In April 2025, the SkyTeam alliance made changes to its lounge access policy, and I’d say the updates were a mixed bag. With this, we saw new time limits and guesting restrictions on lounge access, though we also saw the alliance add lounge access on select domestic itineraries.
Regarding that last point, there’s some positive news, as the alliance has just expanded its domestic lounge access perks.
SkyTeam expands domestic lounge access to 70+ lounges
SkyTeam Elite Plus is the top tier alliance-wide status in SkyTeam. Historically, SkyTeam Elite Plus members have only received lounge access when traveling on international itineraries. That was in contrast to the policies of oneworld and Star Alliance, which allow lounge access on all itineraries, with just some restrictions for those participating in frequent flyer programs in the United States (where you typically only get lounge access when traveling internationally).
Fortunately in April 2025, SkyTeam started adding SkyTeam Elite Plus lounge access on domestic itineraries, though only for select lounges at select airports. Initially, lounge access was only offered at a couple of dozen lounges. However, that has now been expanded considerably.
SkyTeam Elite Plus members now receive access to over 70 lounges when traveling domestically. There are just two exceptions to this rule:
- SkyTeam Elite Plus members with the Aerolineas Argentinas Aerolineas Plus program don’t receive lounge access on any domestic itineraries worldwide
- SkyTeam Elite Plus members with the Delta SkyMiles program don’t receive access on any domestic itineraries within the United States
You can find the full list of participating SkyTeam lounges below, which provide lounge access on domestic itineraries. As you can see, this includes select lounges of Aeromexico, Air France, China Eastern, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, SAS, Saudia, Vietnam Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines.
This is a big step in the right direction for SkyTeam
I’m happy to see SkyTeam improving its domestic lounge access situation for elite members. This is certainly better than it was before, and I’m happy to see the number of lounges accessible on domestic itineraries expanded.
Now, admittedly SkyTeam is still a long ways from being competitive with oneworld and Star Alliance when it comes to domestic lounge access. For travel within the United States, SkyTeam Elite Plus members with foreign programs don’t get access to any Delta lounges, which is of course a pretty significant gap in coverage.
For those who are loyal to US frequent flyer programs, this is largely a moot point, since even oneworld and Star Alliance frequent flyers don’t get access to lounges on wholly domestic itineraries, unless they have status with a foreign program.
As someone with Air France-KLM Flying Blue Platinum status, I welcome SkyTeam lounge access on more domestic itineraries. The value is still fairly limited in the United States, since so many of these lounges also belong to Priority Pass, or aren’t necessarily easily accessible from Delta terminals.
Bottom line
The SkyTeam alliance has increased the number of lounges that SkyTeam Elite Plus members get access to when traveling domestically. Specifically, they now receive access to 70+ lounges, which is an exciting development. Unfortunately from a US-centric perspective, Delta SkyMiles elites don’t receive these lounge access perks within the United States.
What do you make of the these SkyTeam lounge access updates?