We Have A 4 Hour Delta Layover At LAX. Should I Try To Get Access To The Delta SkyClub

by joeheg

When I initially booked our flight to Hawaii with Delta, we had less than a 2-hour layover at LAX. We’d have a late morning departure from MCO and enough time to get to our connecting flight.

I booked our flights several months in advance, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when Delta sent me an email alerting me to a change in our flight times.

We now have four hours in between flights to spend at LAX. Looking at the airport map, there isn’t much in Terminal 2 besides a few places to eat. That leaves the Delta SkyClub as the only option.

Delta stopped selling SkyClub day passes to anyone a while ago. There are several ways to gain access to the club and most of them involve having the right credit cards. I don’t have any card that provides access, but I could rectify that before our trip.

Is it worth the effort to get a credit card so that we’d have access to the T2 SkyClub at LAX? I’d have to pay another annual fee and still pay to enter the club. The lowest level card that provides access is the Platinum Delta AMEX and with that, we’d also have to pay $39 each to enter the club. If I want a card with access included, I’d have to get an AMEX Platinum or Delta Reserve card that only gives the cardholder access. I’d still be paying $39 for one guest.

Part of me thinks I’m crazy for even considering doing this but the other part says that if I can do it, why not?

Any thoughts from those who fly Delta through LAX enough to know if the SkyClub there is worth the effort?

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31 comments

ptahcha January 19, 2022 - 3:30 pm

Why not take the Parking Spot shuttle, get an In-N-Out burger and plane watch, and ride the shuttle back to catch your flight.

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H. Arnold January 21, 2022 - 4:49 pm

It’s not about the drinks or the food..it’s about getting a break from the airport madness and catching your breath…and remember you have return flights with connections..

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joeheg January 21, 2022 - 6:33 pm

Actually not since we’re flying home direct from HNL.

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Gene January 19, 2022 - 4:22 pm

Sharon can just sneak in. No one will see her over the desk.

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joeheg January 19, 2022 - 8:35 pm

I asked her if it was OK to approve this post and she said it was fine.

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SharonKurheg January 19, 2022 - 10:18 pm

Actually, I thought it was damn hysterical 😉

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Judith Sanchez January 21, 2022 - 8:41 am

For 4 hours it’s not worth it. The clubs aren’t what they used to be. With the exception of free drinks, all of the food is highly processed snack food and wrapped for self service.

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Brian January 21, 2022 - 9:12 am

This is not true anymore. During 2020 and most of 2021 that was the case. But most Sky Clubs have plenty of prepared hot food options.

If you think you might travel more and use Sky Clubs, it is definitely worth it. It’s a great place to get free food and drinks in a more relaxing environment.

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Cody January 21, 2022 - 9:31 am

Your absolutely correct. It is not worth the packaged food. It isn’t worth the cost of your “Super, dooper, extra platinum credit cards too. You do pay for all of the silly “extras” that you expect. Even the 3 cent tooth brush!

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Kurt January 19, 2022 - 4:27 pm

I’ve only been to one Delta club and that was in MIA. It was packed! We were lucky to find seats. We got access by class of service. If I’d paid $78 I would have been really disappointed. The food was good but not better than what we could have bought in the terminal for $39 pp.

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Frank January 19, 2022 - 5:14 pm

The terminal 2 club is not worth $39, and that’s the good SkyClub at LAX. I usually wind up in terminal 3, which is so depressing they closed the whole terminal. I only hope they do not reopen it.

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John January 19, 2022 - 5:46 pm

Yes. There are actually 2 Sky Clubs now. One is smaller with a very cool lounge vibe with chill music and better food offering, though I suspect you probably lean towards the more traditional one? Either way, if you go up the stairs head left to the new, smaller lounge which is very capacity controlled, or right to the more standard one. 4 hours is a lot in your T2 with no lounge access. Honestly, if it were me, I’d leave the airport and grab a quick meal somewhere in Manhattan Beach. But only if you have pre-check.

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John G January 20, 2022 - 11:02 am

This is exactly the right thing to do!! Go enjoy The Strand House.

