Background
After completing my fun Virgin Voyage aboard the Scarlet Lady which I will be reviewing shortly, it was time to head home to New York. I booked a flight on Delta from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to New York (LGA) as it was the most economical. One perk of flying with Delta would be that I could visit the Sky Club that opened in Fort Lauderdale in June of 2021.
Access & Location
The Delta Sky Club Fort Lauderdale is located in Terminal 2 inside the Main Atrium after passing TSA. At Fort Lauderdale, only Terminals 3 & 4 are connected post-security, with 1 & 2 being separate. That being said, at Terminal 2 where Delta flies out of, the Sky Club is currently your only airport lounge option. Terminal 3 features an Escape Lounge by AMEX, which I had visited previously and had a good visit when flying JetBlue.
As of my January 2024 visit, the hours are Sun, Tue, Wed, Thurs, Sat: 4:15 am to 8:15 pm and Mon, Fri: 4:30 am to 9:30 pm.
You can check this full list regarding Sky Club access rules if you’d like but some highlights include:
- AMEX Platinum or Centurion- if flying on Delta & not in Basic Economy
- Flying on Delta One
- Sky Club Members- not in Basic Economy
You will be able to access Delta Sky Clubs anytime within 3 hours of their scheduled departure time (or connecting customers can access at the connecting airport at any time before departure).
Beginning February 1st, 2025, those with access from AMEX Platinum will receive 10 visits a year (15 for the Delta Reserve Card) or need to spend $75k on the card in 2024 to receive unlimited access.
The Lounge & Seating
I arrived at the lounge around noon on a Sunday, was quickly checked in, and then took the stairs to the second floor where the lounge is located. Upon arriving on the second floor, there is a large hall of seating with various sofa styles and comfortable chair seating overlooking the terminal below.
The Sky Club is 8,000 square feet which is a good size for a non-hub like Fort Lauderdale but it is significantly smaller than New York (LGA) which is 30,000 square feet. This makes sense as Fort Lauderdale isn’t a Delta hub, but I did feel a bit cramped in this lounge. The walkways are narrower, and the seats are closer to one another. Upon first impression, I did like the high vaulted ceilings, which helped make the area more spacious. The lounge was most crowded at noon, then slowly tapered down as the afternoon continued.
To the right is the buffet, and in front of that is the bar. Near the buffet is additional seating that offers more dining tables and seats which is designed more for those who are having a meal.
Between the buffet & bar, there is some seating where you can see outside onto the runway and plane spot.
In the back of the lounge are the restrooms, which are new and have an awesome “wave-to-open” door feature.
The WiFi worked well for most of my visit but disconnected at one point for 10 minutes or so. Also, some of the seating had charging blocks that weren’t working. I wasn’t the only guest hopping around seats trying to find a working power outlet, so I think they should check up on the maintenance of their equipment.
Food Selection
During my lunchtime visit, the hot dishes consisted of braised beef, potatoes & a vegetable medley of Brussels sprouts. There were also salads, some desserts, cold cuts/sandwiches plus Miss Vickie’s potato chips. Two hot soups were available: Thai Chicken and Creamy Cheese. I tried the Thai Chicken and enjoyed it. The food selection was pretty decent for a domestic lounge, but lower in quality than the flagship Sky Clubs in New York and Los Angeles.
Towards the corner of the buffet, there is a beverage station with coffee and soda machines.
I ran into a bit of a snag with the hot water being very lukewarm to make tea. I think they should have also activated the coffee makers to make hot water which they ended up doing as they couldn’t fix the hot water dispenser.
The Verdict
Overall with a few minor snags, I had a good visit to the Delta Sky Club Fort Lauderdale. I did like the new and modern decor, but the lounge does feel cramped during times of high occupancy. The lounge food options are elevated compared to most domestic lounges, and it’s a welcome escape to have especially since there are no other lounges at Terminal 2.
Have you visited the Delta Sky Club Fort Lauderdale (FLL) before? How was your visit? Comment below!
Cheers,
Ty
Have any questions? Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
