Delta SkyMiles Program Implements Major Changes to Lounge Access and Elite Status

Delta Air Lines is changing its requirements for earning elite frequent flyer status, basing it solely on customer spending rather than a combination of spending and flights. This change follows a similar move by American Airlines earlier this year. Delta is also making it harder for many American Express cardholders to access its airport lounges, limiting visits for Platinum and Platinum Business cardholders and requiring a minimum spend of $75,000 on the card to maintain unlimited access. These changes come as airlines grapple with overcrowding in lounges and seek to prioritize their most premium customers.