It’s widely known within the industry that Delta’s Sky Club Lounges are a step above their competitors’ lounges. They traditionally offer better food and amenities compared to their counterparts and each new lounge (and renovation) seems to up their game just a little bit more. At Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, both American and United offer their own lounges for their respective club members and elite flyers but just one look at Delta’s new Sky Club will leave the other flyers wondering why they should remain loyal to their respective carriers.
Delta’s Sky Club at Austin is spacious and beautiful with a funky, eclectic charm that is quirky and uniquely Austin. Opened in 2019, the 9,000 square foot lounge boasts sweeping views of the airport, an outdoor deck, plenty of comfortable spaces to work and relax and of course, an expanded menu and full-service bar that blows the American and United Lounges out of the water. Situated on the mezzanine level of the newly expanded concourse, the Delta Sky Club is located adjacent to gate 2. After security, just walk all the way down to the end of the concourse and take the stairs up to the second floor to reach the lounge entrance.
The lounge is currently open from 4:30 AM to 7:00 PM six days a week, Sundays to Fridays, and from 4:30 AM to 6:30 PM on Saturdays. The lounge is accessibly by the following passengers:
- Delta One and SkyTeam premium cabin passengers
- SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers traveling on international flights
- Delta Sky Club members and Virgin Australia Club Members
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Members – free for the Card Member and you may bring up to two guests for $39/person.
- Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Members – $39 for the Card Member and you may bring up to two guests for $39/person.
- American Express Centurion and Platinum Card Members (all versions including the Charles Schwab, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, etc.) – free for the Card Member and any additional authorized users but you must be flying with Delta or Westjet. You may also bring two additional guests for $29/person.
On this trip, my P2 and I got in for free with my Morgan Stanley American Express Platinum Card (and his authorized user Platinum Card). If you don’t know much about the Morgan Stanley American Express Platinum Card; keep reading. In my opinion, the Morgan Stanley version is the best version of the various American Express Platinum Cards as you can it for FREE every year AND it comes with a FREE authorized user card. That’s a savings of $725 a year and it comes with all the perks of the normal Platinum Card including Centurion/Delta/Priority Pass lounge access, Uber/PayPal/airline credits, hotel elite status, and so much more. You can click here to read my introductory post on how to how to get the Morgan Stanley American Express Platinum Card for free each year.
Delta Sky Club Austin Review
As you enter the Austin Sky Club and scan your credentials, make a right-hand turn to enter the lounge. You’ll first enter the dining room and self-serve buffet area. Here you’ll find a hot buffet area with freshly prepared meals but during Covid, the offerings have been reduced to pre-packaged items such as salads, wraps, soup kits (noodles, chicken and vegetables that you can mix with hot broth) and other quick snacks. This isn’t the best by any means but I know Delta is starting to roll out hot food to all their lounges again. Unfortunately, on my April 16th visit, the Austin Sky Club was still serving Covid snacks (even though LAX and ATL have both rolled out hot meals already).
There are several tables and chairs here if you want to sit down next to food but if you want some fresh air and sunshine (or on the day of my visit, clouds and a slight drizzle), you can step out onto the covered, outdoor deck, located next to the dining room. Here, you’ll find a long communal table and plenty of seats, tables and electrical outlets to either work or just relax and enjoy the views.
As you walk back into the lounge, you’ll run into the circular bar area with a selection of complimentary beer, wine and spirits; and a premium bar menu featuring top-shelf alcohol, which can be purchased with either cash, card or miles.
And behind the bar, you’ll find a self-serve beverage station with juice, coffee, tea and sodas.
Depending on your mood, there are plenty of seating areas for you to either be alone or hang out with other travelers. The entire lounge is bright and airy with plenty of natural lighting and views of either the ramp and runway outside or the passenger concourse below.
Located in the very back, you’ll find the quietest area of the lounge with workstations designed for business travelers. There’s a large conference table to the front and individual tables and chairs behind the partition. If you need it, there’s a fax/copier/printer that you can connect to wirelessly. Electrical outlets are located by almost every seat and fast, password-protected WiFi is provided throughout the lounge.
Delta Sky Club Austin Bottom Line:
At 9,000 square feet, the Austin Delta Sky Club isn’t the biggest lounge in the world but the design makes the space very unique and usable. Instead of being one large room, the lounge snakes around to the different areas and creates mini zones for travelers to either work, socialize or relax. I actually prefer this lounge design as it keeps the noise level down in certain areas and each area feels secluded from the next. For a small space at a smaller airport, I think Delta really knocked it out of the park with this lounge concept and it’s a great space to relax before your flight.
What are your thoughts on the Delta Sky Club at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!
