With a HT to reader Marc I can say I am not a happy club “hopper” as Delta Corp Guy has posted this:

Update from DL on Club beverage changes – FT

Delta Sky Clubs are changing the selection of both complimentary and for-purchase premium alcoholic beverages beginning tomorrow. Complimentary well-known alcohol brands will still be provided at the Club just as they have been.

Altering our complimentary offerings will enable us to expand our portfolio of premium for-purchase products and maintain complimentary spirits, beer and wine as we continue to invest in the overall Club experience. We review our Club offerings periodically so that we are able to make changes based on customer feedback, financial considerations and other factors including the variety of options we offer our members.

The new offerings are comparable to house/well brands in other airport lounges.

• Complimentary spirits: Vodka – Gordon’s; Gin – Gordon’s; Rum – Myers’s Platinum; Scotch – Scoresby; Bourbon – Jack Daniel’s; Sweet Vermouth – Martini & Rossi; Extra Dry Vermouth – Martini & Rossi.
• Complimentary beer: Budweiser and Miller Lite
• Complimentary wine: no changes to current wine offerings

Other brands will be available through our for-purchase options available through our Luxury Bar. Our goal is to offer members quality products and services at reasonable prices that are competitive with other airport lounges while continuing to provide good value for membership.

__________________
DLCorpGuy  -  FT

I am all for Delta making as much money as they can from the Skyclubs but in NO WAY is Budweiser and Miller Lite a drinkable beer. I have said it before and will say it again, soon Delta will charge for AIR on the jets (unless it is a stinky CRJ 200 as they smell so bad that it would be criminal to charge for that air)! – René

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There are truly many “kool” things about being a Delta focused blogger. I really wanted to see the “new” VIP room in the LAX Skyclub but this was not a request that could be granted. I did cover the updates to the bar and common area HERE last week.

However, the improvements to the “room” have actually not even begun yet. The new VIP room (area) will be in the spot that is now the “quiet” room near the showers.

The big plus for the VIP’s will not be the size of the space but being away from the packed club that is the LAX Skyclub. Depending on the time of day you arrive, you will find a mostly empty club or one so full you will not be able to find a seat.

For me, for the first time ever during day two of my run, I took a nap in a Skyclub. I set my phone alarm and was OUT! So the upgrade will be nice for some, but a great loss of quiet sleeping space (sorry if I snored a bit btw) – René
 

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This week I took a quick mileage run out to LAX. Rather than my normal redeye back, I stayed overnight at the Four Points by Sheraton and will cover that stay later on.

For just a one day run, I stayed on east coast time so both went to bed early and got up early west coast time to make my 5:45am flight. I was so early that I got to the Skyclub before opening time (a first for me).

Last run through they had started a major remodel of the club. That is now done. The entry feels a bit bigger

The full service bar is now done and has replaced the self serve area.The food area seems smaller than it was before, crammed over to one side of the bar but the standard options are there.

The area across from the bar is a bit more open and seems much more organized.

Same goes for the main area. The old seats were just totally shot and some of the most uncomfortable chairs in any club.

I know many readers are not fans of the full service changes, but to me as long as I can get the standards for free I am fine with the upgrades if it makes Delta some cash. I would like, as is offered at most KLM Crown lounges, more food options than what is presented in the Skyclubs.

The LAX club also does have 2 showers, but you had better get on the list fast if you want to use them and have a long layover. I did not get any photos of the PVT VIP room this round (I did not ask as I did not have much time) but will try to update the post later on. – René
 

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Thanks to reader “KS” who sent me the above clipping from the “LA Times”, it would seem the LAX Skyclub will not only be upgraded to have top shelf drinks for those who want to pay up for those, but the “Stars” will have their own Skyclub inside the Skyclub – their own VIP room!

I plan to reach out to my Delta CORP contacts as I will, on just a few occasions over this year, be in the LAX Skyclub so I hope to get some pictures to share of the new place for celebrities  (or maybe I can just get my own VIP pass while I am at it ) – René
 

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Skyclub membership often runs deals where you can get bonus Skymiles, bonus MQM’s or 10-20% off. The only good deal I have found that is live and working right now is the “SJN10” Promotion Code for 10% off and you still have to pay the “fee”.

