SkyTeam has announced a major overhaul of its lounge access policies, introducing domestic lounge access for Elite Plus members while also tightening time restrictions and guest privileges. These changes, effective April 1, 2025, aim to bring SkyTeam more in line with competitors like Oneworld and Star Alliance, but come with caveats.
Expanded Lounge Access for Domestic Flights
Historically, SkyTeam Elite Plus members only had lounge access when travelling internationally—a stark contrast to policies of Oneworld and Star Alliance. This is set to change, with domestic lounge access becoming available at select lounges operated by Air France, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, China Eastern, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Saudia, and Vietnam Airlines.
Notably, Delta SkyMiles Elite Plus members will not receive this benefit for domestic flights within the United States, aligning with Delta’s increasingly restrictive approach to lounge access. Over the past few years, Delta has significantly tightened entry to its Sky Club lounges, limiting access for certain credit card holders and increasing membership fees. By excluding SkyTeam Elite Plus members from domestic lounge access, Delta reinforces its strategy of prioritizing paid memberships and premium credit card holders over frequent flyers with alliance status.
Here’s a list of participating lounges:
| Airport | Lounge Provider |
|---|---|
| Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) | Air France |
| Paris Orly (ORY) | Air France |
| Bordeaux (BOD) | Air France |
| Boston (BOS) | Air France |
| Geneva (GVA) | Air France |
| Houston (IAH) | Air France |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Air France |
| New York (JFK) | Air France |
| San Francisco (SFO) | Air France |
| Washington D.C. (IAD) | Air France |
| Jakarta (CGK) | Garuda Indonesia |
| Bali (DPS) | Garuda Indonesia |
| Nairobi (NBO) | Kenya Airways |
| Shanghai Pudong (PVG) | China Eastern |
| Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) | China Eastern |
| Chicago (ORD) | Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) |
| Copenhagen (CPH) | Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) |
| Newark (EWR) | Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) |
| Stockholm (ARN) | Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) |
| Jeddah (JED) | Saudia |
| Riyadh (RUH) | Saudia |
| Hanoi (HAN) | Vietnam Airlines |
However, Aerolineas Argentinas Elite Plus members will also be excluded from this benefit.
Three-Hour Lounge Access Restriction Introduced
SkyTeam is imposing a three-hour pre-departure limit on lounge access for Elite Plus, first-class, and business-class passengers. This restriction does not apply to connecting flights, where passengers can continue to access lounges throughout their layovers.
While Delta Sky Clubs already enforce this rule, it remains unclear how widely SkyTeam will implement this policy across its member lounges. Unlike Star Alliance and Oneworld, which generally do not impose strict time limits, this move may be seen as a downgrade for frequent flyers.
Guest Policy Becomes More Restrictive
Previously, Elite Plus members could bring one guest into a lounge, regardless of their flight. As of April 1, guests must now be travelling on the same SkyTeam-operated flight as the member. This aligns SkyTeam with other alliances but could be frustrating for business travellers accustomed to more flexible rules.
How SkyTeam Now Stacks Up Against Oneworld and Star Alliance
While SkyTeam’s new rules improve domestic lounge access, they also introduce complexity and additional restrictions. Unlike Star Alliance, which offers universal domestic lounge access for Gold members, SkyTeam’s approach is selective and inconsistent.
oneworld, on the other hand, allows domestic lounge access for Sapphire and Emerald members, depending on the carrier. However, SkyTeam’s guest policy tightening and three-hour limit introduce further barriers compared to both alliances.
For Delta frequent flyers, these changes reinforce the airline’s trend toward limiting lounge access in favour of paid memberships and premium credit cards. This is in line with Delta’s broader lounge strategy, which has seen significant restrictions on credit card access, elimination of single-visit passes, and increased pricing for annual memberships. By keeping SkyTeam Elite Plus members out of its domestic lounges, Delta continues to prioritize revenue-driven access rather than alliance-wide loyalty benefits.
Final Verdict: Progress, but With Friction
The introduction of domestic lounge access is a significant improvement for SkyTeam Elite Plus members, especially for those flying with Air France, China Eastern, Garuda Indonesia, and Scandinavian Airlines. However, the introduction of a three-hour limit and stricter guesting rules could be seen as steps backwards.
For international travellers, these changes may not be particularly disruptive. However, for those relying on domestic flights across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, these updates make SkyTeam’s lounge access policies more competitive with rival alliances.
With Delta and Aerolineas Argentinas maintaining restrictions, there remains room for SkyTeam to simplify and expand its policy further. Whether these changes will fully match Star Alliance and Oneworld in the future remains to be seen.