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Jimmy Gottfredson January 19, 2022 - 6:55 pm

Be aware, Terminal 2 is handling most of Delta’s flights these days; and both Skyclub lounges can be a mad house depending on the travel day. Fortunately air side there is a land connection to Terminal 1 (recently opened) the southwest terminal. Several good restaurants and quiet areas in that terminal – which works as a nice back up.

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BoardingAreaFlukie January 19, 2022 - 7:19 pm

As a frequent visitor to the Sky Clubs (there are two of them now), I say going though a big effort just for one visit isn’t worth it. Sometimes it’s okay but when it’s packed (it frequently is), it’s miserable. For four hours, I would leave the airport, plane spot at In-N-Out Burger, take an Uber to Abbot Kinney in Venice to have a nice meal or whatever suits your fancy for a few hours.

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Tom January 19, 2022 - 8:25 pm

Yeah, i would get the amex plat 125k resy offer for both you and Sharon and save yourself the $39.

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Eliza January 19, 2022 - 9:50 pm

I think one of the AmEx Plat flavors (Morgan Stanley?) allows a fee free AU Plat card. Might be worth looking into since it could get you both in for one (admittedly quite high) annual fee.

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Dennis Mallory January 19, 2022 - 9:51 pm

All that just to spend one day in an airport lounge? REALLY???

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Joey January 19, 2022 - 10:28 pm

I thought the 2 skyclubs were just ok. Both were crowded when I was in LAX back in October. Note the smaller skyclub used to be the Virgin Atlantic clubhouse at LAX (hence the cooler more hip vibe).

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Rowdy Yates January 20, 2022 - 12:39 am

Walk over to Terminal 1. It is behind security now. As someone mentioned above additional food choices and Southwest is not very busy these days. Head over to Gate 9 holding room, nice quiet and even has bathroom. Just you and TSA on break.

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Aga January 20, 2022 - 12:34 pm

Yes. You’ll spend much more than $39 at LAX during 4 hours. I have a delta reserve card so i get in for free ,but if i didn’t I’d still pay the $39. Drinks and food.

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Sylvia January 20, 2022 - 8:59 pm

If the food and drinks are no better than they were a few years ago when I went, I say forget it for $39 a pop. I agree with eating somewhere else in the airport for that amount of money per person mil. And I don’t mean fast food either!

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David A Tomala January 21, 2022 - 1:31 am

I have to agree. Lax sky clubs are super packed all the time and quite frumpy compared to SLC, MSP or ATL. $99 annual fee plus $39 entry fee is $35 per hour for an old lounge seat that may or may not be available. Buyers remorse risk is too high. I think using the time to go off airport is a much better option.

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Ryan January 21, 2022 - 8:23 am

Font. That skyclub sucks, even more so during covid

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Lin January 21, 2022 - 9:34 am

You can go to T1 as the walkway is open and might find more restaurant there. Delta sky club T2 are pretty crowded and food are not the best compared to other sky club.

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Rebecca Elizabeth Dixon January 21, 2022 - 12:38 pm

I think the value of sky club access not addressed so far in the comments is actually the access to the agents. We have flown across country to Hawaii with layovers in LA twice and a trip to Australia via LAX. We have had flight challenges on 2 of 3 trips. Having access to the agents while enjoying a cocktail is way less offensive than being in line with 200 upset fellow passengers. I like sky club access for the drinks, quieter (NOT quiet) work space and most of all the great agents.

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Brent January 27, 2022 - 8:57 am

Couldn’t be more true. Those agents have saved us a few times and even offered drink vouchers

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JohnB January 21, 2022 - 2:26 pm

Find a nice restaurant, park yourselves for at least 2 hours. Instead of getting another CC, just use those funds at the restaurant.

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Kathleen Mudd January 23, 2022 - 1:03 pm

There is also a sky club in Honolulu you can use on your return flight

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swiminkickscc January 27, 2022 - 5:18 pm

If you get the plat amex you get access to priority pass. Also if you are flying with your companion you trust request an additional card. (There is an fee for the card but its one time)Then you both can access the skyclub showing your card and sign up for the priority pass which is included in your fee

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Neil Robertson March 18, 2022 - 10:51 am

Simply the worst airport . Crowded, loud, minimal seating, minimal food and drink spots.

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