I received an email from Delta Air Lines today announcing that they are adding premium wines and spirits to the normal complimentary Sky Club bar fare. Premium offerings are something that Continental has offered for a while, and American along with United have continued to offer after finally seeing the light with complimentary adult beverages in their clubs last year. Admittedly, these premium offerings are something you could expect for free in the lounges of most major international airlines. But let’s face it, that model simply doesn’t match the lounge model of the domestic US airlines, so I will take what I can get.
I’ll admit that I’m one who typically goes for the “premium” offerings in lounges that make that an option. I think this is good news, and something that I look forward to trying during my next Sky Club visit. Kudos to Delta for expanding its Sky Club menu. They are not forcing you to purchase, and complimentary bar options will remain available.
It should be noted that these options are not currently available at all Sky Clubs, but more locations are coming. Right now, you can partake from the Luxury Bar at Newark, New York (JFK and LGA), West Palm, Seattle, and Washington, DC (DCA). You can review the menus for the new options here:
Ha! $60 for JWB? I wonder how frequently they’ll sell any of that…
Those prices are about 50% higher than what AA charges in the Admirals Club for comparable premium drinks, FWIW.
I thought the prices seemed a little high myself. I mean, it’s the Sky Club, not Whiskey Park.
Delta has one major problem with implementing this at some important locations, no bartenders (I write this comment sitting in the LAX sky club). They would actually have to hire bartenders at many of these clubs, and that may not be a cost they want to assume.