Earlier this 12 months, the SkyTeam alliance introduced some modifications to its lounge entry guidelines, and so they’re a blended bag. I wish to submit a reminder of those updates, as they apply as of in the present day, for higher or worse.
Particulars of SkyTeam lounge entry rule modifications
The SkyTeam alliance has made a sequence of modifications to its lounge entry insurance policies for visits as of April 1, 2025. These modifications impression first and enterprise class passengers, in addition to SkyTeam Elite Plus members. Let’s cowl the main points under.
SkyTeam provides home lounge entry
Beforehand, SkyTeam Elite Plus members solely acquired lounge entry when touring on worldwide itineraries. That was in distinction to the insurance policies of oneworld and Star Alliance, which permit lounge entry on all itineraries, with just a few restrictions for these taking part in frequent flyer applications in america.
With this transformation, SkyTeam Elite Plus members lastly begin getting lounge entry on home flights. That is initially obtainable on the following choose lounges:
- Air France lounges in Bordeaux (BOD), Boston (BOS), Geneva (GVA), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), Paris (CDG & ORY), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington (IAD)
- Garuda Indonesia lounges in Bali (DPS) and Jakarta (CGK)
- Kenya Airways lounges in Nairobi (NBO)
- China Japanese lounges in Shanghai (PVG & SHA)
- Scandinavian Airways lounges in Chicago (ORD), Copenhagen (CPH), Gothenburg (GOT), Newark (EWR), Oslo (OSL), and Stockholm (ARN)
- Saudia lounges in Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH)
- Vietnam Airways lounges in Hanoi (HAN)
There are simply two exceptions to this rule:
- SkyTeam Elite Plus members with the Aerolineas Argentinas Aerolineas Plus program don’t obtain lounge entry on any home itineraries worldwide
- SkyTeam Elite Plus members with the Delta SkyMiles program don’t obtain entry on any home itineraries inside america
It is a fairly vital growth. For instance, when you have SkyTeam Elite Plus standing via an eligible program, you could possibly use Air France lounges even when touring inside america.
SkyTeam provides three-hour entry restriction
With these modifications, SkyTeam Elite Plus members, in addition to SkyTeam first and enterprise class clients, are more and more subjected to a three-hour lounge entry rule, which means they will solely use lounges as much as three hours earlier than departure. These transferring between two SkyTeam-operated flights will proceed to obtain entry for longer connections, as wanted.
Beforehand, the SkyTeam alliance at massive didn’t have a three-hour rule on lounge entry, although some particular person lounges did have such a coverage. The one factor price noting is that this doesn’t apply to all lounges. Because it’s written, this coverage “will probably be launched at extra lounges.” We don’t but know at precisely which lounges this can apply, although, and I haven’t heard of many coverage modifications thus far.
SkyTeam provides lounge guesting restrictions
With these modifications, SkyTeam Elite Plus members proceed to be allowed to convey one visitor into lounges, although that visitor should be touring on the identical SkyTeam-operated flight because the member. It is a departure from the earlier coverage, which allowed vacationers to visitor anybody on a SkyTeam flight, without having for them to be touring on the identical flight.
My tackle SkyTeam lounge entry coverage modifications
As you may inform, these modifications to SkyTeam lounge entry guidelines are a blended bag. The addition of lounge entry on some home itineraries is a massively constructive growth, the change to guesting guidelines is mildly unfavourable, and the three-hour rule is massively unfavourable, a minimum of for my part.
Now, concerning the brand new three-hour restriction on lounge entry, I’m curious to see if that’s persistently applied throughout airways or not. Clearly this coverage already existed at Delta Sky Golf equipment. Because the change is described, we’ll see the three-hour rule “launched at extra lounges.” That’s not essentially to say it’ll be applied in any respect lounges, although I assume time will inform. Has anybody seen any airways which have really modified their guidelines thus far, now that that is stay?
Selfishly, for the needs of reviewing lounges, that makes my life a lot tougher. I all the time prefer to be at lounges the second they open, in order that I can get “clear” footage with out anybody in them. After all I’m the exception somewhat than the norm.
The SkyTeam lounge entry coverage has lengthy trailed each the Star Alliance lounge entry coverage and oneworld lounge entry coverage, particularly in relation to lounge entry on home itineraries. That being mentioned, even with these modifications, I can’t assist however suppose that SkyTeam’s guidelines are simply unnecessarily sophisticated. There are such a lot of exceptions and exclusions, way more so than with different alliances.
Backside line
SkyTeam has up to date its lounge entry insurance policies as of April 2025. On the plus aspect, we’ve seen SkyTeam introduce lounge entry for SkyTeam Elite Plus members on many home itineraries. Nevertheless, the remainder of the modifications are dangerous information, together with restrictions on who might be guested into lounges, plus a brand new three-hour rule that applies to extra lounges.
What do you make of those updates to SkyTeam lounge entry?
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