SkyTeam Airport Lounge Entry Defined

One of many nice issues in regards to the “large three” world airline alliances is that they provide reciprocal lounge entry for vacationers. On this put up I needed to take a better have a look at the SkyTeam alliance’s lounge entry coverage, as understanding the nuances of airport lounge entry might be sophisticated.

As a common rule of thumb, you possibly can count on that you simply’ll get lounge entry internationally with SkyTeam when you’ve got SkyTeam Elite Plus standing, or in case you’re touring in first or enterprise class. That doesn’t typically apply when touring domestically, together with inside the USA on Delta, so I’ll tackle that as nicely.

First let me cowl the fundamentals of the SkyTeam alliance, after which I’ll speak in regards to the alliance’s coverage on lounge entry when touring in first & enterprise class, and when having SkyTeam Elite Plus standing. Notice that you may at all times reference the SkyTeam lounge finder for the fundamentals of SkyTeam’s lounge entry guidelines (although I’ll attempt to simplify it much more on this put up).

In separate posts I’ll cowl the lounge entry insurance policies of oneworld and Star Alliance. Let me say that typically I believe oneworld has probably the most beneficiant lounge entry insurance policies, adopted by Star Alliance, adopted by SkyTeam.

The fundamentals of the SkyTeam alliance

The SkyTeam alliance has 18 member airways, making it larger than oneworld however smaller than Star Alliance. The alliance was based in 2000, by Aeromexico, Air France, Delta, and Korean Air. Whereas SkyTeam has some strong member airways, personally I discover that the alliance is least beneficiant in the case of reciprocity, whether or not it involves award house or elite recognition.

These days SkyTeam has the next member airways:

SkyTeam first & enterprise class lounge entry

SkyTeam worldwide first & enterprise class passengers are entitled to entry to any designated SkyTeam enterprise class lounges:

• That is legitimate all through your similar day journey when you’ve gotten a primary or enterprise class ticket
• Lounge entry is supplied solely at your departure and switch airports, and never on arrival
• For connecting passengers, each the home and worldwide flights have to be operated by a SkyTeam member airline, and all segments must be booked in first or enterprise class
• You aren’t allowed to convey any friends into lounges with you
• To get lounge entry, you could have paid on your ticket with money or miles; workers journey doesn’t qualify

One factor value noting right here is that on an alliance degree, there’s no particular lounge entry for top notch passengers. That’s to not say that top notch passengers received’t get entry to particular lounges, however somewhat that any premium lounge entry could be as a consequence of an airline’s coverage, somewhat than as a result of alliance’s coverage.

Simply as how SkyTeam doesn’t have reciprocal top notch award redemptions, the alliance additionally doesn’t have reciprocal top notch lounge entry.

For context, within the SkyTeam alliance, you’ve gotten a number of airways which have worldwide top notch — Air France, China Japanese, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Saudia, and Xiamen Air. Whereas these airways largely have particular top notch lounges, there’s not any constantly superior reciprocal lounge entry supplied for these touring in top notch.

SkyTeam Elite Plus lounge entry

SkyTeam has two elite tiers — Elite and Elite Plus. SkyTeam Elite Plus members obtain lounge entry on account of their standing when touring internationally:

• That is legitimate no matter your journey class, all through your similar day journey
• Lounge entry is supplied solely at your departure and switch airports, and never on arrival
• For connecting passengers, each the home and worldwide flights have to be operated by a SkyTeam member airline
• You’re allowed to convey one visitor with you, and so they should even be touring on a SkyTeam flight (although it could possibly be a unique SkyTeam flight)
• For these functions, worldwide journey excludes journey between the USA and the Caribbean
• SkyTeam Elite Plus members who earn their standing by Delta SkyMiles can solely entry SkyTeam member airline lounges, and might’t entry third occasion lounges
• To get lounge entry, you could have paid on your ticket with money or miles; workers journey doesn’t qualify

It’s fascinating how SkyTeam Elite Plus members don’t obtain lounge entry when touring inside the USA, even when they earn standing with a international SkyTeam airline. This contrasts to oneworld and Star Alliance, the place those that earn standing with a international airline nonetheless obtain lounge entry when touring domestically inside the USA.

Notice that there’s one additional exception right here to concentrate on. As of February 2023, those that earn SkyTeam Elite Plus by Delta SkyMiles (Medallion Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members) don’t obtain Delta Sky Membership entry on worldwide itineraries until they’re in premium financial system or enterprise class. That’s proper, Delta solely excludes its personal frequent flyers from accessing lounges on these itineraries, whereas different SkyTeam Elite Plus members do get entry.

What about Delta Sky Membership lounge entry?

Delta is the key SkyTeam airline in the USA. As talked about above, typically lounge entry insurance policies differ in the USA, because the enterprise mannequin is totally different. Airways in the USA attempt to monetize their lounges, and likewise promote memberships.

In case you’re touring inside the USA on Delta, what does that imply for lounge entry?

• A primary or enterprise class ticket inside the USA on Delta typically received’t get you lounge entry, apart from a restricted variety of premium routes
• SkyTeam Elite Plus standing earned by all airways wouldn’t get you entry to Delta Sky Golf equipment when touring inside the USA

Happily there are many different methods to get Delta Sky Membership entry, together with by having choose bank cards.

See my detailed put up on Delta Sky Membership entry.

Backside line

One of many nice issues in regards to the world airline alliances is the reciprocal lounge entry perks they provide to these touring in premium cabins, in addition to elite members. That is value understanding, as a result of in lots of instances you could have entry to higher lounges than you count on — don’t essentially simply go to the lounge that your airline offers you an “invitation” for.

Whereas there are nice perks to SkyTeam lounge entry, typically I contemplate the alliance to be the weakest of the “large three” in the case of reciprocal lounge entry.

SkyTeam first & enterprise class passengers can go to lounges when touring internationally similar day, although all segments have to be in first & enterprise class, and no friends are allowed. SkyTeam Elite Plus members additionally obtain lounge entry when touring internationally, and are allowed one visitor.

What has your expertise been with SkyTeam lounge entry?