Airport lounge access can offer a relaxing experience in a quiet space away from the noise and crowds of most airport terminals. Many lounges also offer complimentary food and drinks, along with a space to work.
Delta Sky Clubs are convenient lounges for Delta frequent flyers because they’re typically close to Delta gates. However, you normally need to purchase an annual membership to access Delta Sky Clubs, even as a high-level elite Delta flyer.
Instead of purchasing an expensive annual Delta Sky Club membership, one of the best ways to access the lounges is to hold a premium credit card that offers this benefit.
The cards featured in this guide can provide you with complimentary Delta Sky Club access without requiring an additional lounge membership.
Quick Overview of the Best Credit Cards for Delta Sky Club Access
There are currently 4 cards that offer Delta Sky Club access. All are issued by American Express and have annual fees of $650 or $895.
You may access the Delta Sky Club only when flying the same day on a Delta-operated flight.
The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express include 10 visits per year, while the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card include 15 visits per year.
You can unlock unlimited Delta Sky Club visits with any of these cards by spending $75,000 on eligible purchases during a calendar year.
Good to excellent credit is typically required for card approval.
The Best Cards for Delta Sky Club Access Right Now
- Amex Platinum card: Best for frequent travelers who want premium benefits, flexible redemption options, and worldwide lounge access. There is an annual fee of $895 (rates & fees), and the card allows 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year.
- Amex Business Platinum card: Best for frequent business travelers with substantial business spending who want premium benefits. It has an annual fee of $895 (rates & fees), and the card allows 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year.
- Delta Reserve card: Best for frequent Delta flyers who want Delta-centric benefits, including Sky Club access. Cardholders pay an annual fee of $650 (rates & fees), and the card allows 15 Sky Club visits per year.
- Delta Business Reserve card: Best for frequent business travelers who fly Delta and want related benefits, including Delta Sky Club access. There is an annual fee of $650 (rates & fees), and the card allows 15 Delta Sky Club visits per year.
Best Credit Cards for Delta Sky Club Access: Full Comparison
|
Credit Card |
Best For |
Annual Fee |
Welcome Offer |
Delta Sky Club Access |
|
Platinum Card® from American Express |
The frequent traveler who values premium travel and shopping benefits and wants Sky Club access |
Annual fee of $895 (rates & fees) |
As High as 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.Platinum Card® from American ExpressYou may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount — all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. |
|
|
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
The frequent business traveler who wants premium travel, business, and shopping benefits and wants Sky Club access |
Annual fee of $895 (rates & fees) |
|
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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card |
The frequent Delta traveler who wants Delta-centric perks, including Sky Club access |
Annual fee of $650 (rates & fees) |
LIMITED TIME OFFER2 Round-Trip Delta Comfort Flights + 50,000 MilesDelta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express CardEarn two round‑trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. A 21+ day advance purchase is required. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Terms and other restrictions apply. Offer ends 11/4/2026. |
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Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card |
The frequent Delta business traveler who wants Delta-centric perks, including Sky Club access |
Annual fee of $650 (rates & fees) |
LIMITED TIME OFFER200,000 milesDelta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express CardLimited Time Offer: Earn 200,000 Bonus Miles after spending $20,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 11/4/26. |
Delta Sky Club Access Rules for Credit Cards
In addition to the maximum number of Delta Sky Club visits per card, other access rules apply:
- You must have a same-day boarding pass for a Delta-operated flight (or an eligible partner such as WestJet).
- Basic economy tickets are not eligible for access.
- Entry is permitted only within 3 hours of your scheduled departure, and access upon arrival is not allowed unless you have a same-day connecting flight (Source: Delta).
- Multiple visits within a 24-hour period are considered 1 visit.
The Best Credit Cards for Delta Sky Club Access
Here is how each featured card provides access to Delta Sky Club.
Platinum Card® from American Express [Top Pick]
The Amex Platinum card offers the best worldwide lounge access. The card includes 10 visits each calendar year to Delta Sky Clubs when you’re flying on a Delta-operated flight. It also includes access to more than 1,550 worldwide lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (upon enrollment), Plaza Premium Lounges, Escape Lounges – The Centurion Studio Partner, select Virgin Clubhouses, and select Lufthansa Lounges (Source: American Express).
Delta Sky Club access is included for the primary cardholder. Adding an Additional Platinum Card authorized user provides the same lounge access as the primary cardholder. Additional Platinum cards cost $195 each (rates & fees).
Once the 10 lounge visit passes are used up, you can purchase passes using your card for $50 per visit (Source: American Express).
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Business Platinum card offers the same lounge access as the personal version, including 10 visits to Delta Sky Clubs per year when flying on a same-day Delta-operated flight. You can also unlock unlimited visits by spending $75,000 on the card in a year.
Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer as high as 300,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum card. Find out your offer. Terms Apply.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card [Top Delta Card Pick]
The Delta Reserve card is the top offering among Delta’s co-branded cards. The card includes 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club per Medallion year when you fly the same day on Delta. After the passes are used up, you can purchase additional visits at $50 per person.
You can unlock unlimited visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year. You also receive 4 one-time guest passes each Medallion year.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Like the personal version, the Delta Reserve Business card offers 15 visits to the Delta Sky Club per Medallion year when flying Delta. Medallion members can purchase additional visits at $50 each, and you also receive 4 one-time guest passes each Medallion year (Source: Delta).
Other Ways To Access Delta Sky Clubs (Besides Credit Cards)
Aside from credit cards, here are the additional ways to access Delta Sky Clubs:
Paid Membership
SkyMiles Medallion members can purchase a Delta Sky Club membership with unlimited access for the member for $695 annually or 69,500 miles. The executive membership costs $1,495 annually or 149,500 miles and includes unlimited access for the member and up to 2 traveling companions.
Delta Elite Status
Those who achieve Delta Diamond Medallion elite status, the airline’s top status level, receive 3 Choice Benefits each qualification year. You can redeem 1 of your 3 Choice Benefits for an Individual Delta Sky Club Membership, or 3 selections for an Executive Membership.
International Business Class Ticket
If you’re traveling in Delta One or in business class on one of the carrier’s SkyTeam partners, you automatically receive Delta Sky Club access so long as you’re on an international itinerary to Africa, Asia, Canada, Central America, Europe, Mexico, or South America.
On Delta flights, you receive access only if you are flying in Delta One (not on domestic first class or short-haul international business flights).
Our Method for Selecting Cards
We use several factors to select the cards we compare in our articles. These include the cards’ associated benefits, earning structures, welcome offers, redemption options, and fees.
Learn more about our process in the Upgraded Points credit card rating methodology.
Final Thoughts
Delta Sky Club access is a key benefit of all of our featured cards. The level of access you prefer and the number of visits each year could help determine which card is a better choice for your situation.
Whether you fly Delta exclusively or several different airlines could also affect the card you select. A Delta-branded card with more Delta-centric benefits could be a better fit, or alternatively, a more premium card with broader travel benefits may be better.
Review our comparison table and top picks above to find the best card for your travel style.