On a recent business trip to Louisiana I finally had the chance to stop and visit the Delta Sky Club at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). New Orleans is known for its food and hospitality so I was looking forward to the visit!
Delta Sky Club New Orleans Location
The Delta Sky Club in New Orleans is located in the main concourse where it meets Concourse C. After clearing security, take a left and follow the signs towards the C Gates. A Delta customer service counter is located at the end of the main concourse with the C Gates off to the right and the Sky Club entrance to the left. The entrance is easily identifiable with signage on the exterior of the club.
Delta Sky Club New Orleans Hours of Operation
The Delta Sky Club at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is open between 4:30a and 7:30p daily.
Delta Sky Club New Orleans 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. The lounge has two check-in desks, one at the concourse level which was in use during my visit, and a second upstairs. Though that upstairs one was used more as a customer service desk.
Delta Sky Club New Orleans Layout
The Delta Sky Club in New Orleans is definitely on the small side. It measures in at less than 5,000 square feet and is shaped like a long, narrow, rectangle. Because of this, the space can feel tight when trying to move around.
You enter the lounge in the middle and can either go left towards the primary seating area or right towards the bar, buffet, and some communal tables. The primary seating portion of the lounge consists of two rows of lounge chairs set back to back with some tables in between.
Towards the rear on this side, you’ll find a row of chairs against the wall. There were only a couple of tables here and, while other areas of the lounge were busy, these were almost always unoccupied.
Workstations are located along the wall which overlook the concourse below. Thanks to the glass walls of the concourse, there is a view of the airfield from the lounge.
The view looking back towards the lounge entrance and the other section of the Sky Club gives you a good idea of just how narrow this lounge is. There are also a couple of TVs and a newsstand that passengers can choose from.
On the other side of the lounge, the seating feels less sterile and contains a mix of communal tables, cafe tables, counter seating, and lounge chairs.
There’s another TV in this portion of the lounge for passengers to utilize.
Finally, at the rear of the lounge is a small, but well stocked, bar. Through all of my travels around the globe, I can’t think of a lounge that had a smaller bar area. Only three barstools in a city like New Orleans just seems wrong.
The restrooms, while small, are located inside of the lounge and are well appointed. On some occasions, with smaller lounges, the restrooms are located outside of the lounge. Thankfully here, that wasn’t the case.
Delta Sky Club New Orleans Food and Beverage
The buffet in this lounge is located on the right side along the interior wall between the check-in area and the bar. While the lounge wasn’t getting great marks in the size department, the food more than made up for it.
Delta, like many other airlines, likes to serve food in lounges that are part of the local cuisine. Since I was born and raised in Louisiana before moving to Texas, these offerings were right up my alley. First up, the salad bar, in addition to the standard salad offerings, had smoked pimento cheese, onion and garlic dip, and turkey wraps, among other items.
Two hot dishes and two soups were offered. Summer pepper chicken and parmesan and garlic mashed potatoes were the hot dishes while a chicken soup and red beans and rice were also available. Also, since this is Louisiana, a large range of hot sauces and seasonings were available.
On the beverage front, a water tap offered sparkling, still, and hot water. House made lemonade, unsweet tea, and infused water were also available alongside a Coca-Cola machine.
Two coffee makers were available that could make a variety of beverages along with a selection of teas, sweeteners, and sugars.
As I mentioned above, the bar in this lounge is one of the smallest that I’ve ever seen. Because of this, it was quite busy but the staff did a great job of serving everyone quickly from the small space.
Atmosphere
This lounge is definitely on the small side and, when it gets crowded, things can be very tight. At the height of my delay, and ultimate cancellation, the place was crammed full due to multiple delayed flights. However, the large windows that overlook the concourse, and ultimately do a great job of letting light in (If it isn’t raining).
Also, like many Delta Sky Clubs, the New Orleans lounge is decorated to represent the surrounding area. With the limited wall space, there wasn’t a ton of are but, what was there fit the space well.
With New Orleans being primarily an origin and destination location for Delta, I appreciate the fact that they have a lounge at all. It beats hanging out in the terminal though, given all of the local restaurants at the airport, it would be easy to find some good food outside of the club.
Summary
The Delta Sky Club in New Orleans is one of the smallest lounges in the Delta system. While small, the staff are fantastic and the food and beverages are good. The biggest drawback of the lounge is the layout as it feels quite tight when full. However, I’m happy to see a Delta lounge in a city that I visit often.