On a recent trip through Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) I had the chance to visit the newest Delta Sky Club in the system. The lounge opened less than three weeks before my visit so I was excited to see it in person.
Delta Sky Club Atlanta Concourse D Location
The new Delta Sky Club in Concourse D is located near Gate D16 at the center of the concourse. If you exit the Plane Train and follow the signs towards Gates D1-D17, you’ll see the lounge entrance off to your right down a short hallway. During my visit, the area around the lounge was still under construction. Thankfully, the Sky Club branding was easy to spot.
Delta Sky Club Atlanta Concourse D Hours of Operation
The Concourse D Sky Club is open daily from 6:00a to 10:00p.
Delta Sky Club Atlanta Concourse D Entry Requirements
The entry requirements for Delta Sky Clubs are some of the most complex ones out there. The easiest way to enter the lounge is by using a qualifying American Express credit card (including the AmEx Platinum and Delta Reserve cards) or by having a Sky Club membership and a same day Delta boarding pass.
Starting this year, Delta and American Express cardholders who don’t hit $75,000 in spend during a calendar year will be limited on the number of entries per year in an effort to reduce crowding. You can find the full list of entry requirements here.
I accessed the lounge via my AmEx Platinum card which is linked to my SkyMiles account. There were lounge attendants in the lobby to help if needed but, I just scanned my boarding pass on one of the kiosks and was welcomed in.
Delta Sky Club Atlanta Concourse D Layout
While the entrance is located on the concourse level, the main lounge area is located two levels up. After passing the check-in area you turn to the right into a large atrium. A pair of elevators and a staircase lead up into the main portion of the lounge.
Since I was just traveling with a small carry on, I decided to take the stairs. At the top, as you enter the lounge, is a customer service desk along with a couple of seats.
Turning to the right, you’ll find the main lounge area. The lounge is laid out in a large rectangle shape with a massive bar at the center. Seating surrounds the outside of the lounge with the buffet at the far end.
First, you come across a couple of small seating areas and a communal dining table near the entrance of the lounge.
The large bar area is the centerpiece of the new lounge and has cafe style tables with individual chairs and communal booths surrounding it. The bar itself has plenty of barstools as well as walk up areas for guests.
Large glass windows run the length of the lounge which offer guests great views of the ramp. Seating along the wall alternates between low chairs with tables in-between and bar style seating that faces the ramp. As one would expect in a brand new lounge, there are plenty of charging ports throughout the space.
The ramp views from the lounge are fantastic, especially Delta’s regional and Boeing 717 operations out of Concourse D.
On the far side of the lounge you’ll find a group of chairs with small cocktail tables located next to the buffet.
On the backside of the lounge you’ll find a similar seating setup to the front with a variety of seats along the wall. There are also some private pods available in this space.
On the backside of the bar you’ll find a variety of seats along with a beverage station. I found the rear portion of the lounge to be much calmer than the front with similar tarmac views.
Finally, completing the loop, you’ll find a media wall along with a mix of high top-counter seats and lounge chairs positioned in front of a large media wall.
Past the media wall there is a small space with a mixture of booths, high top counter seating, and multiple, private, call boxes.
Overall, the furnishings in the lounge are fantastic and there are tons of power outlets for guests looking to charge up before a flight. Personally, my favorite seats are the high-top bar seats along the window as they provide a fantastic view of the ramp.
Delta Sky Club Atlanta Concourse D Food and Beverage
The focal point of this lounge is the massive bar located in the center of the lounge. Delta offers a wide variety of complimentary beverages for Sky Club guests with top shelf options available for purchase.
On the backside of the bar you’ll find a large beverage station with multiple coffee machines, tea, water, lemonade, and a soda fountain.
There may have been some confusion when setting up the drinks as the placards didn’t match the drinks on offer.
The buffet is located on the far end of the lounge and has a good selection of salads, main dishes, and desserts. Everything on the salad bar was fresh and, like the rest of the buffet, was being refreshed constantly.
Two different sandwiches were on offer during my visit along with a selection of veggies, chips, and dips.
Four hot dishes were available; red curried tofu, harissa chicken, cous cous pilaf, and baby carrots.
The dessert portion of the buffet was well stocked with a variety of different options.
Finally, two different soups were available, a chicken noodle and a red lentil vegetable.
Atmosphere
From the second I entered the lounge it was clear that the employees were extremely proud of the new space. When I reached the floor of the lounge I encountered two Sky Club employees who were eager to tell me about the new space. I made a joke about what a dump the place was and they jokingly told me to GTFO!
The bartenders, attendants, and lounge staff could not have been more friendly and you could tell that they were genuinely proud of the lounge.
I had a two hour layover in the lounge and ended up meeting my parents here during their layover. They were also blown away by the new space and I encourage anyone flying through Atlanta to stop in for a visit!
Summary
Delta has just opened its gorgeous new Sky Club in Concourse D at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). The new lounge is bright, open, and has a ton of space for passengers. This is the most recent lounge to be renovated at ATL and, if this is any indication, I can’t wait to see the other lounges once complete.