Inside the Delta One Lounge
Delta opens its most exclusive lounge—joining top competitors in serving the premium travel segment.
We’re back with another edition of Late Checkouts—and this rendition is bit more direct in subject matter as we ask and answer a few questions regarding Delta’s premium lounge unveiling from late June.
But before we go there…a short pause to wish all of our U.S.-based readers a blessed 4th of July holiday. We’re ringing in the holiday tomorrow with some fireworks of our own, having grown our Instagram following past the 100k mark. But as we always say, First Class Jerk is only on the runway! We’re already targeting the next milestone—maintaining our focus on delivering an unapologetic voice for the discerning traveler. Thanks, again, for being here.
So tell us about this new lounge…
Last week, the FCJ team had the pleasure of covering Delta’s debut premium lounge: The Delta One Lounge at JFK airport. It was unveiled with much fanfare, with guests in attendance from Delta CEO Ed Bastian to MLB legend Alex Rodriguez. It’s Delta’s first foray into the “premium” lounge space, meaning it’s exclusive for business and first class travelers, a segment of the airline industry that has seen considerable growth since the pandemic. And there are plans to expand the concept, with Delta One lounges in the works at Los Angeles International (LAX) and Boston Logan International (BOS) airports to follow.
What makes the experience premium?
Well, other than the exclusive nature of the entry requirements, the amenities are leveled-up! The almost 40,000 square foot lounge in JFK’s Terminal 4 offers quite the range of luxury services—including a 100+ seat, multi-course restaurant and complementary treatments in the lounge’s spa. Here’s more on the high points…
Temperature-regulated outdoor terrace with rotating greenery
Seated, and grab-and-go dining options
Beverage cart service
Eight (8) shower suites with valet service for garment care
Shoe shining station
Eight (8) business pods
Nap pods—surely more important than business…
Full-body massage chairs
Complementary, rotating spa treatments (e.g. hand massage)
Private TSA screening lane (opening planned for fall 2024)
If you’re keen to see behind the curtain, look no further than our video coverage…
But tell us more about those damn entry requirements…
Bring your reading glasses for this one. To walk through the front doors, you’ll need a departing, connecting, or arriving Delta One class international or transcontinental (e.g. LAX to JFK) ticket OR the equivalent class ticket on a Delta Partner, such as Air France or KLM. Of course, Delta will also roll out all the stops for its exclusive Delta 360 members—an invite-only group that will also merit lounge access when flying domestically.
Is this a unique offering, or what is the competition?
Delta is not the first to open such a lounge…in fact, it follows premium lounge products from its closest competitors. American’s Flagship Lounge and United’s Polaris Lounge have been around for years now, which effectively forced Delta’s hand to deliver a premium experience. From our POV, other than the media splash, the Delta One lounge offering is most centrally aimed at ensuring retention of its most frequent flyers.
So, will this help with lounge overcrowding?
Many of those with Sky Club access have been asking this very question. And while the answer is yes—the effect will probably be marginal given the planned presence of premium lounges in just three markets by the end of 2024. But with that said, we’ve seen Delta take a multi-pronged approach to this issue, including curbing Sky Club access for American Express holders via new restrictions starting in 2025. The macro strategy for Delta is to balance the business. And you can bet we’ll be around to see how it all pans out.
Did we miss something? Drop us a line in our DMs on Instagram if you have questions. We’d love to hear what you think.