So here is a question for Delta Points readers, and feel free to comment below, are there any better codes to help a reader out who would like to save some cash? Thanks in advance – René

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Being a bit of a Skyclub junkie, lounge lizard or club hopper, a chance to win a full year membership is sweet (yeah I know I will get it free soon when I hit Diamond Medallion, but still)!

Thanks to 3 upcoming mileage runs from MKE this year, I will get to know this airport quite well. I think it is very nice of them to upgrade just before I get there (including the skyclub).

Anyway, I will be sure to let you know and update this post when you can go check their Facebook page for a shot at the giveaway. I will enter and I hope I can re-gift if I win to a reader and I will later today give away a one day Skyclub pass on Twitter. For now, why not  “LIKE”  Delta Points on Facebook since you are there already checking this deal out! – René

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Last weekend I flew a few miles and along the way popped into a few lounges (and got barred from one too)! Just what is the big deal about airport lounges? Let’s take a look. I will start with a quote from a flyer who sat next to me for a while in the MSP lounge. He turned to me and said:

“quite a difference compared to sitting out in the concourse wouldn’t you say”?

I agreed and smiled and nodded. Unlike the hard, cramped seats in the gate area, I was sitting in a nice leather reclining chair.

Well that is nice but it is just a chair. There are now power ports all over the gate areas. Wifi for free (for at least a little while) and is coming to more and more airports. At the gate there are agents if I need help. So why even bother with lounge access? Let me show you why and the reasons it is worth the effort:

• Free Wifi with decent speed. Almost all lounges offer free wifi and fast enough to use Skype if needed. Try that with a free hot spot.

• Refreshments. Depending on the lounge, there are nice snacks, food, drinks both alcoholic and non. Some you can almost have a meal (most Delta ones are just munchies but still, it’s free).

• Showers. Many lounges have showers. I don’t know about you, but after flying a long time, especially overnight flights, a refreshing shower makes me a new man! Plus, the bathrooms in the lounge are much nicer than out in the concourse.

• Comforts. The seating, while maybe a minor point to some, is much more comfortable and offers more personal space than in the gate area. The atmosphere is also generally much more quiet than in the gate area where blaring announcements typically make trying to have a conversation nearly impossible.
• When things go wrong, gate agents are swamped with all the passengers on the flight. In the lounge, you have just about instant access to Delta agents rather than having to wait in long lines.

• Power ports for everyone. Not just a few, they are everywhere. I live with a ton of toys and need them at full power before I fly.

• Many have access to PC’s and printers if you need to print something out like hotel or car info or maps etc. I know almost no one sends a fax anymore but if you need it some can do that too.

So now you know my reasons why. But why did I say I got schooled by a reader? I did not think of the INK cards 2 free lounge passes when visiting Istanbul airport (guess I need to go back again right )! I love thinking outside the box. So if you want all of the above, how do you get it free? Unlimited access takes a card with a yearly fee. But, a great deal of cards give you a few passes each year. Let’s take a look the ones that we, as Delta flyers, can benefit most from:

1) INK Bold and the INK Plus cards from Chase that both have great bonus points offers when you get the card. Both of these give you 2 free visits via the LOUNGE CLUB™. There are very few domestic lounges you can use but if you travel internationally, this could be a nice perk for free! If you already have the cards, you can sign up HERE with the code CHASEINK. Keep in mind if you go more than your 2 free visits/year, it will cost you and be billed to your INK cards.

2) The United card. This card, each year you keep it, gives you two free passes to the United Club. You don’t have to be flying on United and you can give them to anyone you want to. I visited one when we were in DEN HERE since there was no Skyclub.

3) The US Air card  (not my link btw so print everything)! You get just one pass but they are digital. Again, you don’t have to be flying on US Air to get into the US Airways Club. You get one each year you keep the card. With the merger, at some point, you should be able to use it with an AA lounge I would think – we will see – maybe not. I visited  a US Air Club HERE in PIT on a mileage run last year.

These are the main FREE pass ones with no first year fee for the cards to get access. Now the cards that do have hefty fees. Keep in mind these are for you if you fly often and want unlimited access over just now and then (or like me, when I find myself in an airport without a Skyclub or Skyteam lounge).

• Delta AMEX Reserve card. The card gets you, your family, or up to 2 guests can join you and get complimentary access, when flying on a Delta ticket, to the Sky Clubs.

