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 A17.
Delta Sky Club A17 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 among the first to open and was quite crowded, with a long line stretching down the concrouse at 5:15 am.
Hours + Access + Location
The lounge is open daily from 5:30 am to 10:30 pm and is located in Concourse A near gate A17. It is one of two lounges in Concourse A and opens 30 minutes before the other lounge. I’m not sure why this does not open earlier…there was a lot of foot traffic in Concourse A and over 50 people in line outside the door by the time the lounge opened. The Sky Club In Concourse T opens at 4:30 am, but none of the other Sky Clubs open that early.
Proceed up the stairs to 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
After stepping off my redeye from LAX, I sat outside this lounge unitl it opened, refusing to join the line.
Seating
Rather than two floors, I’d say this lounge has floors 1 and 1.5…the second level is just a half flight up and overlooks the rest of the lounge. This lounge was rather crowded at 5:45 am, but most people sat in the lower level and I had no trouble finding a seat upstairs (I got some work done at a desk while I ate breakfast).
Food + Drink
This lounge features a full breakfast spread during the morning hours, including 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).
Upstairs, there was another beverage station, plus grits, oatmeal, croissants, pastries, cereal, and fruit.
The egg bites hit the spot…
Restrooms + Showers
Restrooms are available, but no showers.
Printing
Wireless printing was available (plus scanning and printing).
CONCLUSION
The long line outside the door of this lounge suggests that it opens too late, but I appreciated the breakfast spread and got some work done here before proceeding to other Sky Clubs.
The afternoon/evening dragons at that club are the least helpful Delta employees that I’ve ever had the displeasure of encountering.
I’d bet they aren’t Delta employees. That doesn’t excuse their behavior & it would still reflect on Delta, of course.
I”d be curious about their compensation/benefits versus a fast food employee in the airport at large ….
So the first concourses are T & A. Reminds me a popular song decades ago.
They are still not using real plates and utensils there??? SO tacky.. The lounge is looking a little fatigued.