge).
Access is available to:
- Delta Sky Club members (along with same-day boarding pass for Delta or a partner)
- Lifetime members can access the club regardless of the airline they are traveling on
- Two guests or immediate family (including all children under age 21) are permitted for “executive” members while “individual” members must pay $50 for guests (max two).
- Delta One or SkyTeam premium cabin passengers
- Access only when traveling on a branded “Delta One’ (versus first class) domestically
- Access when connecting to/from a same-day international Delta One flight
- No guests permitted
- SkyTeam Elite Plus members traveling on an international ticket in any cabin of service
- Includes Canada, Mexico
- Excludes Caribbean, Guam, Palau, Saipan
- One guest permitted
- There is an exception for SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers via SkyMiles (no access if traveling in economy class)
- Select credit card holders
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve from American Express
- no access on basic economy fares
- limited to 15 visits per year unless $75,000 annual spending on card
- guests are $50 each
- American Express Platinum / Centurion
- no access for Platinum business cards
- limited to 10 visits per year unless $75,000 annual spending on card
- no access on basic economy fares
- Delta SkyMiles Diners Club card
- Three visits per year (guests are included in this count)
- no access on basic economy fares
- two guests permitted
- Delta SkyMiles TRUST CLUB Platinum/Gold Visa card
- Six visits per year (guests are included in this count) for Platinum, three visits for Gold card
- no access on basic economy fares
- two guests permitted
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve from American Express
- WestJet Business Class passengers
- No guests permitted
- WestJet Rewards Gold and Platinum members
- Access only when traveling on a transborder flight
- One guest permitted
I had a pleasant conversation with the agent in the reception, who had a little trouble with my Korean Air ticket, but eventually welcomed me into the lounge.
Seating
This is a two-level lounge. The ground floor has ample seating (including a large work area), a small buffet, and a bar (details on food and beverage options below).
Upstairs, there is more seating and the main dining area (this apears to be an older part of the lounge).
Great planespotting is available from the lounge.
Food + Drink
This lounge features a full breakfast spread during the morning hours. Upstairs, there was sausage, scrambled eggs, potatoes, salad, bagels, toast, and croissants.
In addition to a full bar, there were self-serve soft drinks (being in Atlanta, Coca-Cola of course) and coffee (Starbucks).
Downstairs, there was a smaller spread next to the bar with fruit, yogurt, croissants, sausage, eggs, and oatmeal, plus more coffee machines and soft drinks.
The downstairs bar had an attractive stone covering over the wall…this is a good look if future Delta Sky Club refurbishments will mimic this look.
Restrooms + Showers
Restrooms are available on the ground level of the lounge (all private stalls). There are no showers in this lounge.
There was some controversy around the restrooms (any guesses why?) that I will discuss in a future post…
CONCLUSION
I enjoyed this lounge, though it was difficult to locate (unless I missed something…). This felt like essentially two lounges in one, with a new lounge on the ground level and an older lounge on the upper level. It was not nearly as crowded as the Terminal T lounge.
If you have a lot of time to kill at ATL and have Sky Club access, lounge hopping to find the quietest lounge is a somewhat fun option. Personally wish that one or two Sky Clubs would stay open past 10:30 pm, though.
My guess is the door signage for the restroom??
Six yrs ago I took a bustour in Ireland. A potty stop took us to a large rest area. This was before gender was a concern for some. The washroom was a large room with many individual stall with compartment walls to the floor. No openings anywhere once door is closed. Centre room had large fountain style to wash hands and area to dry hands. Everyone behaved and its not a huge deal if your respectful. My opinion