• Platinum Membership Rewards AMEX. Like the Delta card, you, your family, or up to 2 guests can join you and get complimentary access to Delta lounges as well as AA and US Air. You get priority pass select (PPS) card for additional access but it will cost you to visit with PPS (for some lounges or you +1 to enter).

Notice that some of these are domestic only others are international. With Delta, if you are GOLD Medallion or higher you can get (most times) into Skyteam and partner lounges outside the USA when traveling. The last way to try to get in, is to try to get a FT’er to guest you in. You can both offer and ask to get in at this thread HERE.

So there you are and the most common travel situations. I have not touched much on “aspirational” lounges, like the 1st class lounge in FRA, but do try to visit there once in your life (it is very nice). There is also a Citi & United high end card but for us Delta flyers, the above will be a better fit for us IMO. Why not at least try the free options from the cards above and spend some time in the lounges and see if you do not agree that it’s a nice way to make your travel experience so much better and fun! Try to book 2-3 hours between flights so you have enough time. Any other ideas I have forgotten about? Continue to “school” your DeltaPoints blogger – René

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I have a bit of a long trip report on the way tomorrow from my ski trip to Denver on Delta using my AMEX free companion cert but first a bit that makes all the “hoops” Delta is going to make us jump through in 2014 still worthwhile.

Traffic in Denver is crazy. I was hoping it would not be as bad on a Saturday morning for our return flight home and it was much improved over any weekday levels. I dropped off my Advantage rent-a-car (more on that to come) and there was a shuttle just ready to depart for the airport. We get to check-in and the line is 20-30 people deep but the SKY line is empty. We got the standard looks and even more looks when after about 1 min the rep called us over with a wave and an explanation for those in the line, ” SKY PRIORITY” it was definitely one of those DYKWITIA moments!

Now I have the phone app for check-in but I DO NOT use it. Why? At this point us Android users can not get a digital HOOU coupon this way (have one on us). So I printed them both to PDF and sent to my phone and used the hotel printer to print my boarding pass.

On to security. If you do not have the AMEX Platinum MR cards that pays you back for your Global Entry, please, do yourself a favor and spend the $100 for 5 years and get it. The lines at security were forever long. NO ONE was in the TSA Pre line. We almost RAN through and were on our way to gate side. Today was just about the fastest I have ever made it from drop off to the gates, without question the fastest from rental car off-airport return to gate.

The one thing I did not check ahead was to see where the Skyclub was in Denver airport. As you are saying to yourself in your head now, duh, Rene, there is no Skyclub in DEN. Yup. But, I did have two United club passes from my last Chase United card. So back to B concourse and a short walk to the East side club.

Like my report yesterday from my mileage run, I don’t spend much time in non-Skyteam lounges so it is always fun to compare. The club was nice. Wifi was fast and good and a good amount of power ports.

The standard stuff is free included beer & wine, but they sell premium drinks too. I opted for juices and a pastry and Lisa had a latte. (She mentioned that Delta’s coffee machines are much simpler to operate and serve a neater cup than United’s version).

The club was a bit more up-to-date that the 80′s decor of the PIT US AIR Club but not very clean and the furniture, oh my, looked like a HERD of cats had attacked them as scratching posts.

The only snag in this perfect start to the trip home was that there was an equipment change on the DEN-ATL flight. We were in on a 757 with the front row only 2 seats. Perfect for my Lisa & Me. The new 757 was all 3 & 3 and the front row was filled with other flyers than me. We ended up in row two of EC. However, this old 757 still runs it’s inflight entertainment on VHS tapes and watching what was on was painful so I gave up (maybe I can get a few skymiles and maintenance can find an old VHS head cleaning tape)!

The crew however were fantastic. The captain “floated” around pre-flight and chatted with those in 1st. The crew worked this short 2ish hr flight hard and never stopped smiling and the head purser even worked the coach cabin during the 2nd half and was just tops! I will be writing to Delta to commend this crew.

To end the weekend how about another iGo Noise Canceling Headset giveaway. For a chance to win, look down below the post to where it says “comments” and comment on the blog if you:  “have TSA Pre” or “if you plan to” or “if you are not going to get it”. Then via Random.org late tonight I will pick the winner. – Rene

EDIT: We have our winner! – Txs

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When you get used to popping into a Skyclub along your travels, ending up in an airport without one is not much fun. There are ways around this, like the AMEX Platinum Membership Rewards card that with Priority Pass will get you in no matter what airline you are flying.

