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.

a group of people standing in a terminal

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.

a painting on the wall

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
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.

a reception area with a couple people standing behind a column

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).

a group of people sitting in a room with chairs and tables

a group of people sitting in chairs in a room

a group of chairs in a lobby

a room with chairs and tables

a group of chairs in a room

a group of tables and chairs in a room

a conference room with a table and chairs

Food + Drink

This lounge features a full breakfast spread during the morning hours, including sausage, scrambled eggs, potatoes, salad, bagels, toast, and croissants.

a food in a pan

a group of pans with food in them

food on a counter with a glass shelf

a group of bowls of food

a table with bowls of food

a large pot with a lid on a table

In addition to a full bar, there were self-serve soft drinks (being in Atlanta, Coca-Cola of course) and coffee (Starbucks).

a bar with a television and bottles of alcohol

a soda machine with a logo on it

Upstairs, there was another beverage station, plus grits, oatmeal, croissants, pastries, cereal, and fruit.

a room with a coffee shop

a buffet table with food on it

The egg bites hit the spot…

a plate of food and a cup of coffee

Restrooms + Showers

Restrooms are available, but no showers.

a red countertop with a large mirror

a bathroom with a red sink and a mirror

Printing

Wireless printing was available (plus scanning and printing).

a printer in a display case

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.