![]() ![]() Delta’s newest Sky Club in Seattle is one of the best in the system. This is different from most airlines that do not care who you’re flying with as long as you have a membership. Delta will begin requiring Sky Club members to fly on Delta or Delta’s partners in order to access the Sky Club. That is over a year away, but still has important consequences for travelers. The second important detail is that Delta will be changing its Sky Club access rules on January 1, 2019. Upgraded tickets, however, do not qualify. If you purchase a first class fare, whether using dollars or as an award ticket, you can use the Alaska Lounge. The one airline that does allow access on first class domestic flights is Alaska Airlines. But read the rules before traveling and you should be okay. I’ve even seen professional travel bloggers complain on social media about being denied access. It is often the case that travelers think they should get lounge access because they purchased a more expensive ticket. In general, flying first class on domestic routes does not include free lounge access you must be on an international flight and be in either business or first class or have a certain elite status. A free app like LoungeBuddy can help you find out which lounges you’re allowed to use in each airport after entering your flight and elite status information. You might also have a few coupons, like the Alaska Lounge day passes that I received with my Alaska Mileage Plan elite status (and which can only be used at Alaska Lounges). The Centurion Lounge is exclusive to those with an American Express Platinum or Centurion Card. Programs like Priority Pass provide access to travelers with a variety of premium credit cards. These exceptions can be hard to remember, and even if you haven’t signed up to be a member with a specific airline lounge, you may have access and not even realize it. You can even access some other airlines’ lounges, such as the United Club, in locations where there is no Alaska Lounge. For example, Alaska Lounge members can use most Admirals Club locations when traveling with either Alaska Airlines or American Airlines. You may even be able to get access to other airline’s clubs with your membership. ![]() Beyond this obvious rule, however, some lounges let you stretch your membership a little further with exceptions. The process is obviously much smoother if you’re on the same airline since the frequent flyer number is coded in your boarding pass, but that doesn’t mean it’s required. Remember to bring your membership card, or if you don’t have that you can ask the lounge attendant to look up your membership with your frequent flyer number. Making your way to the Centurion Lounge in Las Vegas is tricky. Sometimes the agent will comment on my boarding pass and I just say I’m going to the lounge. However, there’s no requirement that you be departing from the same area when you pass through TSA security. If the lounge you want to visit is located in a different terminal from your flight, make sure you leave enough time to make your way over. The new Alaska Lounge in Concourse C is a departure from the traditional Northwest lodge style. The reasoning is that your decision to purchase a membership at the start of the year is separate from your decision to buy a ticket from the airline on any particular trip, so I can still use the Alaska Lounge in Seattle if I choose to fly on United Airlines, for example. Those who have a lounge membership with a specific airline-operated network - like the Admirals Club, United Club, Sky Club, or Alaska Lounge - can often continue to use those lounges even when they’re flying on a different carrier. The Centurion Lounge in San Francisco, Terminal 3 ![]() Although connecting in Dallas requires a longer flight, we have access to the American Express Centurion Lounge there, while we have no lounge memberships in Denver. For example, when traveling to see her family in Texas, we can pass through Denver or Dallas. I know that my wife and I often plan our trips with a focus on where we can connect and use our different memberships to access the airport lounge. As we get into the holiday travel season, you may be looking for an escape from the crowded airport terminal. ![]()
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