On my last mileage run I found myself in Pittsburgh one day with a long layover. What to do? Thankfully my US Air card that I got from my last churn came with a free one day pass. The US Air club is upstairs in the center of the airport gate side. Their program has a nice tech feature attached to it. I walked in and presented my pass. The rep pulled it up in the computer and found I had an older pass in the system that was about to expire, and expire that very day! No paper pass was needed, it was all electronic and I was granted access.

The lounge was, compared to most Skyclubs, just about empty. As you come in you will pass a “goodie” table that has no Biscoffs, but they did have Milano’s – NUMMY! I am sure if you had these as your only option for a long time they would get old but I was very pleased.

I also had some chips I wish I had not. While they were still not expired, they were about as stale as could be. Pass.

I am not sure about the “office cubical” design, but had it been packed with flyers I guess it would create a bit more of a private feel over the open plan Skyclub designs.

I found a spot by the windows to look at the planes coming and going and went for a glass of red wine from the bar that was complimentary. It was not self serve and the glass was so small that two sips and you were done. Wifi was fine, but there were only a few of us so hard to tell if it really pushed the performance. Overall an OK visit and much more quiet than being out in the main concourse area.

But I have to say if you ever find yourself with some extra time to kill in PIT airport, and you don’t have a pass, Bar Symon or the many other eateries in the airport are not a bad 2nd choice! – Rene

PS – just as a quick update on the Mileage Run tab. It is a work in progress. I am trying to get comments turned on for the tab to speed up readers input. Please bear with me as I work on this feature of the blog. Txs!

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This has been a crazy and fun week in the frequent flyer world. A calm and quiet Sunday afternoon was interrupted shattered by who knows how many booking 1st class United trips to Hong Kong! United started with just DUMPING a comment on both Flyer Talk and Mile Point. I don’t know when these two “mega blogs” became the place for the planet to get “official” airline news! The “major media” has started to find out this story as you can see HERE and HERE and HERE. But if you had a reservation pending, and you check now you will see it is GONE unless you start to fly by tomorrow or Saturday! Will it end here? Who knows what is next but I think this has been over for days as you can see by the poll I have up for a while on the right. It was fun to dream of where to stay!

Next, the reaction to my “current” churn has been fun. To churn or not is a very personal choice. As I blogged about, we all need to look at our personal goals. And then, in combination with what cards and how many we went for last, all that goes into influencing the choice of cards for us to go for next.

I have bragged about my 100% approval rate for a very long time now. But I am not perfect by a long shot! A while back I did attempt to get a new AA BIZ card but was shot down by CitiBank even with calls and letters to reconsideration departments. This was not due to my credit or anything else, but because I “held” the card already and it had only been just 13 months since I got it last time. I will not make that mistake again and will keep better track as I am a “greedy little churner“! Being meticulous plus knowing the rules and keeping good records can help you and here is where having an OCD wife is just the BEST!

Then on to my insanity opportunity to earn 35,000 Delta MQM’s for living on Delta Jets for 24/7. Is this a little crazy? Maybe. I do hope for upgrades on my 28 legs of the adventure and thanks to my Delta Reserve card I will get free breakfasts & showers in the Delta SkyClubs . What cooks my brain is if the Hong Kong trip happens to come back for some reason, I will fly Wednesday to Hong Kong, arriving late Thursday night. Then spend 3 days in Hong Kong & fly home late Sunday/Monday arriving around noon EST. Then, the next day, drive to PIT to start an LAX mileage run on Delta. I will be recovering from flying United to Hong Kong, by flying Delta to California? Things that make you go hummm….. I also freely admit I intend to will “bend” my stand on ETV’s on just that one of my three mileage runs, not because I have changed my position, but because I would treasure a day to sleep in a hotel over flying for a day by then!

Maybe there is a job opportunity here and something missing in airports. Next to the Skyclub & OraOxygen Spa, they could open a walk in Psychiatric clinic for those like me for treatment. (I just hope I can earn points, 2x or 3x for each session with bonus points for first time visitors and pay with my Delta AMEX card ) – Rene

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